Sep/Oct 2014.

Island Festival

SAMUI’S NEW CENTRAL FESTIVAL MALL REDEFINES THE LEISURE EXPERIENCE

Starring Blue

EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF ANGTHONG MARINE PARK WITH BLUE STARS KAYAKING

CRAFTED LIVING SPACES

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

A Warm Welcome

Editor

Graeme Malley graeme@siammap.com

Graphic Designer Wunvilai Punnern - Meow

Photographer

Akaphon Phongninlaarphon - Don

Feature Writer Rob De Wet

Feature Writer Rosanne Turner

Feature Writer Colleen Setchell

Feature Writer Charisma Bharadwaj

Webmaster

Seksak Kerdkanno - Klauy

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

ning@siammap.com

Financial Director Kasper Bjørk kasper@siammap.com

Managing Director Henrik Bjørk henrik@siammap.com

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

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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. 2014

Samui’s like a magnet. Come here once and you’ll be drawn back time and time again by its amazing powers of attraction. It’s a bit like a recreational drug really, but without the adverse side effects!

And why is this? Is there a single reason, such as the unspoilt tropical beaches with the warm turquoise waters, the fantastic value for money when dining in fabulous restaurants or maybe the multitude of fun activities on offer? The truth is that it’s a perfect combination of the above, and a whole lot more, besides.

But many other leading holiday destinations around the world provide the same, or even more, and sometimes with a greater style and panache than this little island does. The big difference being that Samui is overflowing with an indefinable charm; as the French would say, it has a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’. And having been here for just a short time, you’ll see why. And very soon, you’ll find yourself planning a return visit, to get your next Samui ‘fix’!

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.

Neo New World Tapas and Grill KC Beach Club – Chaweng Beach Sharing tapas planks, amazing cuts of imported meats cooked to perfection on charcoal in our Josper Grill.

Free pickup available within 10km of Chaweng.

See NeoSamui Facebook page for up to date offers and photos.

Join us for our weekly Saturday pool party 1pm – 6pm.

Happy Hour everyday 5pm – 7pm. 2 for 1 on all cocktails and beers.

Reservation: +66 (0) 77 915 155

www.kcbeachclub.com rsvn@kcbeachclubsamui.com Facebook NEOSAMUI

CONTENTS

20 20 A Magical Underwater World Making the most of the snorkelling opportunities around Samui.

28 Beautiful Spaces Oriental Living, an interior decorating studio and shop in Maenam, offers beautiful collections and professional service.

36 The Page to Be On Prepare to be amazed at The Library.

44 Weddings Should be an Experience, Not Just a Day Faraway Weddings ensure your big day is uniquely special.

52 Island Festival Samui’s new Central Festival mall redefines the leisure experience.

58 The Beach, the Club, the Heart A cool look at KC Beach Club – right in the heart of Chaweng.

64 Starring Blue Experience the beauty of Angthong Marine Park with Blue Stars Kayaking.

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70 70 Tongue Thai-d The Thai language is quite unique, as anyone who’s ever tried to learn it has discovered.

74 So Much More Morya pharmacies are your one-stop healthcare outlets on Samui.

78 Gone Fishing Dropping in for a quick bite has a different meaning at Dr Fish!

82 A Walk on the Wild Side There may not be lions and pandas, but Samui does have some wildlife.

88 Happy Hour Showers Great Dining and Entertainment at Nora Beach Resort.

94 Surreal Sea-Walking Experience the underwater world in a truly unique way.

98 See it, Like it, Do it The exclusively private way to have your own beach party – at Akyra Chura.

104 All That Glisters A look at how gold is very much a part of daily life in Thailand.

110 Island Child If you’re considering relocating to a tropical island, you’re probably concerned whether it’s the right thing for your children.

116 The Original Spa Cleansing yourself at The Spa Samui.

122 Off the Beaten Track A little gem of a hideaway on the west coast – The Siam Residence.

128 Going Over the Hill Down in Lamai there’s a crowd every night – at Seafood Palate.

134 Up, Up and Away You’ll make your party go with a pop, when you call-in Balloon Samui!

Mediterranean Mediterranean Cuisine Cuisine Amidst Amidst aa panoramic panoramic dreamscape dreamscape that that overlooks overlooks the the pristine pristine Crystal Crystal Bay, Bay, The The Cliff Cliff warmly warmly invites invites you you to to aa truly truly unforgettable unforgettable dining dining experience experience on on Koh Koh Samui.

Samui.

www.thecliffsamui.com www.thecliffsamui.com

HAPA 2011 - 2013 Most Exquisite Dining Experience Most Trendy Casual Dining Restaurant Of The Year

Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2014

"Thailand's Best Restaurants"

2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, & 2014

Reservations Essential For For reservations reservations call call 077 077 448 448 508 508 Kitchen Kitchen open open 12:00 12:00 pm pm 10:00 10:00 pm pm -- Bar Bar open open 12:00 12:00 pm pm -- 2:00 2:00 am am

Tapas Tapas Bar Bar open open from from 12:00 12:00 pm pm -- 7:00 7:00 pm pm

Choeng Mon Choeng Mon

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.

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.

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.

Romantic views, soothing sounds and classic Italian fare with a modern approach combine to please the most discerning diner.

Olivio - a must for visitors and locals alike.

Olivio ~ beachfront at Baan Haad Ngam Boutique Resort Chaweng Beach.

Free round trip transfer from Chaweng, Bophut and Choeng Mon. For reservation please call 0 7723 1500

Baan Haad Ngam Boutique Resort & Spa 154 Moo 2, Chaweng Beach, Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320 Tel: +66 77 231 500 Mob: +66 81 751 6073 Fax: +66 77 231 520 Email: info@baanhaadngam.com, booking@baanhaadngam.com www.baanhaadngam.com

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A MAGICAL UNDERWATER WORLD

Making the most of the snorkelling opportunities around Samui.

You’re visiting Koh Samui and you’ve heard stories about tropical fish, pretty reefs and blue spotted sting rays but you’re not a diver.

Fear not, there is no reason to miss out, there are some pretty good snorkelling spots around the island and a little further afield.

For starters, snorkelling along the shores of Samui itself is possible, but is not always the most satisfying. The lack of suitable reefs providing housing for exotic marine life is half the problem, and sometimes the visibility isn’t ideal. A few places offer snorkelling gear to paddle about in the shallow water, but you’re only likely to see a few fish and nothing more. It’s much better to take advantage of the

many tours offered by various companies on the island.

Firstly the kit. For snorkelling, you only need a mask and a snorkel.

Fins are useful but not essential. These can either be purchased or you can use the ones provided by the tour operators. If you want top of the range kit, these can sometimes be purchased at various dive shops around the island. There are also sports shops in the shopping centres on the island that stock basic snorkelling gear. Big C, Tesco Lotus and the new Central Festival all have sports shops which are sure to cater for an enthusiastic snorkeler.

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So now you have your kit, where do you go? If this is your first visit to Samui, you might not know about the other islands nearby.

Down in the southwest corner of the island are Koh Matsum and Koh Taen. A lot of companies that offer boat trips around Samui, will stop here for lunch. Koh Taen has a nice reef with pretty corals, blue spotted sting rays and a multitude of stripy tropical fish.

Immediately north of Samui, a mere 18 kilometres away, is its biggest neighbour Koh Pha-Ngan. Here the best snorkelling is on the west coast, from Sri Thanu up to Koh Ma (a tiny island off the northwest tip of the island). Good beaches are Haad Chao Phao, Haad Yao, Haad Salad and Mae Haad, especially if you head to the rocky areas. There are some tour companies that do ‘round the island’ trips that will stop here. They include lunch and snorkelling (and provide kit) and most leave from Haad Rin Beach (of Full Moon Party fame) in the south east corner of the island.

Angthong National Marine Park is said to be the inspiration for Alex Garland’s book, ‘The Beach’ which became a bit of a cult movie in later years. This incredible 42-island collection of strangely shaped limestone outcrops, steep cliffs and turquoise waters, is teeming with marine life. There are many tours that head here for the day, but thankfully the area is large enough to accommodate everyone.

Located on the tropical stretch of golden sands and turquoise waters off Koh Samui’s up market Bophut bay, Beach Bar offers wide variety of cocktails, champagne, wines, snacks, delicious home made ice cream and freshly blended fruit drink Come and join our happy hour as day turns to dusk before strolling down to the quaint cobblestone ‘Bophut Fisherman village’ Good things come in three, enjoy our Happy Hours daily at

01:30 - 02:30 pm 06:30 - 07:30 pm 09:30 - 10:30 pm

- buy one get one free -

HANSAR SAMUI

101/27-28 Moo 1, Bophut Koh Samui 84320 Thailand +66 77 245 511 | www.hansarsamui.com

But the pièce de résistance has to be Koh Tao, regarded as ‘the’ diving spot in Thailand. If you’re staying on Koh Tao your resort might be able to organise a ‘round the island’ tour, and snorkelling might be included in this. This allows you to see a bit of the island as well as what’s under the water around it. Ao Leuk is a popular spot, with a wide bay and some great snorkelling spots on the edges.

If you hover over the sand in the middle, you might see some rays. Haad Sai Daeng isn’t as good as Ao Leuk but does boast the odd shark. Nothing like a certain menacing creature from the movies however, these are shy and require patience to see. Mango Bay is a popular snorkelling spot and is best accessed by longtail boat or kayak. It sometimes has huge schools of fish which throb and pulse in a large vortex, very exciting to watch!

Koh Tao’s little sister island, Koh Nang Yuan, is a private island that is actually three smaller islands connected by a sandbank. Together, these three islands form three bays with clear water, colourful fish and pretty coral reefs, with the added bonus of no strong currents, which makes it ideal for snorkelling.

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Sa-ard’s Watersports Centre has a selection of catamarans, sailboats and speedboats which provide various tours around Samui or out to the neighbouring islands. All tours provide plenty opportunities to snorkel or swim in little bays or coves. Refreshments and lunch are provided either on the boats or on the islands visited.

So there are plenty of opportunities to explore the beautiful underwater world around Samui. Avoid the water after storms or heavy rain as it reduces the visibility, watch out for strong currents, and wear a T-shirt to stop your back from burning in the sun … and enjoy!

Colleen Setchell

_________________________________________ For further information, telephone 0 7724 7656. www.saardswatersport.com

BOUTIQUE RESORT KOH SAMUI

The Place! The People! The Party! …amazing place for extraordinary people…

KC Beach Club & Pool Villas – new stylish & modern hotel with 42 luxury rooms & pool villas.

Great entertainment program in the Beach Club.

Open bar & à la carte dining.

Follow us on

: KC Beach Club & Pool Villas Koh Samui

KC Beach Club & Pool Villas Koh Samui on Chaweng Beach Every Saturday & Sunday Pool Party from 12 – 6 pm Weekend Lunch Buffet from 1-5 pm In House DJ Club Music

www.kcbeachclub.com rsvn@kcbeachclubsamui.com Tel: +66 (0) 77 915 155

BEAUTIFUL SPACES 28 l www.samuiholiday.com

“We miss them when they go,” said Khun Alex, interior decorator and project manager at Oriental Living, Samui. Contrary to what you might think, he’s not talking about the wonderful customers who frequent the store, and whose homes and businesses he’s made more beautiful. No – he’s talking about the Buddha and other statues that are purchased, and for which he assists with the paperwork to take out of the country. “I tell them that they are going to a lovely new home in Milan, or wherever they are going, and they must be excited and happy to leave,” says Alex.

Oriental Living, an interior decorating studio and shop in Maenam, offers beautiful collections and professional service.

“I couldn’t live without something that touches my heart. No one should.”

