July / August

Samui’s Super Heroes!

Quietly, persistently, unstoppably, Trash Hero Samui is working behind the scenes.

AllAmerican Eats

Stacked Burger ushers in authentic delights in a laid-back setting.

A Warm Welcome

Editor

Graeme Malley graeme@siammap.com

Graphic Designer

Preeda Tuajob - Pui

Photographer

Akaphon Phongninlaarphon - Don

Feature Writer Rob De Wet

Feature Writer Dimitri Waring

Feature Writer Karan Ladd

Webmaster

Seksak Kerdkanno - Klauy

Sales & Marketing Director Nipawan Chuaysagul - Ning 0 898 783 891

ning@siammap.com

Wat Teepankorn

Financial Director

Kasper Bjørk kasper@siammap.com

Some of Thailand’s sunniest and most picturesque beaches are to be found right here on Samui, along with sweeps of sand and backdrops of palms. They take some time to explore, and most islanders – even the ones who have lived here all their lives – can’t say they’ve seen everything. But there’s more to Samui than just the sea.

Managing Director Henrik Bjørk henrik@siammap.com

Three decades and more of tourists choosing Samui as a holiday destination mean that there’s a vibrant mix of things to do and places to see. You can easily get to most places and these include remote waterfalls, temples and jungle as well as the entire southern swathe of the island, the least developed part.

Opt for safety with a hired car, songthaew (shared taxis that ply the larger roads) or even a taxi – the roads and driving conditions make hiring a motorbike extremely chancy – and Samui is yours to explore. You can be intrepid and head for the jungle heart of the island or simply keep to the beaten track. Whatever you decide to do, you can expect to have a lot of fun.

And then there are all the dining opportunities. You might not expect it of a small island, but virtually all the world’s major cuisines are to be found here. With prices ranging across the spectrum, you can save or splurge.

Samui has something to offer everyone, from toddler to elder. The appeal of the island is irresistible, which is why so many visitors choose to come back again. It’s time for your adventure to begin. Enjoy!

Siam Map Company Ltd.

52/6 Samui Ring Road, Moo 3 Bo Phut, Koh Samui, 84320, Thailand Tel: 0 7742 2201 Fax: 0 7741 3523 E-mail: info@siammap.com www.siammap.com

All Rights Reserved

Reproduction or use of editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited without written permision from Siam Map Company Ltd. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this publication, Siam Map Company Ltd. assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

Siam Map Company Ltd. 2018

Distribution at Bangkok Airport courtesy of Bangkok Airways.

Reservation Center: 1771 Samui Chaweng Office: 0 7760 1300 www.bangkokair.com

Please recycle or pass on to a friend.

Maenam Bophut Nathon

Chaweng

Samui

Lamai

7

www.BoujisSamui.com

1 & 2 Bedroom Villas starting from 2,490THB

Escape to Boujis Boutique Resort, an intimate cliffside retreat of 14 luxury villas with unparalleled ocean views of Chaweng.

Located Cliffside between Chaweng & Lamai - call 077 448 544

CONTENTS

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Samui’s Super Heroes!

54 The Cutting Edge

Quietly, persistently, unstoppably, Trash Hero Samui is working behind the scenes.

24

Hunting For Treasure?

Nature Art Gallery’s stores amaze with their range of jewellery, semi-precious stones and accessories.

32

Italian Replica The soul of Italian traditions with just the right atmosphere at Prego Italian Restaurant Samui.

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Paul’s Fashion has got vacation-tailoring down to a fine art.

60 All-American Eats Stacked Burger ushers in authentic delights in a laid-back setting.

66 Straight Shooting Samui’s Paragon Gun Range offers some of the best-value fun anywhere on the island!

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Come Dance With Us State Of Play Beach Republic keeps up the fun with its mix of food, drink and chilled vibes.

Water Water Water The truth about water in, on, and around Samui – and it’s not all bad news!

Life is an inspiration at Loft by Oriental Living.

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Seaside Temptation RockPool at Kanda Pool Villas is the perfect setting for Mediterranean cuisine and much more.

82 Reaching Your Target Archery is alive and well on Samui at Flying Arrow.

86 Seeing Is Believing Venture off-island for some eyes-wide-open adventures with Sa-ard’s Watersports Center.

92 Treasures Of The Mediterranean Dine on the Mediterranean delights of The Cliff Bar & Grill: fine food and drink presented by a stellar team.

98 Building A Lifestyle Property investment opportunities with New Nordic Group.

104 Sip, Savour, Lounge & Linger Upmarket and laid back, you’ll be going back again to Coast at Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui!

BEACHFRONT DINING & COCKTAILS RockPool at Kanda Residences is a spectacular beachfront restaurant and bar situated just five minutes from Chaweng

For reservations or more information call +66 77 234 500 www.rockpoolsamui.com Facebook: rockpool.kohsamui

Daily high tea from 12pm and happy hour with buy one get one free on selected drinks from 5pm until 7pm.

Island Insight An overall guide to Samui’s towns, villages, beaches and hotspots.

Samui is an idyllic tropical paradise. A blend of traditional Thai hospitality and remote island life has joined hands with modern traveller expectations. But the towns, villages and interior are home to much more than just luxury resorts, restaurants, bars and retail shops. And whilst the main beaches are recognised as some of the best in the world, there are also secluded coves and magical hideaways around many corners – if you know where to look. And this quick guide will point you in the right direction.

Chaweng

Chaweng’s main beach is five kilometres in length and is lined with 5-star luxury resorts, boutique hotels, budget accommodation and great oceanfront restaurants.

Behind the resorts, the Chaweng Beach Road is filled with restaurants, bars, spas, shops, street stalls and mobile food vendors. The lake sits to the rear of them and is a wonderful place for an early morning walk or jog. Near the southern end of the lake is the Soi Reggae entertainment area which also has two Muay Thai boxing stadiums, a temple guarded by carved monkeys and the huge Laem Din market complex. All manner of fresh produce is delivered here every day and the adjoining Dow Seafood market is a hive of activity from the early hours.

Lamai

Samui’s second most popular beach is around four kilometres long and the waters are perfect for swimming. There’s plenty of choice in accommodation, restaurants, bars, spas and health resorts. It also has a free Muay Thai event every Saturday and just off the Beach Road there’s a children’s water park. Wat Lamai is home to a cultural centre and museum that houses artifacts of Samui life before the advent of tourism. On Sundays there’s a ‘Walking Street’ along part of the Beach Road.

And just outside of Lamai town on the ring-road is the famous Hin Ta-Hin Yai rock formations that has dozens of small local Thai restaurants around it.

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Mae Nam

Nestled on the northern shores of the island, Mae Nam Beach stretches for several kilometres and overlooks the neighbouring island of Koh Pha-Ngan. High-end resorts and beach bungalows are dotted along the coast and many visitors love it for its peacefulness, soft golden sands and wonderful views. It has seven side streets that meander into the mountains: from Soi 1 you can follow the road over the mountains all the way to Lamai; Soi 4 has a ‘Walking Street’ every Thursday from mid-afternoon and also houses an ornate Chinese temple overlooking the beach and a large Buddhist temple set a few hundred metres back from the ringroad; Soi 5 has a tree-top canopy adventure theme park a few kilometres into the hills; there’s a buffalo fighting stadium a couple of hundred metres off the main road between Soi 5 and Soi 6; an early morning market is also in Soi 6; an evening market near to Soi 7; and the world-class Santiburi Golf Course in the hills above Soi 7. There’re dozens of bars and restaurants in Mae Nam, many of which are on side roads that lead down to the ocean. And at the western end of the beach the Lomprayah ferry takes passengers to the neighbouring islands several times a day.

NathoN

This is the island’s main administrative centre and the major ferry port for boats to and from the mainland. There’re some hotels but it’s more a town you would visit for an afternoon rather than stay in. Beside the terminal, there’s a local food market every day from mid-afternoon until late in the evening. Along what is known as the ‘middle road’ there’re old teak shop-houses and small businesses and a ‘Walking Street’ on Saturdays. And on the one-way road that goes through the town there’re dozens of shops and restaurants. Just off the main road there’s an ornate Chinese temple and garden in Soi 4. And near the far end there’s a renowned open-air duck restaurant – just follow the crowds around lunchtime.

Bo Phut

Bo Phut is best known for Fisherman’s Village. It’s a single narrow street that still has authentic wooden houses that Samui folk have lived in for generations. Parts of it have been modernized but it’s still awash with local foods, international restaurants, bars, shops and market stalls. It becomes one huge ‘Walking Street’ every Friday and you’ll find lots of local delicacies that few other restaurants have. Along with small hotels, there’re several 5-star luxury resorts at the far end and the beach curves around a large bay that also overlooks Koh Pha-Ngan.

And small speedboats leave from the village pier heading for the Full Moon parties that take place there every month.

Big Buddha and Plai Laem

The magnificent golden Big Buddha statue that watches over the island from the north-east corner of Samui is one of the first things you see as you fly into Samui Airport. Built on a tiny island (Koh Farn) with a connecting causeway, it’s the most iconic image of the island. Many Thais pray at the temple so dressing and acting appropriately is expected when you enter the site. There’re some very good Thai restaurants and small stores around the temple. It also affords some beautiful views and along the road from it you’ll see another large Buddha image at Wat Plai Laem. Half-way along the road between the temples is a side road that cuts through to Choeng Mon. Down this road there’s access to some quiet secluded beaches, although some of them are through resorts.

Choeng Mon

Choeng Mon lies just 15 minutes or so from the middle of Chaweng but it seems like worlds away. There’s a small town that the road runs through with a couple of dozen restaurants and bars. The beach is a favourite for many locals as it’s quiet, picturesque and safe for swimming most of the year round. There’s every class of accommodation with some old-style beach bungalows at one end. And they all overlook the tiny deserted island of Koh Farn Noi which you can walk out to if the tide is low.

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Bang Rak

In between Fisherman’s Village and Big Buddha is where you’ll find Bang Rak. There’s a few very good resorts and some private villas for rent along the beachfront that stretches around for several kilometres and has stunning views.

Bars and restaurants line the main street and there’re two piers. The one nearest to Big Buddha has daily ferries to Koh Pha-Ngan, Koh Tao and on to the mainland port of Chumpon, from which a VIP bus takes passengers to Hua Hin and on to Bangkok. Start to finish, it’s a 12-hour journey with about half of it on the boat.

Just beside the ferry terminal in Bang Rak is one of the busiest fish markets on the island. Local fishermen drop their catches here and the place is bustling with people all day long. At the other end of town there’s a short-cut into Chaweng on a road called Soi Bond Kai (which the locals refer to as the ‘Ghost Road’).

Taling Ngam and Lipa Noi

The south-west part of the island is known as the ‘Virgin Coast’. It’s largely unspoiled with lots of secluded bays, although most of the shoreline tends to be rocky. The west coast overlooks the famous ‘five islands’ and some of the closer islands of the Angthong National Marine Park (which is a perfect getaway for a day’s boat trip excursion). In this part of the island there’re some hotels, private villas for rent, up-market and local restaurants and several temples of note, including two that house a mummified monk. A second car ferry terminal is located in Lipa Noi and, like the one in Nathon, boats to and from Donsak on the mainland arrive and depart every hour from 5:00 am until 6:00 pm (check for details). And inland on the island’s main ring-road there’re several large waterfall sites and a safari park with elephant trekking, animal shows and adventure tours. Further along, next to the Ford and Mazda dealers is a new Butterfly and Insect Kingdom Park.

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Hua Thanon

This predominately muslim village is home to the descendants of some of the island’s earliest settlers. There’s still a thriving fishing fleet and fish market and a natural coastline that’s survived the ravages of time. Just after the village (coming from Lamai) you can turn off the ring-road to the left and signs will direct you to the nearby Tiger Zoo, Aquarium and Sea-life Show, the Butterfly Farm, the Snake Farm and the local Rum Distillery.

Thong Krut

With its brightly coloured fishing boats and backdrop of small islands to the one side, and coconut plantations to the other, Thong Krut is a picturesque little village.

Located in the southwest corner of the island, this is where you’ll come if you’re after a long-tail boat to take you to the nearby islands of Koh Tan and Koh Matsum.

Lining the shore you’ll find a selection of simple restaurants offering Thai food, and particularly good seafood, as well as tour operators offering trips to the islands.

The Interior

Samui predominately consists of hills, mountains and coconut plantations. And few visitors make the time to appreciate its hidden beauty. One way to do so is to take the turning into Mae Nam Soi 1. A new road has recently been constructed that goes over the mountains all the way to Lamai. The drive is only about 20-25 minutes over 15 kilometres with a couple of stopping off areas that offer fabulous views. Another way to really get the full picture of Samui is from Tar Nim’s Magic Garden at the top of one of the island’s highest peaks. Built during a 25-year period by a local farmer the stone statues in the garden were sculpted by hand and sit over 2,000 feet above the beaches below.

SAMUI’S SUPER HEROES! Quietly, persistently, unstoppably, Trash Hero Samui is working behind the scenes.

Once upon a time there was a lovely little tropical island. Just about everything was built out of wood and roofed with palm leaves. People used coconut shells as plant pots. Tins and bottles were rare and thus used again and again. Then an airport appeared bringing foreign tourists and their money – and everything changed.

People still built little houses out of wood and, like they always did, chucked the building waste over the fence. But people building newmoney houses out of concrete, brick, plastic and glass did the same thing too. And, over the years, when the supermarkets appeared and

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the 7-11s were selling tins and bottles, and the traditional plates made out of palm leaves were replaced by plastic trays, the left-overs were still thrown over the fence or into the sea. It was traditional. What else could you do with it?

Unlike wood and palm leaves, plastic doesn’t decay. It won’t rot down into the soil. And so one day that lovely little island woke up to the fact that plastic garbage bags, plastic trays, spoons, forks, rope, bags, tarpaulins, pipes, plumbing, and a thousand other discarded things were still sitting there by the side of the road, going nowhere.

In the years that followed, the influx of residents from abroad increased.

Every few years another crusader would stand up and declare war on the increasing piles of garbage that were going ‘over the fence’ and out of sight. None succeeded. The time wasn’t right. Both central and local government had more important things to worry about. But the time was coming. There was an ever-increasing tide of public awareness and disquiet, and it finally came to a head in 2016.

However, going back to 2013, in the Koh Lipa area near Krabi, Swissborn Roman Peter suddenly decided to launch a local clean-up. He’d

had enough of the accumulating waste and garbage that was building up all around him. The turnout for the event was astonishing, and rapidly led to other similar meetings. The name ‘Trash Hero’ was coined and stuck. And today Trash Hero has more than 40 ‘chapters’ and has spread all the way across South East Asia into Singapore, and with groups in Europe, the USA, and even Africa.

Trash Hero Samui came into being in 2016, and celebrated its first birthday having completed 45 clean-up sessions involving a total of over 1,000 volunteers and having removed over 16,000 kilos of waste.

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There’s a very active and aware community of residents on Samui, groups like Sisters on Samui (SOS) and Samui Mala, and they’ve both been working steadily to address the situation.

Samui’s social media, too, has been voicing its on-going concern for a long time, with numerous fragmented suggestions and attempts to organise something effective over the last few years. But, all of this notwithstanding, it took the cheerful presence of the American, Brent Jones, to act as an energising catalyst and draw everything coherently together.

“I can’t really take any credit here,” Brent told me, “because there was already an existing chapter of Trash Hero in operation. It was fronted by a lovely Thai woman, Khun Jinju Pruchaweng. But what was inconsistent was a co-ordinated link between the Thai community and the foreign residents, with a system of inter-communication that knitted all efforts into one unity. And now this has happened.”

“It’s not my style to be pushy or demanding,” Brent continued, “so I just quietly got into the habit of announcing on our Facebook group that there’d be a beach- clean-up next Sunday. Sometimes there’d be five or six people turn up. Sometimes a school would organise a group to join in. On one occasion we had 300! And now, thanks to Khun Jinju, we’ve got institutions like Bangkok Airways, Tesco Lotus, Makro, Seatran Ferry and the ‘We Are Bamboo’ group all working together. Even the local government has now become actively interested and involved.”

Although creating sustainable solutions to waste disposal is a prime consideration, Trash Hero is also introducing other and parallel activities: recycling, donating and siting numerous decorated waste bins, an excellent re-usable fold-out pocket-sized shopping bag, even a system of free water stations around the island, with free Trash Hero water bottles to replace throw-away convenience store bottles – and there’s more in the pipeline.

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If you want to lend a hand or become involved in any way, take a look at the Trash Hero website, and then at the Facebook groups, below. It’s taken a while for it all to happen but, now there’s a universal awareness, it’s only going to become bigger, stronger, and better!

Rob De Wet

_____________________________________________________________ Facebook: Trash Hero Samui and Samui Clean www.trashhero.org

HUNTING FOR TREASURE? Nature Art Gallery’s stores amaze with their range of jewellery, semi-precious stones and accessories.

The trio of stores that make up Nature Art Gallery are a treat for those who come across them. Stocking semi-precious stones, jewellery and accessories, the stores radiate professionalism, and are a sheer delight to browse. There’s no hard sell, no over-enthusiastic sales people – you’re encouraged to spend as much time here as you like. Prices are all very affordable, even if the stores look chic and cosmopolitan. People are surprised at what they can pick up here.

If you’ve been used to poorly-lit stores and uninspired collections of jewellery, then it’ll be a refreshing experience to visit Nature Art Gallery.

For a start, the spacious stores are immaculately maintained, and everything is carefully displayed and labelled. There’s no clutter at all.

Friendly assistants can give you help or ideas, should you need either.

Nature Art prides itself on being a very different kind of jewellers. Rather than simply opt for quantity, the driving idea here is to blend quality with creativity. Each of the pieces is therefore a treasure in itself. It’s an approach that works; many island residents come here when they’re looking for a gift as they know they can rely on the handiwork and the fact that everything on display is great value. The stones, gems and jewellery can be part of any mood, with a plethora of colours, styles and designs that are delightfully eye-catching.

One of the joys of being in Nature Art is to look through the semiprecious stones. You can simply pick up each type to find which type you might like; this might seem new-agey but it actually works: different stones seem to have different energies in them. And since you’re holding pure examples of each kind, it’s all the easier to feel their inherent qualities. Some people like to collect the stones themselves, but many customers are looking for something that they can have set in jewellery.

This brings us to the next point. If you have a design or simply an idea of what you would like, in-house jewellers can produce it for you, usually in a day or so, longer if it’s a more complicated piece. Hailing from Nepal, their craft has been handed down through generations, and they’re experts in making pieces that will bring lasting delight to their owners. www.samuiholiday.com l 27

Each store contains hundreds of pieces of jewellery, including necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets and so on. Nothing here is mass-produced, and instead you’ll find a delightful range of inspired pieces, all carefully and lovingly made by various artists, not only in Thailand but also in places like Bali, Israel and India. Choose between leather and silver bracelets formed with buffalo bone, or the chunky yet light electro-formed silver, and then bracelets made of stingray skin and dyed into a multitude of different colours.

Nature Art Gallery came about when two jewellers and goldsmiths, Michael Trav and Shai Nissim, found they shared similar tastes in aesthetic jewellery that was imbued with original designs. They were both well-travelled and used to finding extraordinary artefacts on their travels. They decided to start curating some of the original pieces they came across. Their original store on Koh Pha-Ngan was a hit, so they opened two more, here on Samui. The stores are located opposite

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Central Festival on the beach road and in Central Festival itself on the upper floor. The Koh Pha-Ngan store is in Haad Rin. Extremely popular, Nature Art is constantly evolving, with both Michael and Shai always on the look-out for new and notable ideas and creations.

A visit to Nature Art is a must. Browse any of its three stores for inspiration and for jewellery that’s creatively made. You’ll be amazed at what you see and you will find plenty to tempt you – with prices that’ll suit every pocket.