Donna Karan “Objects really do acquire a life of their own, when they’ve been held and loved for years.” Vito Giallo Perhaps Alex has the same viewpoint as these designers, as he won’t let one of his treasured statues leave the store if he doesn’t believe that the buyer has formed a real bond and connection with the piece – then it wasn’t meant to be, and the right person will come along for the statue in the future. www.samuiholiday.com l 29

He’ll also make sure that the new owner knows where, and from what period, the statue comes, what material it’s made from and if that has any significance, and help them to understand a little background about the Buddha, so that the piece is loved and treasured. Alex walked me outside to the front of the shop to meet his girlfriend – who happened to be a striking larger-than-life painting of an Asian girl, gracing the shop’s front window. He’ll be sorry to see her move to a new home, no doubt …

Now that might all sound rather eccentric, but it goes with the territory, and you’d expect a designer to be nothing less than quirky.

Alex’s passion, not only for the exquisitely crafted statues, but for all things beautiful, is contagious. Walk around the store (gallery is a better word), and he’ll point out this chair, or that painting, and give you a story of where it was acquired, or what complements it perfectly. As he explains, “I consider this a hobby that I’m lucky enough to earn a living from. I love decorating, so it doesn’t feel like work.”

Not only does Alex have an eye for detail and design, but he’s resourceful too. See a table that you absolutely adore, but it’s out of your budget – no problem, he’ll source you something similar that’s more affordable. If it’s not in the store, you’re able to browse through numerous catalogues, and pieces can be made to order too.

Sometimes, simply changing the material an item is made from can substantially affect the price, and this is where Alex proves his worth.

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Oriental Living’s main customers are not only the owners of luxury villas on the island, but also resorts and hotels that are looking for a facelift.

Sometimes the rooms are looking tired and need refreshing, and other times it’s just the reception and lobby that are in need of a little sprucing up.

No job is too big or too small, and a limited budget is merely seen as a challenge. Recent projects include uplifting of the rooms at Tongsai Bay, as well as at Anantara Lawana (including the beautiful outdoor furniture by the pool bar), hotel rooms at Napasai, and a facelift of the lobby and beach restaurant at the InterContinental Baan Taling Ngam.

Alex and his team offer a full decorating service, starting with a free consultation. To make the most of the service, let them know what your budget is right from the beginning so that they can work within it, and source furniture, soft furnishings and artwork. Oriental Living carries ranges and collections ranging from exclusive, one-off pieces, to custom-made sofas, tables, chairs, beds and window dressings. If you’re looking for something for your home, you’ll be impressed with the ranges and collectibles on offer. If, on the other hand, you’d like the look, but have budget restraints, Alex will suggest a different fabric for example, or the table in a different wood – and the end result will be just as spectacular.

Ranges and one-off pieces are sourced from across Asia, such as furniture from Indonesia and lacquer-ware from Burma. Handcrafted ceramics and paintings from their in-house artist add the finishing touches, and become the talking points of a room.

Of course, Oriental Living wouldn’t be complete without Alex’s dedicated team. As he explains, “Like a good tom yum goong, there are many flavours. On their own, they are good enough, but together they are fabulous!” And so he introduces the team, “Khun Yanee and Khun Dew head up our sales and customer relations, and they’re particularly service orientated, making sure all orders are correct. Khun Id is in charge of purchasing, sourcing all items as required by the customer. Khun Nadia runs our accounting department, and ensures we stick to the budgets set - very important keeping me under control! Khun Ple and Khun Beer are our technicians, in charge of delivery and installation, ensuring that our products arrive safe and sound to our customers.

And we have the Phuket team as back up during busy periods.”

If you’re building or renovating a villa, it’s advisable to contact Oriental Living at the early construction stage, as Alex and his team can advise on the finishes too, completing the story – from flooring and wall finishes to cupboards and lighting, and of course a colour scheme that will go with the end result you’re looking for. As Alex explains, tongue in cheek, “I know which colours go together like Brad and Angelina, and which colours fight!”

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Dream Holiday under Palms Only a 35 minutes drive from Koh Samui’s small scenic airport, known secrets of the island. in tropical gardens. Created to provide the very best of Thai hospitality, this small luxury retreat incorporates luxurious an atmosphere of calm and seclusion. a place to return to …

The decorating isn’t limited to inside the villa, and with a tropical climate, outdoor living areas are as important as indoor spaces.

Oriental Living carries attractive, yet hardwearing ranges of outdoor furniture, from dining tables to pool loungers, as well as garden statues and weatherproof artwork to ensure your home is stylish both inside and out. And with a full service being provided, why not sip on a cup of freshly brewed Americano coffee, browse through catalogues and take advantage of Alex’s expertise and passion, while discussing what it is you’re looking for. As a tourist, if you see a piece that you’d like to take back home, no problem, as international shipping can be arranged.

1 or 2 bedroom luxury villas, separate living room, marble bath, two toilets, party second open air bath, familiy villas (130 m2!).

Tropical garden, designer-pool, german-speaking management, Restaurant, Sala directly at the beach!

So if you’re in need of a little creative inspiration, or just fancy a look around, pop in to Oriental Living in Maenam, as Alex is always up for a chat, and keen to show you around.

Rosanne Turner

__________________________________________ For further information, telephone 0 7724 7675. www.oriental-living.net

Enjoy your lunch or spectacular sunset dinner at the open air Pavilion restaurant directly at the beach overlooking the sea and

Join us for a relaxed and unforgetable dining experience!

Open daily from 7.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.

e-mail: samui@siamresidence.com www.siamresidence.com

THE PAGE

TO BE ON

Thailand never fails impress with its creativity. But what’s rare to behold is luxury hotel space which is not just a hotel, but one of a kind. The Library, on Chaweng Beach is just such a place. We’re not their only fans. Magazines like The International Traveller and Forbes featured them in their top ten pools earlier this year.

Prepare to be amazed at The Library.

And why? The colour of the pool tiles are red, yellow and orange, and on a sunny day with blue skies above and the turquoise sea behind, you notice a brilliant red pool - quite an unusual visual experience!

The Library is a part of the Design Hotels group, a brand known for its design and creativity. Each hotel that’s part of the group has its own individuality, and so does The Library. The owner of The Library is a young and dynamic visionary, who created his prodigious space especially for those who appreciate art. Creative thinkers, architects, interior designers, graphic designers, photographers, artists and those who appreciate art in any form are their regular and repeat guests.

If you happen to be one of them, you are most likely to engage in an invigorating conversation with the founder, the enthusiastic marketing manager, or a like-minded guest. Unlike some big resorts, every event here is designed personally by the owner, who likes to stay close to his project.

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The 26 rooms placed on both sides of the pathway, feel like different pages of one massive book. The page numbers are listed on the grass, and sculptures of people reading books are aesthetically placed in the gardens that lead you to the actual library and the sea-side restaurant. What’s interesting is the amount of space all around. The philosophy of the creator is not about making money, it’s about creating what he likes. He’s not afraid to experiment, and this is evident in the boutique’s incomparable design.

If you’re in the mood to flip through more pages, you can pick a book from their library, that suits your taste, and sit by the beach at their sea-side restaurant, The Page. It’s all indexed quite neatly. The Page is divided into three sections. You can sit close to the beach and listen to the DJ spin some chill-out tunes, or sit a level higher, in the open air which is a slightly more formal side, or in the air-conditioned interior, which is right next to the pool. The second and third sections give you the pool view on one side and the view of the sea on the other. This restaurant is open from 7:00 am to 12:00 midnight.

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Among the recommended dishes at The Page is the starter of mouth-watering ‘Seared Hokkaido Scallops with Red Pepper Coulis’. For your main course, select from the ‘Grilled Lamb Rack with Middle Eastern Ratatouille, Raifa Yoghurt and Berny Almond Ball’ from the Chef’s Choice menu; ‘Grilled Snow Fish with Five Asian Flavours Sauce’, or the wonderfully tender ‘Lamb Massaman Curry’. And for dessert, you must try the fresh mango with sticky rice.

And to drink, if you like sweet and sour, you will especially like the Caprioska Lychee cocktail from their drinks menu. You can order it with or without alcohol.

This is also available during their happy-hours – buy one get one free – between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm.

As well as The Page, they also have another restaurant called Drink Gallery, which is located right on Chaweng Beach Road, which is slightly more casual dining, with quick-bites and a stunning cocktail menu.

The Library is an abstract, laid back space, so if you’d like to try something new, something radical, this is the page to be on.

Charisma Bharadwaj

________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7742 2767-8. www.thelibrary.co.th

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THE R E S TA U R A N T

Pavilion presents the best in Samui Boutique Resort dining.

The Patio Restaurant serves authentic Italian and Thai delicacies.

Experience a romantic meal with outstanding sea views.

The Look-Out Bar is the ideal place to unwind with a drink by our beach side pool.

Wedding on the Beach Experience the most special day of your life in romantic tropical surroundings at Pavilion Samui Boutique Resort.

Select from our Western, Thai and Chinese wedding options.

Let us tailor make a celebration for you or choose one of our wedding packages.

Lamai Beach, Koh Samui Tel: 0 7742 4420, 0 7742 4030 Fax: 0 7742 4029 info@pavilionsamui.com www.pavilionsamui.com

Serving an exciting variety of Thai, Italian and seafood from our open, show kitchen with genuine pizza oven.

Choose from open air seating on the first floor with ocean view or air-conditioned seating on the ground floor.

Live music every night.

Open daily from 12 noon till 11 pm Located on Lamai Beach Road opposite Pavilion Samui Boutique Resort Reservation: 077 424 420

WEDDINGS SHOULD BE AN EXPERIENCE, NOT JUST A DAY Faraway Weddings ensure your big day is uniquely special.

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For many people, getting married is probably one of the most important experiences of their lives. Everyone wants it to be special and unique. Placing your trust in a company to organise this day for you requires a lot of courage, and can be a big step for many.

With so many places all over the world offering destination wedding packages, how do you decide who to go with? The best choice would be a company that has built up an international reputation for more than ten years, a company that takes their wedding planning responsibilities very seriously. So what makes Faraway Weddings stand out as wedding organisers on the island of Koh Samui, an island that is consistently one the most popular wedding island destinations in the world? Well, there’s not one, but three things.

Firstly, as previously mentioned, Faraway have been doing weddings on Samui for ten years, starting around about the time Samui first started becoming known as a perfect location to tie the knot. Since then, Faraway have organised around 1,000 weddings, for more than 40 different nationalities. What this means is that their experience is second to none on the island.

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Secondly, Faraway have their own private beachside wedding venue with full facilities. This means they have total control over the venue, giving them greater flexibility which they’re then able to pass on to the bridal party. The Faraway Villa is actually Samui’s only dedicated wedding venue.

Situated on the quiet, peaceful west coast beach of Lipa Noi, well known for its spectacular sunsets, it’s the perfect beachfront venue. The villa has an outdoor wooden sala, a separate bar and dance-floor and an indoor air-conditioned function room with a white-draped, vaulted ceiling and glass doors facing the ocean (also an ideal backup in times of bad weather). It also has dedicated dressing rooms (with en-suite bathrooms) for both bride and groom, and separate hair and make-up stations. With its own white sandy beach, stylish gardens and a beachside stone terrace, the guests can enjoy the tropical weather, and the couple can marry, dine and party under the stars. Every year the villa is renovated and adapted to improve its functionality as a wedding venue. After all, it needs to be perfect doesn’t it?

Thirdly, but by no means lastly, everything (and we mean, everything), is handled and completed by Faraway staff members. They have a dedicated team of English speaking wedding planners who co-ordinate everything to do with your day, from the instant that you pay your deposit. They have strictly in-house teams to cover flowers, bar, and catering, no outsourcing happens here. And since they have 100% control over everything, there is consistency and the same level of professionalism from start to finish.