Dimitri Waring

_____________________________________________________ For further information, telephone 0 7742 2594. www.thailand-jewellery.com

AS FEATURED IN

AS FEATURED ON

C HIL L DIF F ERENT

Reservations: 077 458 100

/ BeachRepublic

ITALIAN REPLICA

The soul of Italian traditions with just the right atmosphere at Prego Italian Restaurant Samui.

Along the northern part of the beach road in Chaweng, you’ll see a rather pleasing-to-the-eye establishment that is one of Samui’s most successful restaurants. This is Prego Italian Restaurant Samui, a lively institution that’s been going strong since 2003, and which has been helmed throughout all those years by a single chef, Marco Boscaini.

He’s a maestro who is adventurous in all the best ways, and who deftly combines the contemporary with the traditional. That specific blend has resulted in Prego being immensely popular, and pleasing its many guests. They number not just the holidaymakers who come across it – the restaurant is hard to miss, thanks to its clean, sleek lines – but also local people and long-stay residents.

Definitely chic and imbued with an understated elegance, Prego is exactly the kind of venue that you’d find in Italy; it’s a friendly place, one that brings people together, a sort of home from home. A lot of the dishes are designed so that they can be shared. The restaurant is popular not just with couples but also groups of varying sizes. Drop in and you’ll soon be soaking up the Italian feel of the place.

The restaurant faces onto the street and is just across the road from Amari Koh Samui. Prego has a bar out at the front, ideal for people watching, and then has a large interior which also boasts two air-con rooms, each of which can accommodate 45 guests. Pride of place goes to Prego’s authentic wood-fired oven, ideal for not just pizzas, but also for a whole range of delicious baked goods.

Towards the back of the restaurant you’ll see the chilled cabinets containing the large wine collection. Prego has over 70 labels that include not just Italian but other varieties, with everything selected for both taste and value.

The food, meanwhile, is sumptuous. You’ll find many of the dishes are the kind that have been eaten in various parts of Italy since time immemorial – these are best-loved classics, and Chef Marco has faithfully recreated them here on the other side of the world. They taste every bit as good as the originals, especially since he imports the typically Italian foodstuffs from back home. He uses a special kind of 34 l www.samuiholiday.com

mozzarella from Puglia, for example, and this becomes a starter, Buratta Cheese, a great way to begin a meal here. Pasta that Marco gets from Tuscany he uses to complete a favourite dish, I Pici di Chef Marco, which is yumminess itself – it’s a beef ragout made more flavoursome still thanks to Pecorino cheese. Most of what you’ll find here at Prego is made in person by Marco or his staff; dishes are prepared from scratch, and certainly he’s behind the inspiration for it all.

Fish comes in many forms, notably a grilled seafood platter with authentic Mediterranean tastes, or pan-roasted sea bass fillet. You can also have baked salmon or lobster, which comes with garlic chilli linguine and a parmesan basket. There’s plenty of meat on the menu with oven-baked rack of lamb, along with fresh herbs, pecorino polenta and a vegetable caponata. Naturally there are delights such as Angus beef sirloin or Australian tenderloin, too, which come with various accompaniments.

A meal at Prego can be incredibly varied. The menu is long and detailed - a mouth-watering read in itself. It also contains many of the more usual favourites, such as pizzas, which you can either order direct from the menu or build your own out of a host of ingredients with sauces, meats, seafood, vegetables and no less than seven different cheeses. Try, too, the pasta and risotto, including Marco’s own excellent lasagne.

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Hold back on the mains, though, as they shouldn’t be the end of any meal at Prego. Dessert aficionados will be wowed. Marco’s very own tiramisu heads the list here and is large enough to share. Or you can opt for the panna cotta, which has a southern-style orange flavour – these are just two of the very moreish options.

Prego is one of a growing number of restaurants that takes its diners’ diets and restrictions very seriously. Certainly there are many vegetarian recipes on the menu, but you’ll also find that there’s a gluten-free menu and vegan cheeses available. For Marco it’s easy to make a three-course meal for anyone who has food intolerances.

Prices are remarkably affordable, making the restaurant a go-to place when it comes to excellent value as well as authenticity. Sit back and enjoy a fine lunch or dinner in genuinely Italian surroundings – you’ll be pleased that you came.

Dimitri Waring

_____________________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7730 0317. www.prego-samui.com

HAND-MADE JEWELRY MADE TO ORDER. GOLD, SILVER, LEATHER, PRECIOUS AND SEMI PRECIOUS STONES. TWO LOCATIONS IN CHAWENG: 1ST: CHAWENG BEACH ROAD, PHONE: +(66)0 7742 2594 2ND: CENTRAL FESTIVAL SAMUI 2ND FLOOR, PHONE: +(66)0 7796 3811 WWW.THAILAND-JEWELRY.COM Nature Art Gallery Central Festival Samui CHAWENG BEACH ROAD

COME DANCE WITH US Life is an inspiration at Loft by Oriental Living.

Are you tired of finding ‘same-same’ and ‘not different at all’ home furnishings? Well, welcome to Loft, the retail arm of Oriental Living, the best known and most prestigious providers of interior design and highend furnishings on Koh Samui and Phuket. Developing their brand and reputation over the last 25 years, they continue to listen tirelessly to their customers’ needs and desires, and keep bang up to date with current trends. Their passion is to seek, search, and source new inspiration, original artists, designs and materials. They travel far and wide, visiting not only furnishing fairs, but also to natural and man-made wonders of the world such as Angkor Wat in Cambodia, as well as modern cities and everywhere in between. They continually network, finding out what is new, the latest artist or designer to visit, bringing all the information and awe-inspiring designs to you right here on Samui!

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If you are looking for a thought-provoking, jaw-dropping, yet stylish and affordable shopping experience. If you want to find the full spectrum of bold, modern or antique furnishings with happy, innovative, functional and comfortable forms and colours. Then visit Loft by Oriental Living, and check out the eclectic collection of furniture, art and dĂŠcor. The extremely knowledgeable, English speaking team are always on hand to answer any questions, discuss your ideas or needs, or to just let you wander and browse. Here, you are treated as a guest, offered good quality coffee, tea or water, as well as an expert ear to listen and advise. Honesty is important to the Loft team. They will not sell you anything that is not fit for purpose!

After all, the Oriental Living rock-solid 25-year reputation is at stake!

Alex W. Raksai, Partner and Interior Designer extraordinaire, is just back from Salone del Mobile, the 2018 furnishing and accessories exhibition in Milan, and Sirapassorn Kongsang, (Khun Few) also a designer, is recently back from the International Furniture Fair Singapore. These fairs showcase established and emerging ideas and trends. Currently in favour are furnishings with bold designs and strong mixed natural materials; metal, wood, fabric, rope and rattan all working together to create harmonious forms. Lighting is making big waves right now, with new ideas for lamps and lampshades with some nifty metallic and Perspex designs resembling natural shades and patterns. Khun Few was particularly taken with engravings and patinas on metal bowls, dishes and artwork.

Environmental concerns are very much at the fore. Alex and his team understand the need to maintain the forests on our earth for the oxygen they provide, as well as the habitat for diverse animal and plant species. They only use recycled or plantation wood, and know where every piece comes from. Since wood is a natural living material, it changes when it is cut and dries out. Recycled wood has already been through these changes and is very stable. Plantation wood comes from managed sustainable forests, and all furnishings come with a certificate to prove it.

Loft by Oriental Living also supports and encourages emerging artists and craftsmen that use different techniques to create unique pieces of furniture or artwork. They currently have some three-metre-high wooden sculptures made from Timor rosewood, which are historically said to offer protection. These original looking antique pieces are in fact excellent quality replicas made from recycled wood, each one totally unique, handmade with skill and patience. Alex and the Loft team know the history and story behind every item for sale. Where it’s from, the artist or designer, the materials and whether they are suitable or not for your intended use.

The Loft store is a truly happy environment with its huge open and airy space filled with natural light and unpretentious and cosy, themed areas; lounges, dining rooms and bedrooms adorned with beautiful designs, colourful and functional furniture, art, lamps and décor. These items are bought in large numbers, saving costs which are passed on to you.

Here you will find the perfect solution if you are looking for a few pieces to complete a room, or if you own a hotel, condominium or villa and want to furnish it in its entirety. Loft is about buying directly from the shop, but they also have a team on hand to source in bulk if you see a design or style that you like. If you don’t see what you are after, they will try their best to source something to fit your requirements. Trust them, communicate, enjoy and dance with them!

You will find Loft by Oriental Living just across the road from the Big C Superstore in Bophut, with parking directly outside, off the road. You can’t miss it - they have a huge range of outdoor furniture, which is currently their biggest seller.

In need of inspiration to transform your house into your dream home?

Want your glass to be half full instead of half empty? Then look no further than Loft by Oriental Living. Breath, smile and go dance!

Karan Ladd

____________________________________________________________ For further information, telephone: 0 7724 7675. www.oriental-living.net 42 l www.samuiholiday.com

STATE OF PLAY

Beach Republic keeps up the fun with its mix of food, drink and chilled vibes.

Take the signposted turning and along a small lane, you’ll come to the famed Beach Republic, which sits at the edge of the sea, basking in the sun. No border guards ask for your passport, but you might just as well have stepped over an invisible line and into new country. You’ll have left behind the usual architecture of Samui, an at times raucous jumble of styles, and will now find yourself in a chic world that’s both simultaneously covered and sheltered. It’s made of steel arches, teak and thatch. New meets old meets chic, in other words. Sounds paradoxical?

The combo works. It’s a delight to spend time here. You’ll quickly see that everything at Beach Republic fits together as seamlessly as a matrushka doll, and you can have a lot of fun just exploring the different parts.

The beach here is also a great place to be; if you’ve witnessed the crowds in Chaweng, you’ll enjoy the seclusion of the sands at Beach 48 l www.samuiholiday.com

Republic. Plenty of coves to check out, and a view that’s all haze and dreaminess. A duo of swimming pools distracts from the surroundings, however, and are a focal point here.