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The Faraway magic starts the second you pay your deposit. You’re immediately assigned a personal wedding planner who will be with you every step of the way, to deal with questions and offer support. You will also get access to your own private part of the Faraway website, which gives you access to some unique wedding tools. From here you can browse through 1000’s of photos - including decorations, hair styles and flowers, to give you ideas for your own unique ceremony. You can build scrap books and collect lists of your favourite photos. There is also an online gift registry where guests can buy fantastic treats such as spa outings or dining vouchers.

Most types of ceremonies are catered for, including non-religious, Christian, Buddhist or Catholic (although please note for Catholic weddings, the ceremony must be completed in the local Catholic Church on the island, and cannot be performed on the beach at the villa). Buddhist temple weddings can also be organised. There is even the option to use an adult elephant in the ceremony too. And before you ask, it’s well looked after, transported correctly to and from the location, and is friendly and tame.

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Weddings have changed somewhat in the last ten years, things were simple back then. Faraway have evolved with the wedding destination industry and are continuously growing. They attend the National Wedding Show held in London and Birmingham every year. Not so much to attract new business, but more to maintain a presence. As couples usually contact them from abroad, this helps put their minds to rest and helps build a better reputation. People have flown in from Bahrain and Ireland just to meet with them at the show!

The majority of Faraway’s clients are from the UK or Australia and they were honoured to have recently been featured in ‘Queensland Brides’ magazine, one of Australia’s premier bridal magazines.

Faraway have proven themselves over many years, to be a reliable, reputable company, who will make sure that your special day is as magical as you want it to be. Feel free to contact past brides on their Facebook page if you’d like honest feedback (as one father-ofthe-bride did, and after receiving numerous replies, went ahead and booked with confidence).

So trust Faraway to take the stress out of the organising of your day, and sit back and dream of your wedding on this beautiful tropical island.

Colleen Setchell

_________________________________________ For further information, telephone 0 7723 1417. www.weddingsinthailand.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

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ISLAND FESTIVAL

Samui’s new Central Festival mall redefines the leisure experience.

I like to read. I get through lots of American best-sellers. And always somewhere in the book, they’ll mention a mall – shopping malls seem to be one of the core elements in American society. But, along with this, it’s always somehow negative. Adjectives like ‘soulless’, ‘suburban’ or’ anonymous’, are always tacked on to ‘mall’. But think about it for a moment. Bring to mind a mall you know, a mall back home. They are functional, and they are made for shopping and eating.

But who notices and who cares. You want a special T-shirt, a battery for your phone or maybe a quick coffee, why does it matter what the shops look like? Well, this is Samui. People here aren’t dashing in to grab a bite in their lunch hour. The only type of time they’re tied-down by is the one that’s printed on their return flight ticket. They wander about, take a cool drink, have a look at what’s happening, head back for a nap, hit the beach, come back again two days later, eat something and wander about some more. And this is why the complex at Central Festival Samui is something rather special.

It’s all about leisure. And, more than that, it’s just perfect for Samui, and is also something of a ‘first’ when it comes to shopping malls in Thailand.

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The company behind the project is CPN Property Development & Investment. And they’re no newcomers to the scene, having already put together a string of ‘Central Plaza’ and ‘Central Festival’ malls throughout Thailand, as well as being the company behind the ‘Centara’ hospitality brand (with, notably, the presence on Samui of their Centara Grand Beach Resort). Their other malls have all been impressive. But the Samui offering is unique, and has been thoughtfully and stylishly designed and laid-out to echo its island setting.

If you count the huge parking level (and more of this in a moment), the mall is actually on three floors altogether. And one of the first things that’ll strike you is the ‘garden’ area that is rooted on the basement floor and extends upwards through a central atrium that’s high enough to contain a number of 50 foot-high mature trees. This really does give the whole place a laid-back tropical feel, and is in perfect counterpoint to all the concrete and glass geometry surrounding it. Although I have to say, the shops themselves have enough bright colours and flowing lines to soften the tone anyway.

Overall, this mall is delightful!

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As with most large shopping centres, there are several entrances, although the one that visitors to Samui will no doubt become most familiar with is the wide open area that’s right on Chaweng Beach Road, with Starbuck’s prominently on one corner.

This area is where many of the restaurants and coffee shops are located, and has rapidly become a landmark meeting point. It’s also a spot that lends itself perfectly to events and performances such as live bands and fashion evenings. Although, on the same level but a little further in, the walkthrough is spacious enough to host similar happenings, such as the previous Saturday Art Market that’s now given way to the new Chaweng ‘Walking Street’.

As mentioned, the under floor car parking area here is immense and a much-needed facility for Samui residents going to Chaweng, where previously parking was a nightmare. But there’s one section of the attached car park that is out in the open, on the lake road side, close to the location of Tops Supermarket – right through the mall as far as you can walk if you come from the Starbucks entrance. And that’s where, every Wednesday evening, you’ll find Chaweng’s new Walking Street, now rightly entitled ‘Central Festival Walking Street’.

Tops is one of the several ‘non- boutique’ tenants. And it’s one of the very few supermarkets on the island that stocks a wide range of imported foodstuffs, particularly from the UK and America. In the same ‘anchor tenant’ bracket, you’ll also find Central Department Store, the specialised stationery and books of B2S, the electronics goods of Power Buy and the activity-related items of Super Sports. But by far the majority of the tenants, more than 200 of them, are small local business, restaurants and shops, but with a few of them having international connections or outlets.

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It would be an impossible task to itemise them all, but there are several which seem to be worthy of special mention. If you’re here with kids, then you’ll just have to head to the area near Tops. Firstly, there’s the stunning-but-small 3D XD Theater, with its gut-shaking virtual roller-coaster rides. And, right next to it, there’s ‘Pirates of the Mario Land’, as well as a small outdoor play area that’s on its own ‘beach’. And if fashion is your thing then you’re going to go all squeaky when you discover ‘Psylo’ and ‘NiCol B’. Mainstream and copy-designer casual-wear outlets are ten-a-penny elsewhere on Chaweng Beach Road, but these two shops just shout quality and individuality.

And then we’re back to eating and drinking again. Look out for Black Canyon, which offers super prices on a whole range of barista coffees, plus hard-to-beat Thai and Euro meals, too.

There are others, too numerous to detail, which are there for you in the evening. In fact, unlike many other malls, Central Festival can’t close up and go home – there’s open access throughout (plus a ton of security staff to go with it). And when the shops shut up, the wineries and dineries keep on chattering late into the evening.

They got it right when they put this place together. It’s laidback, it’s festive, and it’s totally ‘island’ in its concept, outlook and feel. This is no ordinary shopping mall, and it’s going to win awards. This is Central Festival Samui. And it’s not just about shopping – it’s about the whole leisure experience!

Rob De Wet

THE BEACH, THE CLUB,

The young and mobile people of today are a different breed. When the word ‘Samui’ first started forming on people’s lips, it was mouthed by a different community. It was a low-tech time, when pads were apartments, tablets were swallowed with water and phones came screwed to the wall.

People travelled as and how they could. They found work when they had to, then moved on. Back in the day, a party meant smokes, beer and a bonfire on the beach. Someone always played a guitar. And the newly discovered island of Samui was an absolute paradise. Now fast-forward . . .

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Wind-on past the hippie paradise, freeze frame on concrete construction, go past the new airport, pause at universal free Wi-Fi and iPads, and come to a stop on the island of today. Scan the arriving ferries and look at the airport and you’ll see three social sets. One is older retirees. Two is families with children. And three is today’s mobile young people. Usually on a gapyear break, perhaps footloose and searching. In the scheme of things, they are not ten-day tourists, although they may only stay here for a while. They are mobile, funded, and keyed into a world social network of like-minded people. Or working on short contracts. Either way, you’ll find a great many of them at KC Beach Club.

THE HEART A cool look at KC Beach Club – right in the heart of Chaweng.

When KC Beach Club opened in Chaweng, a little over two years ago, it was seen as a bold venture. Shoulder-to-shoulder with strip resorts on either side, contained between the beach road and the sea, this wasn’t the rambling acres of opulence that characterised its Californian counterparts. It was lavish, yes, but compact. And yet it had a couple of aces up its sleeve. Firstly, it wasn’t just a beach club; it was packaged along with a luxurious resort that had 42 stylish rooms and villas. And second, because it had slotted itself right into the middle of Chaweng, few people had to travel to enjoy it – it was right there. And third, it didn’t attempt to compete with the nightclubs and discos. While they were still sleeping, KC was wide-awake, and attracting everyone from the area with their weekend daytime beach parties.

The entrance on the main beach road has been kept purposefully low-key; you’ll need to look for it just before the one-way system splits by the side road to Laem Din and becomes two-way. There, a narrow but high bamboo-lined walkway bypasses the front-desk and reception of the hotel itself, and does a zig-zag towards the sea. And, just as you get to the ‘zag’ bit of this, everything opens out, with the U-shape of the hotel formed around an upper pool, then descending to a wide open area at the edge of the beach, with a free-form pool in the middle, and with their restaurant at one side and the bar on the other.

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The apartment blocks themselves are neatly designed, with direct and easy access via an elevator (essential if you have a family). And, yes, they really are laid out like an apartment, with everything fully-fitted, a mini kitchen, plus mini bar, fridge, Jacuzzi, safe, and a big flat-screen TV. Plus the area directly above reception is a well-kitted out games room with pool tables and big satellite-channel TVs. The KC Group runs another resort on the island, ‘KC Resort and Overwater Villas’ in nearby north Chaweng. And anyone staying here at The Beach Club is entitled to use its facilities (together with a free transfer to get you there and back). And these facilities are really super – including Samui’s first Hydrotherapic Float, a luxury spa suite, a fitness centre, and a well-equipped kid’s club with child-minders and even babysitters if requested.

Back at ground zero, at the Beach Club itself, there’s another exceptional incentive waiting in the wings. Innovative Executive Chef, David Lloyd, has created one of Chaweng’s most impressive evening dinner menus at their signature restaurant, Neo.

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Up on top of the daytime restaurant you’ll find the open-sided ‘Sky Lounge’ draped overhead with movable sculptural fabrics to ward against the elements. The evening dining cuisine is creative and slanted with just a hint of gentle fusion. The unique tapas menu alone will make you squeak with delight! And at the event of every full moon there’s a 5-course tasting menu that’s paired with various world-class premium vodkas.

But it’s the weekend pool parties that draw the crowds. Every Saturday people make a point of drifting-in from all over Samui for the party, which runs from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. The atmosphere is totally relaxed: the floating islands in the pool are populated with horizontal smiles, and the sofas and loungers around the edges are full. People drift around, in the pool and around the fringes, nodding to each other or stopping for a chat.

The music is just right – this isn’t a nightclub – and it’s perfectly matched to a lazy tropical Saturday.

The resident DJ here is Paolo Bardelli. He’s been doing this for 33 years, and has worked all over Europe, in America, and has hosted several radio shows. You’ll sense right away that he’s tuned in to the event, and is very much aware of the reaction of his audience. The weekend runs into Sunday, along with the super Sunday brunch, but this is mellower and more of an ‘after party party’. He’s here during the week, too, but the whole poolside feel then is much more low-key and more family-geared. And once a month, KC puts together a special event, with either a guesting International DJ or a special theme (Rocky Horror, White, and so on). These are highly anticipated and well-subscribed. Check their Facebook listing to see what’s coming up.

Saturday is Saturday, and it’s wired into our genes that this is the weekend, even when on holiday. Chaweng’s a busy place, but it’s really quite small. So there’s no excuse not to hop in a taxi, or stroll down the road a bit. Down to KC Beach Club. Check it out and soak up the vibes – it’s the beach club right in the heart of Chaweng!