Another is – of course – the restaurant. Beach Republic has made a name for itself with its delicious food. Think Mediterranean. And then a wealth of it. And finally quality. A whole range of snacks and different lunches are available, along with a dinner menu that’s sumptuous.

‘Chill Different’ is the motto behind Beach Republic. Anyone can invent a motto, of course, as we all know. So the big question, is there any substance to the words? Of course there is. While other beach clubs take the beachside club approach with a blaring, thumpity-thump, pump up the volume style of ambience and service, Beach Republic chills different

with a more laid-back vibe, personable and endearing service, and a will to deliver a more relaxed waterside retreat.

Check out the daily themes and you’ll see that Beach Republic’s motto is definitely not misplaced, even if it’s ungrammatical! There’s something happening at Beach Republic every single day of the week.

On Mondays, all day and all night, you can opt for three hours’ free flow of bubbles, beer, wine and cocktails (999 baht ++). Tuesdays are definitely time to enjoy Cerveza Corona – simply buy one, get one free and in addition you can partake in an all-day happy hour with a tapas promotion. Wednesdays is the day to buy any two bottles and get one free. At the same time, enjoy beer, wine, bubbles (99 baht ++ per glass).

Many guests love to turn up on Thursdays, when it’s the ‘President’s VIP Seafood Grill’ – a beautiful line up of fish main courses, which can be

combined with a special deal on champagne. On Fridays, experience ‘Montezuma’s Mojito Madness’ – a three hour free-flow any time day or night (999 baht ++).

At the weekend the fun continues, and in fact there’s even more of it.

‘Soulful Saturday’ is a lush all day pool party, with two-for-one on all shots. Then the next day, comes the final, end-of-the-week event. You may already have heard of it; Beach Republic is known across the island, as well as much further afield, for its amazingly good Sunday brunch. Now in its ninth year, it operates every Sunday from 11:30 am until 3:30 pm, with the DJ playing till sundown. The brunch features dozens of dishes, with Fines de Claire oysters, Scottish salmon, Maine lobster, Spanish ham, roast beef and lamb, foie gras skewers, sea bass, canapés, sushi and a range of cold meats. There’s also plenty of Thai food, a barbecue www.samuiholiday.com l 49

station, desserts and an international cheeseboard. It would be a feat to taste everything that’s on offer, so definitely come hungry and be prepared to linger. There are a variety of drinks options to suit all tastes.

And naturally there’s plenty of choice when it comes to seating, but the uniting factor is the same: think relaxed, laid-back and practical. You may wish to remain indoors in the spacious dining room or sit out either by the pool or overlooking the sea in a cabana.

Beach Republic is a lot more than a simple ocean club. You can actually stay here in the opulent Beach Republic Residences, but relatively few people are aware of that – most have simply come to eat, drink and enjoy themselves. There’s hotel-style accommodation all the way up to luxury private villas with lush tropical gardens and private, chemical-free fresh water pools. Each villa has a lounge, kitchen and dining space, 50 l www.samuiholiday.com

and luxurious bedrooms. The villas offer relaxed days and nights, just the kind of easy living that holidaymakers seek on a tropical vacation.

With plenty going on at Beach Republic, it’s really up to you to decide what sort of time you’d like while you are here. With feasts, themes and events to showcase all that’s good here, you’ll be faced with lots of choices – and they’ll all be happy ones.

Dimitri Waring

____________________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7745 8100. www.beachrepublic.com

Welcome to Sa-ard’s Watersports Center on Koh Samui. Where everyday can be an aquatic adventure – above and below the crystal clear blue waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

Join us and discover what r eally makes these islands so very special.

Our brand new catamaran Fountaine Pajot Belize 43 “Kindred Spirit” can comfortably take 15 people on a day trip and sleep 6 people on over-night excursions.

The starboard hull has a double stateroom with ensuite bathroom and living area. There are also two double state rooms in the port hull with a shared bathroom. You’ll also find a large galley and a living area with CD/DVD player and a 28 inch colour TV. All the cabins and living areas are fully air-conditioned.

Sa-ard’s Watersports Center also offers Private Speedboat tours to the beaches and snorkeling destinations of the surrounding islands.

Manager and Skipper is Sa-ard, one of Thailand’s most celebrated windsurfers. He took part in the Olympics 1984 in Los Angeles and 1992 in Barcelona, was a long time member of the Thai National Windsurfing Team, has been Asian Champion and 5 times Gold Medal Winner in the South East Asian Games. You simply could not be in better hands!

THE CUTTING EDGE Paul’s Fashion has got vacation-tailoring down to a fine art.

Some people are nervous about it. Others think there just isn’t time. And for quite a lot of folks, it just doesn’t occur to them. But the fact is that bespoke tailoring in Thailand is a great way to go. And on Samui there’s one place which has got this down to a fine art. And the name is Paul’s Fashion.

One of the problems with buying things on holiday is the guarantee – what can you do when you’re back home, thousands of miles away, and something goes wrong? Well, this place has got it all sorted out, as you’ll find out in just a moment. They offer a cast-iron assurance on the quality of their workmanship. But here’s the thing – not once, ever, have they needed to put this guarantee to the test.

Just take a look on TripAdvisor. As you know, unlike Facebook, comments on here can’t be edited, changed or deleted. This is the acid test of a business or service. Restaurants and hotels fear it because it tells the truth. Real people, with real experiences. Paul’s Fashion was established in 2005. And not once, since they started on TripAdvisor in 2013, has Paul’s Fashion ever had a bad review; not even one – you’re invited to check this for yourself!

This is exceptional, and it really is a measure of not only the quality of the goods, but of the aftercare service also. As Paul Subedhi (partner and spokesman for Paul’s Fashion) says, “We have a cast-iron guarantee – if you aren’t happy with the final product, then you pay nothing.”

And you don’t have to worry about the time factor, either. If you’re here for more than five days, everything will be fine. They’ve done this so many times that the entire process has become streamlined and efficient.

In fact, apart from the very first visit to the shop, in the middle of Chaweng (almost opposite McDonald’s) you don’t actually need to leave your resort for the rest of it!

You obviously need to know what you want – a business suit, a cocktail dress, a sports coat, whatever. And so your first visit is to look through the fabrics on display (and there are a great many of them) and select one. You’ll get individual attention and deal only with one personal tailor throughout. He’ll go through a whole series of books and catalogues with you until you decide on exactly the style you want, and then finalise

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the design – details, like how many buttons, what type of vents, the pocket style, lining material and so on. And then you’ll spend another 30 minutes being measured from top to bottom, inside and out, in every last detail.

With something like a 2-piece suit, the vital element is the jacket. So when you return, you’ll have the trousers almost ready (or the skirt, if you’re female) plus a cut and semi-stitched jacket ‘template’ waiting.

And now this is carefully adjusted and fitted to you, while you bend and stretch and sit and twist. And then the third stage is that you’ll go back in a day or so when the trousers are complete and the jacket is 95% finished. This is the final fitting. With the majority of other tailors you won’t get this third fitting, and this is what makes Paul’s Fashion stand out from the crowd.

In fact, if you’d prefer, after the first visit to the shop, the further three adjustments can happen where you’re staying. He’ll come to you.

(And that includes a huge variety of women’s items on offer, from formal business suits to cocktail wear, in summer or winter fabrics, in quality cashmere or satin, silk, chiffon or pure cotton.) And he’ll also bring the finished items back to you too at the end. The process is highly efficient, as there are more than 40 pattern cutters and machinists working for you behind the scenes!

And that guarantee? Well you pay 50% of the cost at the start. And the remainder when everything is finished, with a full refund of your deposit unless you’re completely satisfied – but that’s never happened!

More to the point, as Paul says, over half of the time, when they get home, customers are so pleased with the end result that they order another item. Paul keeps the original patterns on file for four full years, and is all geared-up for speedy and efficient mail order abroad. The entire experience at Paul’s Fashion is a ‘cutting edge’ operation from start to finish – with satisfaction totally guaranteed!

Rob De Wet

_______________________________________________________ www.paulsfashion-samui.com email paulfashion.samui@gmail.com www.samuiholiday.com l 59

ALL-AMERICAN EATS Stacked Burger ushers in authentic delights in a laid-back setting.

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It’s been a popular destination ever since it opened its doors, and has a great name for comfort food in fun surroundings. Plenty of people come here to experience the melt-in-your-mouth burgers that come with a selection of delectable starters, sides and excellent desserts. Welcome to Stacked Burger, located right on the beachfront road in the heart of Chaweng, close to Central Festival. Stacked is part of the stylish OZO Chaweng Samui resort, a top-notch holiday destination next door – so you’re in good hands when it comes to top quality food, attentive service and sheer professionalism across the board.

Enjoying great food and drink is just one part of what Stacked is all about. The vibe here is equally good. Stacked has the feel of an upscale bistro, but at the same time it’s convivial and relaxed. It’s a great place for people watching, and boasts agreeably long decking facing the street, as well as an air-conditioned interior. It can get quite busy, so reservations are advisable in the evenings. Stacked is open from midday until late, with bar food still being available after the main kitchen closes at 11:00 pm. If coming by car, parking is available at the resort, or simply stroll down the beach road until you come to Stacked.

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Live bands and DJ nights are on offer here, and while visiting you’ll maybe want to play pool on one of the tables here, or simply chill out and watch some international sport. If there’s a big sporting event on, you’re sure to be able to catch it live at Stacked.

The burgers made from Black Angus and Wagyu beef, and are prepared daily on the premises; only 100% imported beef is used, and is always ground by hand. No fillers are used, incidentally. Stacked Burger also has gluten free and lactose free cheese options available.

Dime-a-dozen hamburgers are everywhere these days, as are the places that produce them. Stacked is just the opposite when it comes to its burgers.

It’s not that they’ve reinvented the product, but they’re taking burgers back to the authenticity they once had. And then, depending on which one you’ve chosen, they may have added a few twists of their own or some modern touches.

Portions, by the way, are on the generous side. One thing’s for sure – you won’t be going home hungry. Even if you’ve just completed a triathlon. The menu’s heaviest hitter is the Wagyu Tomahawk – a kilo of pure rib-eye steak that’s served with plenty of sides. Share it as a group – it’ll probably be sufficient for four people.

The entire menu is filled with temptations, so it’s hard to single out one dish over another. The Border Run with chilli con carne, cheddar, Monterey Jack, jalapeños, Stacked sauce and salad in a chilli-lime bun is set to please everyone’s taste buds. Equally popular is The Mona Lisa Italian pork burger with roasted tomato sauce, mozzarella, provolone, olives, mushrooms, spicy Calabrian salami, red onions and crispy lettuce served in a lemonparsley bun. Both burgers come with a wide choice of various styles of fries. In addition you can add your own toppings.

Don’t worry if you’re a vegetarian, as there are enough options on hand if you don’t eat meat. Children are also a priority at Stacked and have their own menu. It’s always good to leave room for desserts here. You can enjoy some of the chef’s new creations or go for the home-from-home feel of warm apple crumble with berry compote or simply relax over some delicious ice-cream.

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If the kitchen produces creative items, so too does the bar; the cocktails were specially put together for Stacked by an international mixologist.

They feature some highly creative takes. Try the Stacked & Shacked, for example. It consists of pandanus-infused rum with fresh pineapple and lime, pink peppercorns and palm sugar. It tastes decidedly fresh and is ideal for a tropical sundowner. There’s a range of traditional cocktails, too, if you’re looking for a more usual tipple.

Stacked Burger’s wine list is also extensive and boasts wines from both the new and old worlds – all are reasonably priced – and there are also local and imported beers, along with craft beers, too.

For special occasions, birthdays, hen, stag parties and other celebrations food platters can be arranged as well as buffets tailored to specific desires and special dietary requests.

The elegant terrace and interior make Stacked Burger a highly soughtout restaurant, and an appealing place to chill out as a couple or with family and friends. Groups, both large and small, love it too. This is one place where fun is all part of the atmosphere, as is the enjoyment of excellent food and drink.

Dimitri Waring

____________________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7791 5200 or 0 7791 5222 www.stacked-samui.com

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STRAIGHT SHOOTING Samui’s Paragon Gun Range offers some of the best-value fun anywhere on the island!

Samui’s a sunshine island. People come here to relax, stretch out by the pool or take a dip in the sea. But even the most dedicated sun-lover needs a break sometime. That’s OK, though; there are 101 things to do – you’re spoiled for choice! There are lots of day-trips and excursions to consider. But one of the most enjoyable, and unusual, is getting tooled-up at the Paragon Gun Range.

Europe, and most of Asia too, doesn’t have the same kind of ‘gun culture’ that you’ll experience in, say, for example, The United States. And so a shooting range where you can try-out a variety of handguns and rifles, and even a shotgun, is a novel and enjoyable experience for a great many people. They won’t be turning up again next month to keep their eye in, but judging by the popularity of this range, there’s a non-stop stream of new visitors only too keen to give it a go.

And this raises a point: this place gets busy. It’s firmly on the tourist excursion map. Around 11:00 am the first of the many tour buses start to roll up with the excited day-trippers and their kids. There are a total of eight bays for the shooters, and a lot of people waiting their turn. So the best time to go is early in the morning or in the late afternoon – the range is open between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

I’ve heard people say that it’s hard to find, but in reality it couldn’t be simpler, and is easily accessible even if you’ve only got a motorbike. From Nathon, head south down the ring-road towards Lamai. The range is just about 11 kilometres from Nathon. Look out for the signposted turning towards Ban Taling Ngam (road 4170) on your right, and then continue for about five kilometres until you see Wat Khunaram, also on your right. The road opposite is festooned with signs and advertising for elephant trekking, waterfalls etc. Three hundred metres up this road there is a small dirt track forking to the right. Follow this and you’ll arrive at Paragon Gun in about another 200 metres.

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The Paragon Gun Range is a clean, modern single-storey building that was purpose-built and opened in 2014. And what is unique here is that, unlike others, this is an open-air range that faces the huge vertical backdrop of an old carved-out quarry. And that means there’s a full 100 metres from front to back, allowing close target-placing for handguns, yet also a realistic distance for long guns, too. It’s a bit of a challenge for a .22 rifle with open sights, but add a sniper scope to it and it’s just about perfect.

The staff are friendly and relaxed, enjoy their work, and are knowledgeable about all the guns that are available. There’s a soundly representative range of these, ranging from standard short-nose .38 revolvers, through to 9mm semi-auto Glocks, a powerhouse .357 Magnum (getting close to ‘Dirty Harry’ and his legendary cannon!) and going right through to CZ .22 scoped ‘sniper’ rifles and even a .22 fullauto Sig Sauer machine gun and a Remington Tactical shotgun!

Once you’ve made your choice and filtered to the front of the queue, you’ll have a personal staff trainer attached to you, and he’ll firstly go through the basics of safety, then stay close to advise you on your technique and shooting style, gently correcting your stance and positioning and helping from shot to shot. First-timers are always surprised at the amount of recoil there is with a handgun, and need to adjust to it,

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particularly if they opt for one of the more powerful ones, such as the big Magnum.

Another point in their favour: all the guns are lovingly cleaned and oiled every night, and are regularly checked and zeroed with their sights to be spot-on at set distances, thus increasing customer satisfaction! The cost of it all is less than you’ll find elsewhere, and is priced per round (bullet) at reasonable rates – details of which you can find on their Facebook page.

They are quite happy for you to take photos, and will cheerfully pose you with your targets, or even in action shooting, if you ask. They’re good, they’re dedicated and they’ve got it all together – they’re some of the ‘straightest shooters’ on Samui!

Rob De Wet

____________________________________________________________ For further information, telephone 0 7742 4000.

Facebook: Paragon Gun Samui

Exclusive Ladies & Gents Custom Tailor & Shoe Maker

Paul’s Fashion was established in 2005.

We are a specialised bespoke tailor for both ladies and gentlemen.

We provide Suits, Shirts, Tuxedo Suits, Dresses, Winter Coats, Leather Jackets, Leather Shoes and Boots for business as well as Casual wear.

Free pickup and delivery services to your hotel anywhere on the island.

Hotel fitting service available if you are too busy with your holiday schedule.

We keep your measurements in our database so you can order in future by mail.

Chaweng Beach Road, Opposite Mc Donald’s next to Baan Samui Resort 2016 2017 & 2018

CERTIFICATE of

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Free Pick-up Service, Please Call Mr.Paul : +66 (0) 84 627 3812 E-mail: paulfashion.samui@gmail.com www.paulsfashion-samui.com

To avoid commission for third parties, please call us directly for the absolute best price!

WATER WATER WATER The truth about water in, on, and around Samui – and it’s not all bad news!

Go online. Do a search for ‘Samui’. And then look at what you come across. I don’t mean actually read it all. I mean scan the websites that come up on the first page of Google. They’re all commercial sites that have invested in search engine optimisation – with the exception of Wikipedia and TripAdvisor which inject a much more reliable note into things – perhaps. The most up-to-date info on Samui is what people are doing and saying right at this minute. Unfortunately, that’s sometimes based on impressions and hear-say, and not on real facts. However, in amongst all of this, you’ll not see anything about water – except advice not to drink it out of the tap!

Samui is an island. And so it’s surrounded by the sea water of the Gulf of Thailand. This you will swim in. The island of Samui also gets rained upon. And, unlike the rainwater in so many parts of the world, it’s completely safe to drink; there is no polluted-emissions layer it’s going to fall through first. And then the rain water soaks down into the ground and into the water table. It’s not surprising that this water subsequently flows downhill through the sub-strata – we’re an island which has nearly all of its landmass on a slope down towards the coast, after all. And then some of this water ends up in your water-pipes – and then you wash in it.

Few visitors know anything about how these various systems work together on Samui. Does it really matter? Yes. Why? Because anything from jellyfish stings to rip-tides to conjunctivitis to skin rashes to stomach upsets or a mild fever that is similar to heatstroke could be due to the rainfall, the time of year, the water table, and the simple and unthinking assumption that what comes out of your resort’s tap or shower head is just . . . water.

However, the silver lining is that today everything is much more controlled and organised. Hotels and resorts are aware of the overall inconsistencies, and have got it sorted with filtration systems and reverse osmosis units. And it’s really only the people who live here full time, renting or having bought their own homes, who need to come to grips with the vagaries of the island’s water supply. (And they probably have, anyway.)

So let’s first deal with the water in your pipes. Where does it come from and how does it get there? There is an established but (in the last decade) unreliable source of municipal water piped from the reservoirs directly to residential dwellings. Like many other aspects of life on Samui, it is a system that hasn’t kept up with the demands of the many thousands 72 l www.samuiholiday.com

of new houses. And, in periods of drought or low rainfall, it’s often muddy and sporadic, frequently drying up altogether.

A great many places thus get their water directly from a deep-well sunk into the ground. This is probably the cleanest water you’ll find here, coming straight out of the water table and second only to direct rainwater. Rainwater, on the other hand might not be as good as it seems: if it’s collected from run-off from a roof via gutters into a tank, then it can pick up all sorts of contaminates en-route, from bird excrement to dead insects, lizards and rodents. This can also be true for well-water, by the way.

Next, you might find that your house or resort relies on a water tower of some kind, or a plastic or metal tank that is filled before being pumped to your house. Sounds good. But where does this water actually come from? Well, it comes mostly from one of the island’s small cache reservoirs, and water-tankers go there to fill up before coming to deliver.

These reservoirs have been created by forming man-made barriers in

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the natural run-offs from the peak of the island. Unfortunately they attract numbers of wild dogs which are frequently culled by poisoning. Plus atmospheric dust and decomposing vegetation, much the same as the rainwater run-off from your roof. The residue from all this gets delivered to your tank. But it arrives substantially diluted, and is rarely ever a problem.

What is more significant are the dozens of deep-channel runaways for surface water that lead directly to the sea, and that are found all around Samui. You won’t drink this. But you will swim in it, often unknowingly.

And it’s totally hit and miss. Think about it. Rain falls. Then it drains away on the surface, fast, and sometimes for as far as 10 kilometres before it reaches open water.