Rob De Wet

_________________________________________ For further information, telephone 0 7791 5155. www.kcbeachclubsamui.com

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BAR & RESTAURANT

Open from 10:00 am - 01:00 am (main kitchen), with pizzas being served until 1:00 am.

For reservations and further information, telephone 077 961 648 www.spagosamui.com

Grill & BBQ, Thai Cuisine Fish and Seafood Open from 12:00 am - 01:00 am For reservations and further information, telephone 077 963 213 www.galangasamui.com

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STARRING BLUE Experience the beauty of Angthong Marine Park with Blue Stars Kayaking.

Samui is an isle of sea, sand and sun.

But, somewhere during your time here, you’ll want to get away from the beach for a while. There are dozens of trips you can go for, some on the land, some out at sea, some action-packed and others nice and slow. But one of the most laid-back and relaxing is a day out with Blue Stars. There are kayaks involved, yes. But in reality, this is a day mainly made up of a gentle sea cruise to one of the most picturesque areas in Thailand. There’s eats and drinks, snorkelling, swimming and beach-lounging too. And you’ll get to paddle your kayak with your guide twice during the day – for about 45 minutes each time. It’s an ideal excursion for couples and families alike.

The region you’re heading for is the famous Angthong National Marine Park, which covers a whopping 250 square kilometres. This is a long string of outcropping limestone islands of varying sizes, laid out around a precise north-to-south line (although at sea level you’ll find this hard to believe!). There are 42 of them, all uninhabited apart from one, where sea gypsies (some say ‘fishermen’) have made their home base. Due to the wind and the tides, these islands are riddled with bays and inlets, and many of them have intriguing cave formations – and with a kayak, you’ll be able to paddle into some of these.

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This idyllic scenery was the inspiration for Alex Garland’s famous novel, The Beach, and it’s real picture-postcard stuff – except for just one problem. It’s a very popular outing. And many people are dismayed to arrive at the big island of Koh Wua Talap only to discover it’s like Bangkok in the rush hour. But this simply isn’t going to happen when you go with Blue Stars.

They’ve been doing this since 1995, way before everyone started to jump on the bandwagon. The thing is that all the other tours cruise around the nearest islands to Samui, from Koh Wua Talap in the south up to Koh Mae Ko where the Emerald Lagoon is. It’s not unusual to find 500 people on Koh Wua Talap – it can get more crowded than Chaweng Beach. But they avoid this island, and move from Koh Mae Ko straight up to the deserted northern islands. This means

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they usually have the area completely to themselves, and this is also where the best caves and scenery are to be found. And kayaking in and out of the caves and grottos is a truly unforgettable experience!

A day out with Blue Stars begins with a pick-up from your resort at around 7:15 to 7:30 am, and then a run to Nathon where their big comfy 3-decker tour boat is waiting, complete with large sundeck, toilet and shower. In theory, the boat can hold up to 100 people, but you’ll rarely find yourself in the company of more than 40 or so other trippers. You’ll also find that there’s a plentiful supply of cold soft drinks (complimentary) and beer (for sale) stocked on board, and a light breakfast will be waiting for you when you start the two-hour run to the middle island of Koh Mae Ko. The boat then anchors just offshore and

your group is split into two, with the first group heading off to paddle around, while the remainder go sightseeing, or laze about swimming and sunbathing.

This is where the Emerald Lagoon is located, and there’s plenty of time to make the long steep haul up to the viewpoint at the rim overlooking the lagoon crater, although it’s not possible to swim inside. Then, after an hour so, the groups will change over, and the second group will experience their first kayak session. Then it’s off to the northernmost island of Koh Tai Plao. A pleasant buffet lunch is taken on the way and, on arrival, the first group will start their second kayak session and explore this pristine area with its’ small caves, tunnels and hidden lagoons.

going out in the kayaks are supervised and guided, with one guide leading the way and another looking-on at the rear. And, on the boat, the Blue Stars representative, who’s been here almost as long as the company itself, is Marcus.

He’s a gregarious, smiling German who speaks perfect colloquial English, and will chat to you and answer any of your questions and queries.

Blue Stars isn’t just about kayaking. Its name is almost misleading, as it’s all about a great boat-trip out to one of the most beautiful locations in Thailand, plus the chance to get up close to the spectacular rocks and caves that abound.

If you have kids, they’ll easily cope with the kayaking – they’ll love it, in fact!

And they’re a friendly bunch, too. The whole thing is far more personal than many other organised excursions, with small, split groups and the cheery Marcus constantly on hand to enlighten, inform and keep you smiling. So if you’re wondering about a boat trip out for the day, think again. Better, I think, to go for one that has kayaks attached, too – the Blue Star kayaks, that is!

Rob De Wet

The second group in the meantime will have the opportunity to snorkel, swim or bomb into the azure waters from the high third deck. Then when the first group return the activities are swapped. It has to be said that as far as the snorkelling goes, the water in these parts is not the best you can find, although it can vary depending on the weather conditions. But nobody seems to mind; everyone’s here for the scenery and the kayaking, anyway!

Things are all very well organised and supervised throughout. The kayaks themselves are solid and robust, and are in fact the world’s number-one sit-on-top kayak. Lifejackets are provided, and are also compulsory, of course. Groups 68 l www.samuiholiday.com

__________________________________________________________________ (Please note that the Blue Star schedule may vary slightly with the weather and the seasons.)

For bookings or further information, telephone 0 7730 0615. www.bluestars.info

Thank you for your reviews that have made us...

2014 Winner

“A sure place in a street full of very average places.” Dubai,UAE “The real charm is the atmosphere as you're seated in a quaint night garden with grape vines.” London,UK “Un petit coin de paradis avec des mets excellents et copieux pour un très bon rapport qualité prix.” Paris, France

“It was worth every penny we spent there.” CA, USA “Each dish has been beautifully presented and the flavours have been magnificent.” MEL, Australia “Definitely worth a visit, specially as there are not so many places sith great wine here in Thailand!” Rome, Italy

Chaweng Garden Beach Resort Reservation, Call Khun Mae 084-836-1855 www.samuiholiday.com www.samuiwine.com www.facebook.com/SamuiWineOasis

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TONGUE THAI-D

The Thai language is quite unique, as anyone who’s ever tried to learn it has discovered.

Your intentions are good. You’ve decided that if you’re here for a while, the right thing to do is try your best to learn the local lingo. So you get a phrase book, and after practicing by yourself in the shower, you decide to try your hand at using your newfound knowledge of the Thai language. You proudly order your next meal in Thai – and receive a blank stare from the waiter. You change the tone a bit, and suddenly his eyes light up and with an “Aaah!” he runs off to get what you’ve ordered. You breathe a sigh of relief, and hope that you get what you’ve asked for.

Learning a new language is hard enough at the best of times, and Thai is so different from English and the European languages that originate from Latin, that learning it can seem a little overwhelming. Anyone wanting to stay in the country for more than a few months would be wise to pick up a few words, as mime and gesture can only get you so far – try miming ‘popcorn kernels’, without looking as though you’re having a fit!

The best way to learn Thai is to practice it, and use it whenever possible by chatting to new Thai friends and ordering in restaurants – you’ll know when the food arrives if you got it right! But, as the structure of Thai is so different to English, a beginners’ course from a reputable language school is also advised in order to understand how the grammar differs, as well as mastering pronunciation. You’ll discover sounds in the Thai language that don’t exist in English, such as words starting with the ‘ng’ sound. Thai is also a tonal language with five tones: low, mid, high, rising and falling.

And the same word said in different tones could have a completely different meaning. For instance: ‘sowai’ said with a rising tone means beautiful; but say it with a low tone, and it means unlucky. ‘Maa’ has several different meanings including dog, horse and come.

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But tones aside, here’s a quick guide on how Thai grammar differs from English grammar: Tenses: In English the verb changes according to tense – eat, ate, eaten. In Thai the verb remains the same no matter the tense, but other words are added to imply something has already occurred such as ‘lao’ meaning already. This is why you would hear a Thai person say, ‘I eat already.’

Be: The verb ‘to be’ (am, is, are, was, were) isn’t used with adjectives. In English we say, ‘She IS beautiful.’ In Thai, ‘She beautiful.’ In English, ‘I AM hungry.’ In Thai, ‘I hungry.’

Articles: The articles (a, an, the) don’t exist in Thai.

Adjectives: In English, the adjectives usually come before the noun – red car. In Thai, the adjective follows the noun – car red.

Nouns: In Thai, there is no plural form of a noun. So it would be one pen, two pen, three pen etc.

You can see from this that Thai is far simpler from a grammar perspective, but nonetheless difficult for Westerners because of the tones and pronunciation, as well as the addition of classifiers that we don’t have in English. If this all seems a little intimidating, an introductory Thai language course will most certainly help.

East Asian Nations) community in 2015, when English will be the language of communication. A few minor Thai dialects such as Phuan and Lue, are also spoken by small populations. Ethnic minority groups, including the so-called hill tribes, account for around sixty languages which are not considered related to Thai.

To add to the confusion, the four primary dialects of Thai should not be confused with four different ‘languages’ used by Thais in different social circumstances; for example, certain words are used only by Thai royalty, creating a royal language. You’ll also find languages used for religious figures, polite everyday interactions, as well as gruff or crude communications.

Because Thai doesn’t use our alphabet, it makes it difficult to transcribe the language into western script. This is the reason that you’ll find the same word written differently should you compare phrase books, as there is no standardised conversion. One of the reasons for this is because of the sounds that don’t exist in English, such as the sound in Thai, which is halfway between a T and a D sound, so you’ll see it sometimes translated with a T and other times with a D, depending on the book you’re using as reference. And while the English alphabet has 26 letters, the Thai language uses a phonemic alphabet of 44 consonants and 15 basic vowel graphemes. The latter are assembled into about 32 vowel combinations.

So where did the Thai language originate? Today it’s the national language, spoken by around 80% of the more than 65 million residents. Linguists describe it as an ‘uninflected, primarily monosyllabic, tonal language’ in the ‘Tai-Kadai family’. The spoken language is believed to have originated in the area which is now the border between Vietnam and China. Linguistically, the language is related to those spoken in eastern Burma (Myanmar), northern Vietnam, Yunnan, and Laos.

Just like in English, in Thai writing, characters are horizontally written, left to right… but with no intervening spaces to separate sentences. Vowel graphemes are written ‘attached’ above, below, before, or after the consonant they modify, although the consonant always sounds first when the syllable is spoken. The vowel graphemes (and a few consonants) can be combined in various ways to produce numerous compound vowels (diphthongs and triphthongs). Each syllable is pronounced in one of five lexical tones: mid, high, low, rising, or falling; as a result, speaking correctly creates pleasing melodic patterns, which has led the language to sometimes be called a sing-song language by foreigners.

The written Thai Language was introduced by King Ramkhamhaeng, during his reign from 1279 to 1298. This writing system has undergone little change since its introduction, meaning that inscriptions from the Sukhothai era can be read by modern Thai scholars. The writing was based on Pali, Sanskrit, and Indian concepts, and many Mon and Khmer words entered the language.

Phew! It all sounds a little too hard to grasp. But before you throw the idea of learning Thai out the window, know that many foreigners that live here have indeed mastered the art – some only the spoken word, but others also the written word. Not only is it a great sense of achievement when you do get it right, but you’ll most certainly gain the respect of your Thai friends and colleagues.

Now, centuries later, within Thailand you’ll find four major dialects, corresponding to the southern, northern (Yuan), north-eastern (close to Lao language), and central regions of the country; the latter is called Central Thai or Bangkok Thai and is taught in all schools, is used for most television broadcasts, and is widely understood in all regions. Nowadays, English is also taught in all public schools, as the country prepares itself for the ASEAN (Association of South

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Rosanne Turner

SO MUCH MORE Morya pharmacies are your one-stop healthcare outlets on Samui.

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Some say that Samui is lacking in certain facilities and services. This may be true in some minor aspects, but when it comes to those that matter most, such as healthcare, Samui has all bases covered. And there’s certainly no shortage of pharmacies on the island! They say you should always watch where the locals go, and so while tourists might not be familiar with the Morya brand, locals are loyal to this group of pharmacies for a very good reason. And when they’re in need of medical assistance, the familiar blue and white sign of Morya Pharmacies is a welcome relief.

And it doesn’t matter where on Samui you are, as Morya now has 17 branches around the island, with the latest additions being Bang Por and Maenam Soi 7. The modern glass headquarters building in Chaweng, is a mega-pharmacy, stocking more than 4,000 medical and healthcare related products, and can

be found just opposite the PTT petroleum station on the ring-road, not far from Bangkok Hospital Samui.

You’ll find more than just medicines on the shelves at Morya. There’s an assortment of big-name body products, as well as ranges for the Asian skin and hair-care market. And with the increase in tourists from Asian countries, you’ll also find Thai and Chinese medicines and balms with familiar brand names.

There’s a worldwide trend towards a healthier lifestyle, and there’s no need to stop your health routine while holidaying on Samui, as Morya stocks many ranges of multivitamins and food supplements, as well as whey products and protein supplements for sports people – think of all those muay Thai enthusiasts coming to train on the island. www.samuiholiday.com l 75

Thailand is world renowned for the quality of its international hospitals and medical care, with many people coming here each year just for surgery or treatment, both cosmetic and otherwise. And the local pharmacies have evolved along similar lines. Most Thai people usually first consult their pharmacist for advice or even diagnosis, and here, many drugs can be dispensed by pharmacists without a doctor’s prescription, as the pharmacists are highly qualified medical practitioners.

Unlike in the West, not every pharmacy in Thailand contains a qualified dispensing pharmacist. But every single branch of Morya pharmacy has one permanently in residence. These are dedicated professionals who have studied an intensive five-or six-year Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Their studies of anatomy and physiology are on a par with the initial years of a degree in medicine, and they’re qualified in biochemistry and organic chemistry. So there’s comfort in knowing that staff at Morya really do know what they’re doing! The staff all have a high level of English, and if you need to know the local equivalent of your medication or need help explaining your symptoms, not to worry, as the wonders of the internet can assist with translation.

Morya have expanded their own brand of organic products made in Thailand, and the range includes great souvenirs and gifts too, such as spa products, aroma candles, and massage oils. You’ll also find organic products for daily use including

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Fine Beach & Hillside Dining at Samui's Newest Venue Quality Thai, Seafood & International Dishes The Ultimate Samui Dining Experience!

aroma shampoos and conditioners, soaps, shower gels, facial cleansers, coconut oil and Thai clove toothpaste. Morya is committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle, and many ailments can be prevented – prevention is better than cure as they say. So with this in mind, they developed their subsidiary brand ‘Green Health’, which includes the health and nutrition supplement range as well as the spa body product range.

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

If you’ve chosen to recover after surgery on Samui, or (touch wood) had a scooter or other accident, then Morya will be the place to visit, as they have medical equipment for sale and to rent, such as crutches, wheelchairs and even a hospital bed and oxygen tanks. This convenience makes the recovery a whole lot easier, as do the beautiful and therapeutic surroundings of Samui. Hopefully you’ll not need this service, but it’s good to know it’s there if you do.

Morya branches open at either 8:00 or 9:00 am and close late, usually at 10:00 pm, with the central branches staying open until midnight, so there’s always someone at hand to assist you with your holiday ailments.

Rosanne Turner

_____________________________________________________________ For further information, telephone Morya Head Office on 0 7741 3298 or 0 7731 0645-6. www.samuiholiday.com l 77

GONE FISHING Dropping in for a quick bite has a different meaning at Dr Fish!

Have you ever seen those old faded picture postcards? You know, the ones that are faintly humorous? Victorian scenes maybe, in nostalgic sepia, or pre-war cameos of times gone by? Well, I’m constantly being reminded of something like this. Not directly, you understand. But in pictures that keep coming to my mind.

There’s the image of a good, solid, working man on holiday at the ‘seaside’.

To help his shiny bald head from being sunburned he’s wearing a pocket handkerchief knotted at the corners as a hat. He’s got his trousers held up by braces and rolled up to the knees. And he’s sitting on a rock, with his bare feet in a rock pool to cool off.

Hold on to that image. Because every time I walk around Chaweng, I have to stifle a giggle. Here and there, on street corners and outside little massage shops, on the dusty edge of the street, you’ll see exactly the same thing. Well, today’s version of it anyway. Because all over the place, in ones and twos, there are hot and sagging holidaymakers perspiring in their shorts with their bare feet in plastic washing-up bowls full of tiny little fish.

If emulation is the greatest form of flattery, then Dr Fish is the focal point that endless little shops are trying so hard to copy. But it’s like so many other things here. Reflexology? Ah – foot massage. Sacro-cranial therapy? Ah – head rubbing. And so, when it comes to sitting with your feet in a bucket full of live whitebait . . . Ah – we can do that too. It costs nothing to lack understanding, and it costs very little more to put this into practice. And so if a couple of tired tourists put their feet in one of your bowls then it must be okay, right?!

If you haven’t caught-on already, what with the photos and the well-known name of Dr Fish, then the best thing for you is to go look for a bowl of tiddlers – it’ll cool your feet and cost nothing. But if you’re already scanning ahead and waiting for me to get to the point, then start reading here!

What it’s all about is a delightful little fish that goes by the collective name of gara rufa. They are hard to find and native only to the Kengal Valley region of Turkey. They are very small and the adults only grow to about two inches in length. But they have several peculiar attributes. Firstly, they are fearless, friendly and just love people – if fish were dogs then these would be the cute little puppies of the fish world. Given any accessible part of a human body, they’ll rush to cuddle it, wagging their little fins as they go. Second, they think dead skin cells are the pinnacle of fishy fine dining. Third, while they’re nibbling at your epidermis, they’re also kindly secreting an enzyme known as dithranol, which moisturises and medicates your skin.

Fourth – they don’t have teeth. But gara rufa have many cousins, and these are found all over the place. They like to chew skin, too. But the difference is that these guys do have teeth, and they don’t condition your skin. But they’re a whole lot cheaper to buy – one tenth of the cost, in fact. And so when you see those wilting tourists sitting with their feet in a bucket by the side of the road, they’re unwittingly being sandpapered by mini piranha fish, without the benefit of the corresponding medication. But it’s cheap.

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Alex Prestwich is the owner and proprietor of Dr Fish in Chaweng, on the beach road. It’s easy to find. As Alex says, “They knew how important we are, and so they built Central Festival shopping mall as close to us as they could – right across the road, in fact.” Alex is a gentle man and has the admirable trait of cracking a funny with a straight face. Fortunately, he can’t control the way his eyes twinkle when he does so. But he was dead serious when he went on to talk about Dr Fish.

“We have an air-conditioned pool here that’s 30 inches deep, and has 17,000 litres of circulating and filtered water in it. The fish are the real deal – the places outside buy the Chinese copies at a few baht each, and when they die, they are thrown into the gutter with the dirty water, plus a few live ones too, no doubt. Of course, it’s going to cost more here. But it’s a totally unforgettable experience, particularly the whole body treatment. Here the fish are an investment and we treat them like pets. I know them all by name.”

Whole body? (Don’t worry, shorts are provided.) There are thousands of fish in there, dammit! You finally lower yourself in – and then all the little puppies zero in on you at the same time yelling, yippee! Truthfully, it’s hard not to shout out loud or leap back to the safety of dry land and go running out onto the street shrieking like a loony. You’ll have to clench everything and tighten your toes, count up to a hundred and try not to break into a back-crawl to

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escape . . . it’s like being kissed by a thousand little octopussies/octopi, whatever! It’ll take about 10 minutes – and then you’ll relax. And then that’s it. You’ll want to stay here for the rest of your holiday, and make arrangements for food and drinks to be brought in, your favourite tunes to be played, and your entire family flown over to join you. (And that’s even before you sink right down-under, and discover what these puppy-fish can do to your nose, lips and ears!)

Enough said. There are only two ways to do nibble-fish, the wrong way and the Dr Fish way. And when you finally get around to doing it, then you’ll hang a sign on the door of your resort. It will say – ‘Do not disturb - Gone fishing!’

Rob De Wet

_________________________________________ For further information, telephone 0 7796 0511. www.drfishthailand.com

Fine Beachfront Dining serving Thai, Seafood & International Cuisine.

Chaweng Beach Road Chaweng North Tel: 0 7742 9400 Fax: 0 7742 9498 E-mail: reservation@norabeachresort.com www.norabeachresort.com

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A

WALK ON THE

WILD SIDE There may not be lions and pandas, but Samui does have some wildlife.

While Samui might not be a national park teaming with ferocious animals, it does have its fair share of weird and wonderful creatures. Since this article is about ‘wild’ animals, we’re not going to include the trekking elephants, buffalos or the show monkeys, but perhaps point out some others.

So Samui is covered in coconut palms, right? And nothing endangers these coconut trees because they are one of Thailand’s main exports, right? Well, not exactly. Introducing a rather nasty little creature called the ‘Coconut Hispine Beetle’.

This critter likes to make its home deep inside the crown of coconut trees. They then feed on the tissue of developing leaves, eventually leading to the death of the tree. A lot of research has gone into ways of preventing this from spreading further afield. There is a small wasp that eats the beetle larvae, so that is an option. But our favourite option is the use of squirrels. Yes, the humble little squirrel is actually a knight in shining armour to most coconut trees. This little creature shimmies up the side of the tree, and indulges in a delicious meal of beetle larvae.

Sadly, squirrel numbers were reduced in recent years due to the locals acquiring a taste for them. However they are making a comeback, and Koh Som, a small island off the north east tip of Samui, has shown very positive results. And none of the 20 or so squirrels living there have complained of being hungry.

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If you’ve been on Samui during the hot summer months, and heard a loud racket coming from the trees, then you’ve most definitely heard the cicada. The noise can be quite deafening. Cicadas live in temperate-to-tropical climates and are recognised for their unique sound. The males have loud noisemakers called ‘tymbals’ on the underside of their bellies, and because the abdomen is hollow, the sound is amplified.

Speaking of sounds, one that you’ll probably hear all over Thailand is the curious ‘tockay’. The noise it makes is kind of a desperate ‘Ohoh’ said several times. Looking like a gecko from prehistoric times, this feisty creature can grow to around 25cm - and that’s without the tail! They come in various colours, have spots and their eyes are a bizarre slit, like cats’ eyes. They don’t attack humans, but if somehow you do end up with one attached to the end of your finger, the only way to get them to let go is to submerge your hand in water. Keep a listen out, because if he makes his noise five times or more, some good luck is sure to head your way. Its smaller cousin, the gecko, is often seen inside houses or buildings. Making a variety of clicking noises, they are completely harmless to people and very shy. These big-eyed, sticky-footed creatures have a taste for mosquitoes, so if you have any geckos in your house or hotel room, don’t chase them away!

Another distinctive sound is made by a bird with questionable parenting skills (called a ‘brood parasite’ in the right circles), the Asian Koel (Asian Cuckoo). It lays its eggs in another bird’s nest and cleverly will ensure that its egg will hatch around the same time as the host’s eggs. It’s unlike other cuckoos in that its young will not attempt to kill the host chicks. The male has a loud, repetitive and monotone call of ‘koo-OOH’ and sometimes, if he’s lucky, he’ll get a female to respond with rapid, single tones. They are mostly heard at dawn or dusk.