You can forget about raw sewerage: for many years now resorts and even small estates and houses have established and managed sceptic tanks which are regularly maintained. But surface water picks up animal excrement. This can cause leptospirosis – contact with the eyes, inner ear

and mucus membranes can give rise to symptoms which include fever, chills, muscle or abdomen pain, conjunctivitis and skin rash.

But it’s easy to avoid, and it creates its own solution, really. If it’s been pouring with rain, don’t go swimming in one of the brownwater channels that are flowing off the land and draining out to sea! And by the time it’s stopped raining, any contaminates will have been diluted or washed out to sea naturally, anyway.

The most common question you’ll hear is – “can I drink the water?”

This is a naive thing to ask, really. It’s like asking “will I get eaten by a shark”? The answer to both is – probably not! More people every year suffer ‘anguish-by-water’ because they ignore our redflag ‘Do Not Swim!’ riptide warnings, than from any other cause.

It’s all really only common sense – and there’s no online answer for a lack of that!

Rob De Wet

SEASIDE TEMPTATION

RockPool at Kanda Pool Villas is the perfect setting for Mediterranean cuisine and much more.

Design-wise, the bold indoor/outdoor concept of RockPool, the restaurant at Kanda Pool Villas, isn’t quite what you would expect of most seaside restaurants. There’s a canopy instead of a ceiling, and outside a series of decks stepping away towards the sea. The setting is a delightfully open one, though with ample shade. RockPool is set on hills – it’s a few kilometres continuing up Chaweng’s beach road towards Choeng Mon – and is perched above the ocean, making for great views. Beyond its cinematographic charms, RockPool has a welldeserved reputation for excellent food. It’s just the place to come and linger for hours, completely undisturbed by the crowds and noise of Chaweng – those few kilometres of separation make all the difference.

Expect a warm greeting when you walk in; the staff are friendly and extremely professional. The atmosphere is a relaxed one where cares about the world slip away without effort. RockPool is run by talented Executive Chef, Lisa Lang, who grew up in South Africa and who has a cosmopolitan approach when it comes to food and drink. She’s put together a nicely balanced selection of dishes that dovetail with the laidback atmosphere at RockPool. It’s decidedly Mediterranean though features many Thai dishes – this is a casual all day dining menu at its very best, with light, fresh cuisine ideal for the long, summery days that Samui provides so generously.

For a relaxed lunch try any of the range of starters, such as chilli orange wings or bruschetta before moving on to mains such as pizzas, pasta, burgers and Fine-de-Claire oysters as well as a range of regional Thai cuisine. RockPool incidentally has its very own pizza oven in order to re-create the authentic tastes of Italy, with many of the ingredients imported from there. Meats, such as lamb or steaks are brought in from Australia, and are grilled to perfection.

If you’re at RockPool for dinner you can dine on an even wider range of food, with epicurean starters such as a goat’s cheese delight, warm French “bûches de chèvre” cheese, honey, pumpkin seeds, mixed leaves or the sheer simplicity of a hummus dip.

There is so much on the menu that it’s hard to settle on even a few recommendations. Carnivores will love, for example, the delicious

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rack of lamb or the grilled rib-eye steak. The latter’s Australian Black Angus with mushroom sauce and roasted, fried and pickled mushrooms.

However, if you’re more into fish, you could opt for the excellent sea bass in tomato purée, tomato confit, green peppercorn, black olive powder. On the Thai side you may wish to order some perfectly prepared seafood such as Pla Yang (snapper fillet, with plenty of fresh Thai herbs, the ensemble being steamed while wrapped in banana leaves). Equally recommended is the Patcha Talay (wok fried prawns, seabass, squid, clams, green peppercorn, onion, garlic, chilli and hot basil). You can also enjoy generous seafood sets that are designed to spoil you; you’ll be served two lobsters, along with prawn, squid, crab and a fresh fruit platter to end. It’s best to order a day in advance. The cost for two people is 4,900 Baht ++.

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RockPool naturally has a range of food that’s entirely suitable for vegetarians and, in addition, they can cater for dietary restrictions and food allergies.

There are also some special offers every week which are proving highly popular. On Wednesdays, from midday to 7:00 pm, enjoy the Beer & Pizza special, whereby you can partake in a delicious wood fired pizza and six local beers for only 690 Baht ++.

Mo’ Mojitos is held every Saturday from midday to 7:00 pm and features various different flavoured mojito jugs along with crispy fried calamari for 490 Baht ++, just about the ideal combination to enjoy while looking out over the bay here.

Come for Sunday Brunch (midday till 4:00 pm, held on the first Sunday of each month) and enjoy an array of the finest seafood, and roast meats of various kinds with chicken, lamb and beef carefully prepared to satisfy diners’ individual tastes. There are also live cooking stations, along with a range of cheeses and antipasti and a line-up of desserts. Pricing depends on the beverage option that you choose; there are price tiers for soft drinks, wine, beer, or cocktails.

RockPool is an extraordinarily beautiful restaurant, with menus that are teeming with goodies; it’s a great place to come whether you’re with your family or are just spending time with a loved one. As an

added perk, RockPool offers a daily happy hour between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm – it’s a top destination for a seaside sundowner.

Dimitri Waring

_____________________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7723 4500 or 0 7795 3161. www.rockpoolsamui.com www.facebook.com/rockpool.kohsamui

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REACHING YOUR TARGET Archery is alive and well on Samui at Flying Arrow.

A hidden gem of a place – and an activity that you definitely wouldn’t think you’d find on a tropical island. Archery in its modern forms is taking off on Samui, and you can have fun with this ancient sport, and then afterwards celebrate your triumphs over a drink, snack or meal. The place to go is Flying Arrow Restaurant & Archery – it’s the one and only destination for archery on Samui.

Why do archery at all? In Europe, during the Middle Ages, it was a popular sport and people gathered all the time to practice. Since those days, however, it’s been in decline. Archery then might seem to be a historical cul-de-sac, a sport forgotten. It turns out not to be the case at all. Modern archery is flourishing, and is characterized by contemporary takes on ancient armaments. Grace and speed are still there, but the skill itself has been aided by modern technology and materials.

Flying Arrow is the brainchild of Michael Hauenstein, who hails from Switzerland, and who’s built both an indoor and outdoor range in Maenam. He’s been an archer for 30 years now and still loves the sport. He provides full equipment and several types of bow, including crossbows. You’ll probably remember as a child having a bow and arrows, but the real thing is quite different. Bigger, more technical, and requiring skill.

Michael provides basic instruction and can train adults and children.

Enthusiasts also drop in – there are few places for them to practice in Thailand. He’s a very friendly person, and good at coaching. He knows full well that most people who come to the archery won’t be familiar with bows. They are all different and feel different to shoot. Some have taken precision to new levels. The crossbows that Michael uses, for example, come with glass sights: peer down them and an electronic red dot marks your target.

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However, training isn’t the only thing Michael does. He has, so to speak, another string to his bow: he’s also a professional chef. He has worked in Costa Rica and South Africa as well as in Switzerland. He’d been coming to Thailand on holidays and decided to settle here and combine two of the things he loves doing most in life: cooking and archery. He shares the cooking with his girlfriend Khun Praweena – Michael makes a variety of schnitzels, burgers, pasta and international food while Khun Praweena focusses on delicious Thai dishes. The kitchen’s open from breakfast onwards. Drinks include cocktails, beers, ice tea and a variety of soft drinks.

You’ll find Flying Arrow in Maenam. Turn off the ring-road at Soi 1, then head up the lane till you see the sign posts for the archery. It’s open in low season from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm daily, except Sundays, and in high season, every day from 9:00 am – 10:00 pm. A try-out package for beginners costs just 390 baht per person per hour (350 baht for children). You get to use a variety of different bows and learn the basics of shooting arrows. Michael also offers group packages for schools. He can also stage parties and gatherings and provide the catering for them, including birthday cakes and other special items. He also offers training

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courses and competitions in all common styles. Team training takes place during weekday mornings.

Flying Arrow is definitely recommended if you’re looking for something less ordinary to do while you’re on Samui. Archery is one of the few activities that really is fun for all the family. An eight-year old child at the range, when asked what she thought of Flying Arrow, summed it up in a single word: “Cool”. Flying Arrow is a wonderful find, a great place to hang out with friends and family, enjoy great food, whether Thai or international, and while away a good few hours trying out the various bows.

Start your journey to better health and vitality today.

Buy at our center in Lamai or online www.TheSourceSamui.com info@thesourcesamui.com Tel: 089 067 9856 (+6689 067 9856)

The Source Herbal Detox

179 Moo 4, Lamai, Maret, Koh Samui 84310 (near Tesco Lamai)

Dimitri Waring

_______________________________________________________ For further information, telephone 0 830 458 209. www.flying-arrow.net

Private Retreat Program - stay at our luxury 4-star retreat on Koh Samui and do our all-inclusive program.

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SEEING IS BELIEVING Venture off-island for some eyes-wide-open adventures with Sa-ard’s Watersports Center.

Did you know that there are over 70 islands and islets surrounding Koh Samui, with dozens upon dozens of gorgeous, secluded white sandy beaches, some of which are only accessible by boat? Done sunbathing around your pool or on the beach, hiking through the mountainous interior, visiting temples and shopping? Sa-ard’s Watersports Centre is here to magically transport you away towards the horizon and new adventures, far from the busy tourist trail and crowds.

Owner, Khun Sa-ard Panyawan, represented Thailand in windsurfing at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. He has also won five gold medals for windsurfing at the South-East Asia Games. Living and sailing the local archipelago for over 20 years, Sa-ard and his team know the best ways to navigate the beautiful waters and islands that surround Samui. They are the first choice to help you make the most out of the variety of trip options or to organize a bespoke trip.

Around Koh Samui. Starting from the north of the island in Bangrak, this trip passes by the busy beaches of Chaweng and Lamai as well as the smaller and quieter ones like Choeng Mon, Na Kai and Bang Kao Bay.

You get a whole different perspective seeing the island from the sea.