A very common bird on the island is the Asian Starling (or Mynah bird). This yellow-beaked, long-legged, cheeky bird is so used to people, it’s almost tame. They have an incredible skill of being able to replicate all sorted of sounds.

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You might also be entertained by a whole variety of frogs and toads on the island. There is a toad known for its rather loud fog horn bellow when it’s raining. They are usually well hidden, but you’ll certainly hear them before you see them.

You’ve probably heard there is a crocodile farm on the island and because this article is covering ‘wild’ life, the word ‘farm’ kind of cancelled the crocs off the list. Instead we thought we’d tell you about the monitor lizards that make rare appearances across the island. Monitor lizards are associated with bad luck to many Thais, perhaps something to do with them stealing chickens and small livestock. But the ones seen on Samui seem to just spend their time running across various roads around the island, and enjoying a few days of social

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media fame. They are protected in Thailand, and have no natural predators.

They’re not dangerous, but since they are wild animals, don’t provoke them or try getting them to pose with you for a holiday snap, because they might object, and they carry a lot of dangerous bacteria in their saliva. The best place to spot them is near water, burrowed in a riverbank or chilling out on a nearby log.

So there you have it, no lions or pandas, but certainly plenty to keep everyone on their toes.

Colleen Setchell

SAMUI

SAKYAN

Laung Por Yid Wat Nong Jok

Laung Pu Si Tha Ni yo

Ajarn Panthep

Sacred, spiritual tattoos, or 'sak yant' by Ajarn Panthep, who has studied the scripts as well as the art of sak yant for more than 20 years at various temples throughout Thailand.

His teachings, along with the sak yant, will help to balance your four elements of earth, wind, fire and water, and therefore lead a more balanced life.

It also opens up the body for good luck and happiness, and offers protection.

Maenam Bophut

angkna1@youtube.com

146/43 Moo 4 Thongtakien bay, Maret Koh Samui Suratthani 84310 Thailand www.samuisakyan.com, www.spiritbuddha.com Email: samlek1012@windowlive.com, sam-1012@hotmail.co.th Tel: 0 86 9437464, 0 811 739 232

Nathon

Koh Samui

Chaweng Samui Yacht Club

Samui Sakyan

To Lamai

Lamai

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HAPPY HOUR SHOWERS Great dining and entertainment at Nora Beach Resort.

Some hotels give you an hour of happiness, and some may even offer a couple of them. But Nora Beach Resort offers you five happy hours to relax and enjoy a drink or two around their pool bar, restaurant, or in the lobby area. The Nora Group strongly believes in excellent service for their guests, and this is evident in every aspect of their hospitality.

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At Nora Beach, located at the northern end of Chaweng Beach, there’s a 50% discount on beverages during the hours of: 1:00 - 2:00 pm, 4:00 – 5:00 pm, 6:00 – 7:00 pm, 7:00 – 8:00 pm and finally 10:00 – 11:00 pm.

In fact it always feels like happy hour at Nora Beach Resort.

They have daily promotional menus, a stand out Thai theme night every Tuesday called ‘Siam Kingdom’ and ‘East Meets West’ barbecue nights every Thursday. These theme nights are full of high-spirits and energy that will keep you smiling from the moment they start, at 7:00 pm, till they end at 10:00pm.

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Siam Kingdom night consists of authentic Thai cuisine, along with a northern classical Thai performance, known as Pong Lang, featuring six musicians and four dancers. Pong Lang isn’t a common sight in the south of Thailand, but if you get a chance to watch these beautiful doll-like dancers move gracefully to traditional Thai music, you really shouldn’t miss it.

Thursday nights have a completely different feel. On this night you can enjoy an international barbecue and seafood overlooking the beach, while enjoying a marvellous Polynesian dance show. But, that’s not all. At the end of the night, a fire twirling show is presented as a bonus treat.

The main restaurant at Nora Beach is called Prasuthon, and is named after a character from a Thai folk tale about two lovers, known as ‘Prasuthon Manorah’. Khun Sitthichai, Nora’s proud chef, has been here for nine years now, and among his ‘Daily Chef Recommended’ dishes are the following: Deep fried seafood served in pita bread and Caesar dressing (Seafood in Bag); deep fried fish cake stuffed with cheese served with honey chilli sauce (Home-made Fish Cake), and for those who like prawns, Golden Sea - deep-fried prawns, king scallop, soft shell crab served with papaya salad wrap in rice paper.

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For the main course, you may want to try the baked salmon fillet served with Thai rice salad and spicy sauce, available on Sundays: roasted pork tender loin with orange honey fruit sauce, served with bacon and cheese roll in rice paper, made to order on Thursdays, or the chef’s Tuesday seafood skewer served with sautéed spaghetti and tom yam sauce.

If you’re not in the mood for anything heavy, you may want to check out their new express menu serving easy-bites. The Nora-style club sandwich with three layers and the Thai chicken massaman burger with pickled cucumbers come highly recommended.

Romance is always in the air at Nora Beach. The beach venue can accommodate up to a hundred guests for weddings. Nora Beach Resort is known for all this, plus their fruit and vegetable carving and cooking classes.

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If you’re not staying at the resort, you would be advised to reserve your table in advance, as many of their in-house guests want to dine at the resort, especially on theme nights!

Visit Nora Beach Resort for a luxurious, lavish, local treat.

Charisma Bharadwaj

_____________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7742 9400. www.norabeachresort.com

SURREAL SEA-WALKING Experience the underwater world in a truly unique way.

Sea walking is really easy. You’re strolling around very slowly under the water. You’re not wearing the equipment that you wear for diving - no tanks and belts. You’re not using your legs to fin through the water. The only equipment you have is the helmet, and the weight of the helmet doesn’t matter. This is because when you’re under the water, the weight of the helmet decreases to almost nothing. Only swimwear is needed for this activity. And for those who are concerned about your contact lenses, you should know your face doesn’t get wet. People can go down wearing glasses too. You may find this weird - when you come back from the walk, your hair is dry and even your make up is intact.

Twenty years ago, someone in the Caribbean decided to take a stroll with the fishes under the sea and called it sea-walking! The first ever sea-walk here on Samui, was hosted by Robert and Christina, a lovely couple from the UK, who moved to Thailand from Cyprus, in November 2012.

Although strictly speaking, their first venture was initially set up on Koh Tao, but now they have shifted the operation to Samui.

“Everybody comes back with a smile - that’s for sure. It’s such a unique way of going under the water.” explains Robert. Christina agrees. “It’s like you’re in an aquarium, with the fish looking at us and saying, “What are you doing?”’

Generally, they take a maximum of eight people on a long tail boat from Thong Krut pier. Four people will then go sea-walking, while the other four go snorkelling, before swapping activities. Also included in the 2,000 baht cost is your hotel transfer. You are picked up at 8:00 am and taken to the boat, which leaves at 9:00 am. You are finished by 12:00 pm and back at your place by 1:00 pm. They provide fresh water and fruits too. If you plan to have breakfast beforehand, they suggest you have something light, and nothing heavy.

In Cyprus, Robert and Christina would host hundred people a day, but now they limit it to just eight. “We prefer keeping a small group and often have to turn people down. People think we are crazy when we tell them we don’t want to be busy. We’re happy with that number. It’s a better atmosphere and a better experience for those taking part.” says Robert, who ran a scuba diving centre for years before he started this new venture.

He says sea-walking is by far less stressful compared to scuba diving. The percentage of people that were scuba diving and couldn’t actually master it was a lot higher than people who could, unlike sea walking. “Among a thousand people who have done sea-walking so far on the island, we’ve had two that I can remember who backed out. But with scuba diving, this would be considerably more.”

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Many people who decide to do the sea-walk, do it for a reason. They may be afraid of scuba diving, or would like to get a feel of the water before they try scuba diving. No doubt, it’s easier to master the skills of scuba diving after sea-walking.

Before you get in the water, you are instructed not to touch the corals, and to watch the marine life responsibly. You only walk on sandy areas with the corals close by. “It’s very, very important.” says Robert, “It’s all about taking care of the environment. We must always keep that in mind.”

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A lot of their customers can’t swim, but it doesn’t matter.

You don’t need to be a swimmer to sea-walk. How deep do you go? Two and a half to three metres deep. “It’s just like a huge swimming pool. Only difference is there are fish in the swimming pool.” says Christina. She takes care of the children who accompany their parents on the boat. Children have to be at least seven years old to participate, and at least 120 centimetres tall. But if you have a child younger than that, you don’t have to worry about leaving them back home, they’re well looked after

by Christina.

Have you ever considered an underwater marriage proposal? “Over the years, we’ve had many proposals under the sea. The lady doesn’t know about it... The man has the ring... He puts it into a shell, etc.” says Christina.

Oh yes, aqua-romance is sweet and fun!

What next? Maybe an aqua- wedding. It could work if the helmets had communication. They still don’t yet, but you could use placards!

People of all ages, between seven and 85, can seawalk. The only people who can’t are pregnant women, and those who have had recent open heart surgery. They will ask you a few medical questions to check if you have

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2 Sp dis 0% a cou tr ea nt tm en ts on

Our Siam Ten Senses Treatment focuses on the ten main senses in human body.

Restoring body systems and improving the balance.

Green Resort Green Spa Detoxifying and Slimming Program Healthy Thai Restaurant Natural Wing Health Spa & Resort 11/5 Moo 6, Maenam, Koh Samui, Thailand Tel: 0 7760 2111, 0 7760 2112 Fax: 0 7744 7243 Mobile: 0 819 682 796 Email: info@naturalwing.com, www.naturalwing.com

asthma, heart problems, ear problems etc. That doesn’t mean you can’t take part, they just they need to be aware of it.

Currently the sea walking itself takes place in two locations. They choose between Koh Taen and Koh Matsum, two islands just off the south coast of Samui, depending on the weather and the wind direction. At the moment, they’ve spent a lot of time in the eastern side of Matsum. Slowly, the wind might change again and they move to Koh Taen for a few months.

Sea-walking is truly a simple way of exploring the underwater world and experiencing marine life. Just remember to book at least a day in advance.

Fine gold and silver jewelry manufacturer with diamonds, precious stones (ruby, sapphire, emerald, etc.) semi-precious stones (blue topaz, amethyst, tsavolite, aquamarine, etc.) and pearls (cultured and South Sea pearls - Tahitian pearls) Tailor-made with modern designs. We also offer professional wood carvings, paintings and local souvenirs. Most competitive prices and best quality on Samui. Open for more than 25 years, we are the largest retailer and producer on the island. All our pieces come with certificate of authenticity.

Charisma Bharadwaj

___________________________________________ For more information, telephone 0 901 650 411. www.sea-walking.com

Samui Lapidary, Maenam, Koh Samui Free transport service. Open daily 09.00 - 18.00.

Tel: 0 7724 7845-6 Email: samuilapidary@hotmail.com www.samuilapidary.com

Осуществляем бесплатный трансфер ежедневно с 9.30 до 18.00.

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SEE IT, LIKE IT, DO IT

The beach club concept is not new to Samui. There are already three full-tilt beach club resorts here now.

And the idea is strong enough to have made even family resorts change their seating and music to get with the trend. That’s great, and everyone welcomes it. But there’s just a tiny little drawback. A club is a club – and this means that everybody gets to go along. And, like any club, if you want to hire it for something private, it’ll cost you. Sure, there are lots of resorts and restaurants with private rooms. But that’s not the same. It’s just not the same as being on the beach right next to the sea, with everyone free and easy, laid back in their loungers and happy with the DJ and their favourite tunes. But there just isn’t anything like an affordable private option on the beach. Well, there wasn’t. And now there is.

The exclusively private way to have your own beach party – at Akyra Chura.

Akyra Chura Samui has been here since June 2011. It’s a lovely resort in every way; the theme throughout hints at Japanese styling, but it’s more of a flavour than a design. ‘Zen’ is a widely misused word with lots of different meanings, but here it fits. There’s an elegance here that’s several notches above minimalism, from the wood floors and bamboo screens to the scrubbed concrete surfaces offset with vines, to the little outcrops of rocks scattered around, to the water feature and its two tiny humped bridges. The accommodation is super, and varies from single well-appointed suites with bedroom and living area, through to the wickedly lavish Grand Deluxe Seaview Suites.

The central pathway through the resort descends alongside the villas and down to the pool area, which overlooks the sand. This area is wider than you’d expect and runs right across to the left, away from the pool, to where there’s a big area of lawn and sand with a little massage sala. And, over on the opposite side there’s an expansive and well-stocked bar. One nice feature is that although there are the usual palm trees dotted about, there are a number of huge mature fruit trees too. One of these casts a big pool of dappled shade all around, on the sand just beyond the steps down onto the beach. And on the sand itself, you’ve a choice of beach beds, with giant umbrellas or big comfy daybeds.

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To find out exactly how the Akyra Club is so different, I talked to the Resident Manager, Stephane Carric. “One aspect is that there are no children here,” he told me. “We thought hard about this and took the bold decision to make this a policy, and it’s paid off. Teenagers and up, please. But the main aspect is what it will cost you. Some places are inconvenienced by arranging private parties, and so they charge a lot for this. Not so here.”

And more conversation revealed that what happens at Akyra is this: the sea frontage is wide, with three sets of steps going down onto the sand. Over to one side, near where the bar is, is one set of steps, not far away from the big tree.

This whole beach area is sectioned off with screens, bamboo poles, flaming torches and hanging lights, and is furnished according to the numbers involved.

And you’ll usually have a personal chef manning the barbecue, plus your own wait staff. But it all depends on what you’ve asked for.

Pondering on this, I asked Stephane about the pricing. Was there a menu or a program of prices, for example? His reply was initially surprising. “Absolutely not!” he exclaimed with a smile. “Firstly, I have to say that the minimum groupsize is ten people. But you’re going to get your own private bit of Chaweng Beach, all to yourself and away from the crowds. There is no set charge per head or anything like that.”

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...living by the sea...

Ease yourself to the sound of gently lapping waves and enjoy the breath-taking sea views.

Savor Mediterranean bistro culinary delights & modern Thai specialties, for a unique beachfront dining experience.

Peace Resort 178, Moo 1, Bophut Beach Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320 Thailand Tel: +66 77 425357 | Fax: +66 77 425343 www.peaceresort.com | seawrap@peaceresort.com

Le Jaroen “A Secret World”

Probably the most enchanting restaurant on the island for an unforgettable romantic evening.

Induldge your senses with an exquisite 5 course Chef’s Signature Menu or 4 course Thai Degustation Menu.

“And there’s no program, because we don’t want to suggest possibilities to our guests. It has to be the other way around.

Send me a personal email to start with, and tell me what you want – how many people, for what period of time, whether a buffet or BBQ, or both. What sort of food, and what kind of drinks. Talk to me about live music or a DJ, and what your preferences in music are. Do you want massages included? If so what sort? A couple of jet skis? Kayaks? An entertainer? A fire juggler? Fire balloons or fireworks? Perhaps even a ladyboy mini cabaret show? Whatever you want, we will provide it; and give you a total price for it all.”

It’s not only a good idea, it works! There have been small birthday party gatherings with a DJ, a beach BBQ and payyour-own-way at the bar, which have worked out to only 600 baht a head. There have also been wedding parties where 50 guests have come in mini-buses from other resorts, asked for full catering, a floral theme, an open bar, mobile head and neck massages, henna tattoos, and a Thai classical dance show. It all depends on what you want.

S ECRET R E T R E AT S

Tel +66 (0)77 962 198 info@thescenthotel.com www.thescenthotel.com The Scent Hotel 58/1 Moo 4 Bangrak Beach, Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320, Thailand

The restaurant and kitchen here are adept at preparing Thai, International and even Japanese dishes, and that should cover most tastes. But, as Stephane pointed out, anything is possible, and other types of cuisine can be arranged – although it has to be said that most guests opt for cocktails and finger food. And it’s by no means limited to one time of day either; the pool is convenient and refreshing, and partygoers are welcome to use it, and that applies to the evening, too. And the music couldn’t be easier. Let resident DJ Simon Solo do his thing, or tell him what you want, or just turn up with a USB stick with your own choice of music on it.

All of which rather makes it sound like some kind of party thrash, doesn’t it! But, you know, get over there and take a look. As soon as you start making your way out of reception, you’ll notice the calm. Around the beach and the pool, everything’s mellow.

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chef’s dinner specials “an epicurean experience! one shouldn’t be missed”

Stephen Jean Dion Overseeing the culinary team at Hansar Samui, born and raised in Montreal, Canada, Chef Stephen began his culinary career at the famed restaurant Les Halles in Quebec, one of the most outstanding independent restaurants in Canada.

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A unique opportunity to be the Private Chef to His Majesty the King of Jordan became a turning point in his career and he spent the next two years catering for the Royal Family.

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Stephen spent the next five years at the Lebua at State Tower Bangkok (known as the Dome) and within a few years became the Executive Chef at the Sirocco restaurant.

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At our beachfront H Bistro restaurant, Stephen has created a unique epicurean experience for guests where they can appreciate the authentic taste of French Mediterranean Cuisine, in addition to a Thai menu.

H Bistro! at Hansar Samui!

T | 077 - 245 511 !

W | hansarsamui.com

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

Everything’s . . . Zen. The beach and the layout just whisper ‘cool’.

People are laid back chilling, not leaping. And my guess is, whatever your intentions, once you’ve seen it, liked it and decided to do it, you’ll be that way too!

Rob De Wet

______________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7791 5100. www.theakyra.com

www.bluestars.info

A look at how gold is very much a part of daily life in Thailand.

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“All that glisters is not gold . . .”

William Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice; Act II - Scene VII. When I first came to Thailand, I wasn’t interested in gold. I knew nothing much about it. So my awareness of Thai gold was fragmented. It was formed from bits and pieces of rumour and gossip picked up in bars and via the internet. And that’s where the 400 year-old quotation from the Bard of Avon comes in – as far as I was concerned, in my ignorance, I had the impression that Thai gold was far too glittery and the wrong colour to be much good. Gold jewellery was put together with old-fashioned and inferior technology. And the whole business was a minefield of schemes and scams to fleece foreigners, and not to be trusted.

Oh boy, was I ever wrong!

Yes, as in every big city all over the world, there are some who seek to prey on the weak or uninformed. Gem scams in Thailand (and unfortunately therefore also gold, by implication) are legendary, tarred by the same brush as is usually applied to the jet ski ‘mafia’. But I read the other day that far more people are ripped-off, and for far more money, by the extortionate currency conversion rates of reputable institutions like Western Union or Amazon. So it all boils down to the instinct to trust something familiar, as opposed to the suspicions of being a stranger in a strange land, especially when you can’t speak the language or read the small print. However, unlike gemstones (which are still something of a grey area when it comes to ‘bargains’), Thailand’s gold industry has an excellent worldwide reputation, and is probably more unified, regulated and scrutinised than is the nation’s general banking system.

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Thailand’s gold business has been in existence for more than a thousand years. In the past, there were extensive gold mines in Thailand, and the gold trade was believed to be the first contact that Thailand ever had with the outside world. Indeed the word ‘Siam’ actually means ‘gold’ in Sanskrit. And if you’ve ever thought that the name of Bangkok’s international airport was a bit of a tongue twister, I can tell you that ‘Suvarnabhumi’ translates as ‘golden land’. If all of this is giving you the impression that gold is very much part of the culture and the lives of Thai people – this is true. It is! And for more than one reason.

For instance, gold is even threaded through the nation’s religion. In sacred writings, The Buddha is described as having a skin of gold. A golden complexion is the eleventh of the 32 characteristics of The Buddha. And you’ll find that many Buddha images in Thailand are made of gold, with gold leaf frequently being stuck onto images as part of religious rituals.

The largest Buddha image anywhere in the world is the Golden Buddha, housed in Bangkok’s Wat Trimitr. It is made of pure gold and weighs over five tons, making it worth around US$70

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AHMS THE COLLECTION

Samui Discover authentic Indian Cuisine

million just for the gold content alone, without even considering its incalculable antique worth. Try planning to steal that one!

But back to Thai gold today. The impressions and misgivings that I voiced at the beginning are entirely rooted in my western thinking.

You see, in the West, it is rare to come across pure gold. One hundred percent pure gold is deemed to be ’24-carat’. In this form, it is quite soft. And so western nations have traditionally always tempered it to make it more durable, by adding an alloy of silver and bronze, reducing its gold content to the 75% of 18-carat gold.

This also dulls the naturally buttery lustre of pure gold. To western eyes, the 98-99% pureness of Thai gold looks unreal – more like yellow brass than gold. But this is the real thing! This is what pure gold really looks like.

When it comes to my other misgiving – being cheated somehow – then, really, with gold in Thailand this is most unlikely to happen.

Certainly, there’s one born every minute, but shopping at an accredited and reputable gold shop is probably one of the safest purchases you can make over here. Every shop in Thailand is subject to random spot checks, and has to adhere to the gold

Noori India Restaurant - Chaweng Center Chaweng Beach Road, opp. Chaweng Buri Noori India Restaurant - Chaweng South at Chaweng Cove Resort Noori India Cooking Center - Chaweng South Soi Colibri, opp. Centara Grand Beach Resort For reservation (English) - 0 867 407 873 or 0 7741 3108 For reservation (Thai) - 0 813 960 283 E-mail: nooriindia_samui@yahoo.com www.nooriindiasamui.com

price set by the Thai Gold Traders Association. But just one thing: something that you’ll hear a lot in connection with all this is the word ‘baht’. A ‘one baht chain’ isn’t going to cost you one baht!

In this context, ‘baht’ is a measure of weight. A baht unit is equal to 15.244 grams in raw bullion form (a little less than half an ounce), or 15.16 grams when it sold as jewellery. (Smaller items are measured in ‘salung’, where one salung is a quarter baht, or 3.81 grams.)

The gold price in Thailand does not fluctuate much, unlike the world gold market, because it only can change in multiples of 50 baht and, in this event, gold shops are required to immediately change their display prices when a new price is announced. To be sure of any purchases you might make, enquire as to whether the shop is a member of the Gold Traders Association. Some of the longest-established and reputable of these are to be found in Bangkok’s Yaowarat district.

On a day-to-day basis, there’s a much more practical reason that the Thai people love their gold. It’s instantly saleable, and for only between 1-5% less than its purchase price. This means you can ‘bank’ your cash in the form of gold attached to your wrist and neck – thus additionally displaying your social standing – or even keep it under the floorboards. And in hard times lose very little time or money by cashing it in (unlike trying to sell your motorbike).

Leaving me only to say that, in Thailand, all that ‘glisters’ is, in fact, 98% pure gold!

Rob De Wet

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The restaurant where every evening becomes a memorable occasion.

For reservations please contact: Anantara Bophut Resort & Spa, Koh Samui Tel: +66 (0) 77 428 300 Email: bophutsamui@anantara.com Skype: bophutsamui

SCL International School

International Education from Pre-school to Secondary Educating the Mind Nurturing the Soul

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 Small classes  Individual education plans Fully qualified teachers  A family atmosphere

With these qualities, it’s not hard to see why the children at SCL are achieving so much A warm welcome is extended to anyone who wishes to visit the school

SCL International School

206/26 Moo 4 Maret, Lamai, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84310, Thailand Phone: 0 7741 8789 Mobile: 0 810 910 714 Email: emma@sclinternationalschool.com www.sclinternationalschool.com

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If you’re considering relocating to a tropical island, you’re probably concerned whether it’s the right thing for your children.