Two kilometres south of Samui lies Koh Taen, with some great snorkelling and swimming, with an abundance of coral and tropical fish. From here you will be guided through Koh Taen’s nature trails, including a walk through a mangrove forest. After lunch, you will have further opportunities to explore the quiet beaches for sunbathing, swimming and more snorkelling.

Around Koh Phangan. Forty-five minutes north of Samui by speedboat is Koh Phangan, with its idyllic, quiet and cosy beaches. Whilst circumnavigating the island, you will have time to for swimming, snorkelling and exploring the secluded sandy beaches, with the option of a short hike to a picture-perfect waterfall. Jump in and cool off, nature’s own bliss!

Angthong National Marine Park is an archipelago lying some 31 kilometres northwest of Samui, and is a one-hour speedboat ride away.

Here you will discover an enchanting wonderland of magnificent gorgeous green islands, clear blue lagoons, mysterious caves and

exotic rock formations. Visit a saltwater lake within a lush green volcanic mountain. Afterwards, there is time for swimming, snorkelling and discovering the smaller islands that appear like perfect tropical fantasies.

The snorkelling trip to Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan is a 90-minute speedboat ride away from Samui. More perfect conditions for snorkelling, with crystal clear water, bountiful corals, colourful fish and beautiful unspoilt beaches, all just waiting for you.

Sunset cruises head out around the north-east coast of Samui from Bangrak, returning via Big Buddha in all its glory, hopefully backdropped by the glorious red, pink, orange and gold, of a spectacular sunset.

Fishing tours provide fishing rods and all the bait that you need. Let the crew dictate the locations… they know the best weather dependent spots!

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All tours include water, soft drinks, lunch, snorkelling equipment, transfers to and from your resort or villa and full insurance. The boats leave from either Bangrak or Bophut in the north of Samui, depending on the weather and tide.

at the front of the boat and let your senses enjoy the smell and feel of the sea-spray as you glide through the deep clear and glassy water. At the rear, relax in a shaded outdoor area with a big table and plenty of comfortable seating.

The latest edition to Sa-ard’s fleet is the impressive ‘Sting’. A super customised 40 foot, Gulf Craft touring speedboat, powered by twin 300 HP engines with a top speed of 40 knots. Sting has all the latest navigational equipment as well as a flat-screen TV, DVD and CD player, Bose speakers, electric toilet, fresh water shower at the rear, fridge, large cooler boxes and plenty of storage facilities. The lounge area has seating for up to 13 people, with another four at the back. This is a true multipurpose speedboat, perfect for day trips.

Join one of the organized trips, or both boats are available for charter to the outer islands, the marine park, fishing trips, and full moon party taxi services. Sa-ard’s Watersports Center also offers windsurfing and sailing lessons, sea canoe, snorkelling equipment hire, and banana boat fun.

The maritime world of the Gulf of Thailand is entrancingly beautiful, and will provide adventures and memories that’ll stay with you forever, both above and below the water. It’s definitely worth venturing off-island. With Sa-ard’s team, seeing it isn’t just believing it, it’s feeling it all around you and being part of it!

The star of the fleet however, is the ‘Kindred Spirit’. A 13 by nine-metre twin-hulled luxury catamaran sailing boat. Capable of taking up to 20 people for a day trip or sunset cruise, and comfortably sleeps up to six people for overnight trips. There are three air-conditioned double bedrooms, one with an ensuite bathroom. The fully equipped vessel has a large, fully air-conditioned indoor living area complete with flat screen TV, CD/DVD player and a kitchen with fridge-freezer, oven and stove. Spread yourself out across a comfortably-cushioned netted area 90 l www.samuiholiday.com

Karan Ladd

_____________________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, contact Khun Tik on 0 805 191 777. www.saardswatersport.com

B a r g e & Te r r a c e

Fine Beachside Dining at The Rice Barge & Terrace Authentic Thai Cuisine Daily A La Carte and Thai Set Dinner No visit to Samui is complete until you have dined at The Rice Barge & Terrace

Rice Barge & Terrace Nora Buri's Signature Restaurant Chaweng North For Reservation Tel: 0 7791 3555 E-mail: ricebarge@noraburiresort.com www.noraburiresort.com

Nora Buri's Restaurant Chaweng North For Reservation Tel: 0 7791 3555 E-mail: ricebarge@noraburiresort.com www.noraburiresort.com

TREASURES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

Dine on the Mediterranean delights of The Cliff Bar & Grill: fine food and drink presented by a stellar team.

Drive up through the winding hills between Chaweng and Lamai and you’ll come to The Cliff Bar & Grill, one of the most well-known spots on the island for foreign residents. Step through into the restaurant and you’ll want to admire the picturesque view from The Cliff’s outdoor deck. With the entire restaurant open to the beautiful bay outside, you can see why so many people are drawn to this amazing location.

But the real drawcard – the one that has made The Cliff one of Samui’s enduringly great restaurants – isn’t the view at all. It’s the food. From farm and sea to the kitchen and finally the dining table, The Cliff has a highly professional approach to food, with freshness and quality always at the forefront. Vegetables are organically grown and include produce from The Cliff’s own gardens. When it comes to meat, only premium-grade is used. Beef, for example, is directly flown in from Australia. It’s aged for an impressive three weeks and is always chilled, not frozen – to give you all the more freshness and, of course, way more flavour.

The kitchen team is headed by Chef Sergio Martelli, who’s worked at some of the world’s top restaurants. He’s from Ancona in Italy and

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KAYAKING Explore the caves and beaches of the Angthong National Marine Park Offices located behind Bondi Pub in central Chaweng and on Chaweng Lake Road opposite Lake View For reservations please call 0 7730 0615 or 0 878 866 097

www.bluestars.info

has worked at the Cliff since the restaurant’s earliest days. He produces creative dishes that centre on the Mediterranean, but also cover places as far afield as South America. He uses exactly the right combinations of herbs, spices and olive oils, most of which have been sourced from Portugal, Spain and the Mediterranean. Eat at The Cliff and you’ll even be offered three different types of salt to go with your food – everything in the restaurant shows total dedication.

Recently, Sergio’s been joined by Lance Williamson, who is the executive sous-chef here. He hails from South Africa, where he started learning to cook as a child before he went on to culinary school. At the age of 21, his passion, dedication, creativity and talent won him South Africa’s prestigious ‘Young Chef of the Year’ award. Soon after that he got started with a savvy combination of world travel and cooking, experiencing different cuisines and cultures from the USA, to Australia and New Zealand and West Africa – where he opened up half a dozen hotel restaurants in Nigeria. At The Cliff, you’ll find him compiling menus for functions

– they do quite a few weddings here, along with all sorts of gatherings – and fine-tuning the menu to make it even more presentable and delicious.

Offering plenty of inspiration, he’s helping to make this restaurant better still. All the team here are welcoming and friendly and this only adds to the relaxed vibe of the place.

Go for lunch or dinner, and you’ll have a select choice of highly tempting dishes. There are seafood platters and fresh line fish – catch of the day – grilled to perfection with Italian lemon and herb sauce. They’re served with Spanish rice or French fries with salad. Meats are equally delicious.

Try the house speciality, Portuguese piri-piri chicken, which is marinated then grilled over charcoal. Highly recommended is the Australian rib eye steak (330 g), or the delicious New Zealand lamb chops – you get three of them, each weighing 100 grams. Steaks and chops come with tasty sauces and accompaniments. Check out the full menu, which is on the website.

With so much yumminess to experience at The Cliff, and distracted by the views, you may well not notice something until it’s time to leave: the wall by the main door is covered with awards for both food and wine. You may stop to ponder them or not. They’re from distinguished, professional industry leaders such as Thai Tatler and Wine Spectator – the former praised it as being one of the best places to eat in Thailand, while the latter gave it an award of excellence for having one of the most

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outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world. Not exactly faint praise.

And The Cliff wins awards like this every year.

The Cliff is open daily from midday until last food orders at 9:45 pm.

A range of cocktails await you in The Cliff’s own very popular cocktail bar, which is open till a lot later. It’s always recommended to make a reservation at The Cliff, but the terrace overlooking gorgeous Thong Takian Bay is the spot to ask for when booking.

Dynamic and always moving forward – never a place to lay back and rest on its culinary laurels – The Cliff is a favourite place for those long and languid afternoons and evenings.

Dimitri Waring

_____________________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7744 8508. www.thecliffsamui.com

BUILDING A LIFESTYLE Property investment opportunities with New Nordic Group.

The New Nordic Group is a Hong Kong based real estate firm, led by a highly-qualified team of dedicated professionals, with expertise in the fields of real estate, property development, finance and hospitality, with on-site management teams at all locations. They are developing and constructing high-quality condominiums, apartments, villas, villages and hotels across South East Asia, and currently have over 100 projects in Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines, with 50 buildings completed. The aim is to create a holiday village environment, where residents and guests can enjoy a carefree lifestyle with accommodation, shops, restaurants, bars and spas, all run by their own resort staff.

New Nordic was established 15 years ago, and is the leader of hotel and condominium development in Pattaya, where they have 36 completed hotels and condominiums, with 14 under construction.

On Samui, the New Nordic Group have two projects right in the vibrant yet relaxing centre of Lamai, just minutes away from the restaurants, 100 l www.samuiholiday.com

shops, bustling nightlife and the calm and relaxing beach. Koh Samui Lamai Hotel and Resort has everything any guest or permanent resident would need, and their brand-new venture, Koh Samui Water World, is bringing a whole new concept to the island. It offers three buildings dedicated to apartments of differing sizes, and a three-story restaurant with lounge and pool bar. The whole project is set around a continuous pool area, with waterfalls, Jacuzzis and waterslides as well as a spa, fitness room, shops and children’s play area.

Koh Samui Water World has four types of accommodation; studios and one, two and three bedroom, two bathroom apartments. These projects are primarily an investment opportunity with a range of options to suit even the most timid of investors.

1. Cashback combo with buyback. Buy today and get 10% of your initial purchase price paid monthly for three years when the project is completed. You can then choose to have New Nordic buy back your

investment at the original purchase price or to keep the unit yourself.

2. Three years cash back with five years rental guarantee and buyback. Buy today, and get three years cash back as in option 1 and then have a 5-year rental guarantee of 9% net of the initial purchase price paid monthly, when the project becomes operational.

3. Rental guarantee for 15 years. Let New Nordic Group rent your purchased leasehold property for a period of 15 years, and receive a 10% annual rental guarantee on the initial purchase price paid monthly for the full 15 years.

There are also options for buying by instalment. Just contact the friendly English speaking team in Lamai and discuss all the permutations with them.

On joining the New Nordic community, you will receive regular updates and communication with the developer, and a range of services at your doorstep. All investors also become a part of their Orange Privilege Club, with benefits and services across all their resorts.

Investing in off-plan property in the pre-sale phase of any project is a huge advantage, and an excellent low price investment opportunity to purchase real estate in Thailand. New Nordic make it easy for you, and as already mentioned, offer excellent incentives.

The New Nordic Samui office, with its professional sales team and showroom demonstrating what a finished apartment would look like, is located in the centre of Lamai, just off the beach road. Turn into a service road right opposite Bondi Aussie Bar and Grill, which goes behind a number of outside bars with a Muay Thai boxing ring in the centre. You can’t miss the bright orange New Nordic logo!

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If you have money sitting in the bank earning very little interest and want a better return on your hard earned cash, then visit their website and contact their sales team for an informal, no pressure chat. Help build the lifestyle you want, either purely as an investor in paradise or for a property to prosper in.

Karan Ladd ___________________________________

For further information, call Anders Johansson on 0 652 746 599. email: samui@new-nordic.com

EXPERIENCE SIGNATURE CHAR GRILL DINING AT ITS BEST. Dining on an al fresco deck on the west end of Fisherman's Village, overlooking our charming Lily Pond garden and shoreline infinity pool. Savour fresh seafood and tender meats grilled to perfection, enhanced by tableside preparations and expert salt guru seasonings.

Every day for lunch and dinner 12.00 noon – 10.30 pm For reservations or more information, please contact our Guest Service Centre at +66 77 428 300 or email bophutsamui@anantara.com.

LIFE IS A JOURNEY. Visit anantara.com

Full Moon

Fisherman’s Village

Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort 99/9 Moo 1, Bophut Bay, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84320 Thailand T +66 (0) 77 428 300-9 F +66 (0) 77 428 310 E bophutsamui@anantara.com

SIP, SAVOUR, LOUNGE & LINGER Upmarket and laid back, you’ll be going back again to Coast at Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui!

Centara Grand Resort Samui is no stranger to Samui, being one of the longest-established chunks of 5-star real estate on the island. It’s not exactly a household word. But in recent years it’s certainly shown itself to be one of the most progressive of all the Thai mega-names. You’ll get to their signature restaurant, Coast, by heading over to the right-hand side of the car park. Follow your way through the greenery and you’ll come across the wooden decking leading into the beach-frontage.

As a restaurant this is undoubtedly one of the most innovative anywhere in the world. The Catalonian Executive Chef, Sandro Aguilera, has put together an entire strata of gourmet delights, with a variety of influences from cuisines worldwide, but with a great many Spanish and Mediterranean sidesteps. And together with the resort’s Director of Food & Beverages, Rohit Pandey, he has been instrumental in creating an alluring event for every evening of the week.

It’s all very neatly designed and laid out. A large central area which edges onto the beach has been broken into different areas and levels, with a series of very attractive modern canopied spaces in the middle.

There are actually four buildings around the edge, all of them clean, white and very Mediterranean in feel. The open-sided bar features some very chic hanging seats, and this is next to a lower beach level with rows of modern scooped daybeds, each in their own little niche, and with a group of tented salas nearby. It’s a beautifully designed place, open, bright, inviting and with lots of cosy nooks and corners.

Every Monday, for example, there’s a sumptuous ‘Beach BBQ’, with a range or perfectly-barbecued meats, seafood, salads, appetisers and desserts, plus the spectacle of a fire dance show. And the following evening chef Sandro expresses his culinary arts by orchestrating the ‘Apertivo Italiano’ – take a drink and help yourself to one of the range of exciting ‘tapas’ that are available.

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Wednesday is a buffet-style ‘Mediterranean Circus’, where the focus is on the reinterpretation of traditional recipes, while being entertained by a performing dance and acrobatic troupe. And Thursday there’s the ‘Paella

and Tapas’ sets – followed the next day by ‘Crazy Lobster’, a lobster free-for-all, cooked on the spot as you like it, with an extensive range of side dishes and an attendant DJ. And Saturday you’ll find ‘Steak Out’, a choice from a range of prime meats from Australia and New Zealand, with a huge buffet of sauces, salads, vegetables and greens.

All of these evenings are astonishingly affordable. When was the last time you came across a whole lobster for 990 baht – especially with a 5-star gourmet setting. And the same price goes for the Steak Out, too.

But probably the most iconic and extravagant of all events at Coast is their ‘Sunday Brunch’. If you’re visiting Samui, along with the obligatory trip to Fisherman’s Village this is the next thing that simply has to be on your go-to list. This brunch is like having every evening’s super food features, all out for you at the same time and at one exclusive price. It’s almost beyond description, such is the

atmosphere and the enormous range of superb gourmet food available – not to mention the delightfully light-hearted yet totally professional staff.

It hardly does it justice to say – there’s an air-conditioned wine & cheese room, a very hip open-sided bar, an outside BBQ section, the air-conditioned glass-sided lounge, and an air-con pizzeria and grill room. There are salads, pastas and risotti, gourmet burgers, a Japanese section, a choice of any of a dozen lavish cold cuts plus fresh imported French oysters, cheeses and out-of-this-world desserts. The carvery hosts choice cuts of imported beef, lamb and turkey. And there’s an inexhaustible selection of super salads and side dishes and roast and mashed potato, too. And so very much more!

There are three pricing levels here; the basic one is an exceptional 1,500 baht, including whatever soft drinks you fancy. The next tier includes one full bottle of wine between two guests and is just 2,190 baht. And the ‘Platinum Brunch’ is somewhat pricier, but includes all you can drink from the selected range of wines, beers and cocktails and spirits – ideal if you’re coming in a party or group – and there are also play-care facilities if you bring your kids along. It’s also worth mentioning also that there is a generous 25% discount available for Samui residents – one more reason why this event is so very popular. This definitive brunch runs from mid-day until 4:00 pm – more details can be found on the links below.

Rob De Wet

_______________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone: 0 7723 0500 Ext 595 www.coast-beach-club.com/samui Facebook – CoastBeachClub

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B Smart B Smart Sys. Co., LTD has been providing top level security solutions, lighting control systems, CCTV systems, access control, fire alarms and WiFi solutions since 1999.

B Smart has quickly earned the reputation for being one of the most progressive and innovative system integrators in Thailand.

Along with high quality products and a very knowledgeable work force, you can be confident that B Smart Sys. Co., LTD will meet and exceed your expectations.

Hotline: 0 815 631 685 Email: bsmartsys@gmail.com For Taxi: ร้านตั้งอยู่ตรงข้ามโรงแรมนภาใส แม่น้ำ�

If you are looking for something wonderful and different, Zazen Restaurant is the place for you to discover. Truly one of the most romantic & serene beachside dining restaurants on the island, magnificently lit with over a hundred candles every night.

Every Thursday and Sunday night, an amazing Thai Dance Show with live music and traditional costumes awaits you.

Reservations are required.

Dress code is smart casual.

Tel: 077 425 085, 081 737 8771 Email: fb@samuizazen.com Website: www.samuizazen.com

Invisalign takes a modern approach The Original BriteSmile Centre from e to straighten your teeth without braces, a n lov using iWhitening.

Hollywood’s Professional Teeth l l a ant FalignersR series of custom-made created e stau r for n ze Oneand Hour you only you.at Za One Visit One Dazzling Smile Virtually invisible Smooth andnew comfortable Offering other services: Painless dentistry, Removable for depigmentation easy cleaning with laser andEat dental implants, well as a wide range whatever youas want of dental hygiene and care. th,

ing my tee e to straighten ign When it cam s clear: Invisal the choice wa

Bangkok Samui Dental Clinic Open Daily 9.00 - 19.00

Tel: Tel:007742 77429500 9500 Website: Website:www.DentalSamui.com www.samuidentalsolution.com For Taxi: www.samuidentalsolution.com ร้านตั้งอยู่ในโรงพยาบาลกรุงเทพ ถนนรอบเกาะ ตง้ัอยใู่นโรงพยาบาลกรงุเทพ For Taxi: รา้นเฉวง

ถนนรอบเกาะ เฉวง

Asia Travel Asia Travel is the most popular travel agency on Koh Samui. Established 15 years ago, they are well known to provide updated travel information reasonably priced for all international and domestic needs. Their second to none consultancy service will help you with all aspects of long or short stay requirements such as visa, work permit or company registration and finances. Asia Travel is well known for their quality services as mentioned in The Lonely Planet.

Tel: 0 7742 1342, 0 7742 1185, 081 970 9632, 081 396 0023 Fax: 0 7742 1185 Email: asiatravel_international@yahoo.com For Taxi: ร้านตั้งอยู่ที่ถนนหน้าทอน

Simply the best

Private real estate with incredible 180-Degree views The actual view from this house is the picture above. This 4-bedroom house has been built according to European standards on 972 sqm. It is centrally located near Nathon and only 500 metres from the main road in a small, warm and tidy community. Priced very competitively, this house is ideal for couples or young families ready to live in paradise.

Price: 8 Million THB only Tel: 081 970 9632 Email: asiatravel_international@yahoo.com

T H E

H O M E

O F

I N S P I R E D

I N T E R I O R S

Phuket 424 Srisoonthorn Rd. Cherngtalay Tel/Fax: +66 (0) 76 325 419

Samui 9/18 Moo1 Maenam Tel/Fax: +66 (0) 77 247 675

info@oriental-living.net

www.oriental-living.net