You’re lazing under a coconut palm, sipping on a mojito, while the gentlest of breezes cools your body, which is developing a beautiful golden glow that you’ll be able to show off to your friends back home. You gaze at your little darlings playing at the water’s edge, and smile as you think to yourself that they’ve never seemed happier. You turn to your partner who’s lying next to you with the same silly grin on his face and say, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Well that depends, darling. Are you thinking that we should sell our house, resign from our jobs, uproot our kids and move to paradise? Then yes, I am thinking what you’re thinking!” Then you both shake your heads and chuckle a little at the idea, and discuss how silly and unrealistic the thought is. Then you spot me walking past with my husband, child and dog … and realise that tourists don’t have dogs, so we must live here. And that’s when you realise that people really do crazy things such as relocate to an island in the Gulf of Thailand, and maybe, just maybe, you can too. www.samuiholiday.com l 111

So wanderlust and sense of adventure aside, there are other considerations when moving from your homeland to another country – whether it be on a permanent basis, or just for a couple of years to experience living and working in another country.

Before selling up all you own back home, try, if possible, to rent out your house and give your new exotic home a year or so, to make sure that you love it as much as when you were there on holiday. Going somewhere on holiday and living there are two completely different experiences, not only for you, but for your children too.

Doing business in another country can be trying – but that’s not what we’re focusing on here. It’s the children that are our point of discussion, and are all too often last on the list of considerations when a couple decides to move abroad.

Depending on the age of your children, you might want to involve them in the decision-making process, but ultimately, it will be your final decision.

It’s important that you realise that while they thoroughly enjoyed their island holiday, your children might not be as enthusiastic about relocating and leaving their friends behind – particularly older children. Of course, it’s all about how you present this to them, and helping them to set up their own Skype, email and Instagram accounts to stay in touch with friends and share their wonderful adventure will help them to be excited about the process. Social media and technology have most certainly made the world a global village, and it’s far easier to keep in touch with friends and family spread across the globe now, than it was a decade ago.

As well as dealing with the psychological challenges of relocating your children, there are practicalities that need to be taken care of too – schooling and health care, as well as finding a house suitable for a family. As far as Samui goes, all these boxes are ticked. Samui has a few excellent international and private schools that follow the British curriculum; they vary in price, but all have websites where you’ll find all the info you need to make an informed choice. Also, should you not want to start your

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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.

own business right away, there’s the option of your child entering Thailand on an education visa (with paperwork from the school), and one parent per child may then get a visa as accompanying guardian of that child. Of course, you can’t work on this visa and will need to prove funds to support yourself. Should you then decide to start working, you’ll need to convert to a business visa.

It’s probably a good idea to first choose your school, and then find a house near the school. The International School of Samui (ISS) is located in Bophut, up the Old Monkey Theatre Road, near Big C. Panyadee is in Chaweng Noi, near the Jungle Club, and SCL International School is in Lamai. All three schools offer the British curriculum and go up to high school level, and in fact, ISS also offers A-levels. There’s also a French school on the island, and Oonrak is a bilingual school, but only up to age 12.

As far as medical facilities go, Samui offers most of what you’ll find in the West. Doctors don’t really practice from private surgeries, but are based at the hospitals, generally. Aside from the government hospital in Nathon, you’ll also find Bandon Hospital near Big C, Bangkok Samui International Hospital along the ring-road in Chaweng, Thai International Hospital near Tesco Chaweng, and Samui International Hospital at the northern end of Chaweng Beach Road. As well as hospitals, you’ll find numerous dental clinics and optometrists, and a pharmacy on every corner – which usually stay open late into the night. You’ll probably want to get your own health insurance, which once you settle, will need to be more than your travel insurance.

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!

Right so with schooling and medical out of the way, it’s time to look for a house. Samui has many estate agents and you’ll find Facebook group pages advertising houses and apartments to rent. Keep a map handy, and remember that while you may have stayed in a touristy area while on holiday, there may be different factors that draw you to your rental home, such as proximity to schools, supermarkets etc. To get the children excited, let them browse the internet with you to look for suitable properties, and once you find one that suits all your needs, let them choose ‘their room’ so they can mentally start planning their new life abroad, and even share the picture with their friends before coming over.

What are the advantages of moving your children to a tropical island? Well, a lot of that depends on where you’ve come from, as things such as the weather can be a big adjustment. But there are most definitely some reasons, aside from the climate in its favour. Firstly, you have the benefits of a small town community (support, closeness, etc.) without the small-town narrowminded mentality. The reason being that many expats live here, so already you have a community of broad-minded people who are open to travel and change. It’s been proven that children that live abroad are more open to change later in life and are more accepting of others, and they tend to be innovative thinkers. You’ll be surprised at how easily your children adapt, as long as you involve them in the process.

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Secondly, if you, as parents, are going to be more relaxed in your new surroundings, it means you’ll be better parents to your children. Although you may work just as hard here, you’ll find there are certain western pressures that you can leave behind – if you allow yourself to. Don’t get into the trap of buying the most expensive car, when a cheap but reliable run-around will do.

Forget the designer labels, and don flip-flops and beachwear. Take the time to go to the beach with your children and enjoy simple pleasures. The weather is fantastic most of the year, so take advantage of that. You won’t get stuck in peak rush hour traffic, so head to the beach with your family after work, or grab dinner at a walking street market instead of cooking – it’s probably cheaper anyway.

Of course, there’ll be people and things that you miss from ‘back home’, but if you keep an open mind and accept that there will be hurdles to overcome, it is quite possible to relocate your children to a tropical island. I did – and so did a few hundred others on Samui, which is evident by the growing numbers at the international schools. Make the most of your time on this beautiful planet, and avoid the rat race if you can. Of course, you’ll work while living here, but at least when you’re off work, you’ll be in paradise.

Rosanne Turner

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ENJOY THE VIEW • FEEL THE QUALITY • LIVE THE LIFESTYLE

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Plai Laem Soi 8, Choeng Mon, Samui, Thailand

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LUXURIOUS 6 BEDROOM MAIN VILLA WITH 360 SEAVIEWS AND SEPARATE GUEST VILLA FOR RENT OR SALE & 1 PLOT FOR SALE

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NARAI KIRI RESIDENCES

KOH SAMUI

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THE

ORIGINAL SPA Cleansing yourself at The Spa Samui.

There are more than a hundred spas on the island now, but they are all the pampering kind. ‘The Spa Resort’, started by Guy Hopkins and his wife Toy, was the first on the island, and the only one doing fasting and cleansing at that time. And we are talking about more than twenty years ago! Their hard work over the years is evident in their dedicated repeat clientele. The Spa is located at the north end of Lamai Beach. Lamai actually translates as ‘longevity’ - as if whoever named it knew about the The Spa already!

They are perhaps best known for their detox program called ‘Clean Me Out’. Guy’s aim was to make it accessible to everybody, by keeping the cost reasonable – it’s just 14,000 Baht for a basic sevenday cleanse, exclusive of accommodation. If you don’t complete the whole week, they just charge you by the day. And you don’t have to be a guest at the resort to take part in any of their programs.

Guy and Toy also have another facility – 40 individual bungalows spread across the mountain, called ‘The Village’, which opened to the public in 2001. It’s two kilometres from the beach and ring-road, making it a quiet mountain retreat. So if you prefer a beach view you can choose The Spa, and if you prefer the scenic mountain views you can opt for The Village. The restaurants at both resorts are called ‘Radiance’, and feature the same excellent vegetarian menu.

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Returning to the detox program, fasting is the simplest way to initiate cleansing in the body. Fasting manager and chiropractor for ten years at The Spa, Dr John, talks about the process, “It’s an augmented past. Fasting is simply how we evolved. Every winter we starved. The theory is that the body learnt to do something productive with that time. The only food available during the heart of winter was leaves, barks, roots and herbs. The body learned to use those in the detox process. It needs internal house cleaning. When digestive systems were shut down, internal cleaning went into a deeper level. Periods of low calorie intake and starvation were cyclic and common as we evolved as creatures. It’s only in modern times that have we been able to go to the supermarket and have a variety of foods and calories year round.”

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Dr Richard Anderson, a chiropractor, nutritionist and herbalist from the US, developed a particular combination of herbs. Then, he added some detox drinks. You take each of them five times a day, and do one or the other every 90 minutes. It’s an alternative schedule to support the body, and assist it through the detox process. The combination of herbs actually breaks up, softens and liquefies the ‘rubbish’ that forms in the digestive tract. During the cleaning, you alternate between detox drinks which have Psyllium Husk Fibre and Bentonite Clay. These not only push things through, cleaning out the intestines, they actively bind to the toxins, carrying them out of the body so they don’t get reabsorbed.

Your One Stop Chill Spot

www.impiana.com 91/2-3 Moo 3, Chaweng Noi Beach, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320 Thailand Tel: 66 (0) 77 448994

To assist with the removal of the toxins you will also require a program of colonic irrigation. “The most common solution is coffee,” explains Dr John. “Two or three cups of organic coffee mixed with sixteen litres of water. It’s like multiple elements, similar to hydrotherapy, which is an open system. If you don’t remove those toxins that are being released in in large numbers, you can feel quite poorly; so you need to flush them out of your body quickly.”

It’s good to prepare the body for three days with just fruits and vegetables prior to the cleanse and do the same for three days afterwards, to your ease your body back into normal eating.

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Fax: 66 (0) 77 448999

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Email: info.kohsamui@impiana.com

Enjoy the beauty of the underwater world the easy way.

Seawalking is the newest and most innovative attraction to hit Koh Samui.

It is the safest underwater adventure and fun for all the family Just stroll along the seabed in 10 feet of crystal clear water and observe the sea life as it swims around you.

You need no lessons or swimming ability.

For more information contact Tel: 0901 650411 www.underseawalking.com

To get a clearer and point-to-point idea about the program, they have an introduction video and orientation talk by one of the health advisors, Dr John or Dr Anabelle, a night before the cleanse. You can ask questions and clarify any doubts about the process after watching the video. Everybody worries on their first day; that’s normal. But they guide you at every step, and you will eventually relax and enjoy the process. They also provide you a step-by-step instruction manual explaining the program.

It’s a seven-day cleanse, but it’s safe to do longer: 10-14 days is great. People have even done it for 30 days. They also have three-and-half day versions too, as some people don’t have time to do the full program, though its best to do the lengthy cleanse as it’s more powerful. It’s beneficial to do this cleanse at least once a year on a maintenance basis. Some people do it more than once a year. You should however allow a minimum six-week period in between.

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If you’ve gone 10 or 20 years without cleanse then you have some catching up to do, so head for The Spa!

Charisma Bharadwaj

_________________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7723 0855. www.thesparesorts.net

Tiny Steps Nursery and Pre-School Tiny Steps Nursery and Pre-School is committed to providing a warm, safe, secure, friendly and fun environment for children 2-6 years old.

Activity led structured learning 500 metres off Samui Ring Road near Bophut trafďŹ c light

Tel: 0 7742 6941, www.samuitinysteps.com

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

A little gem of a hideaway on the west coast – The Siam Residence.

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In the last seven or eight years, a dozen or more 5-star resorts have appeared.

And what’s significant is that the majority of these have been built away from Chaweng. There are probably several reasons for this. But one of the main ones is that Chaweng’s getting a bit busy now. Its sleepy heyday has moved on. The time has passed when it had a deserted beach and you could see the sea from just about everywhere on the long strip of the beach road. Don’t get me wrong – Chaweng has become lively and vibrant. But those who are seeking the fabled peace of a tropical island now look further afield. Such as, for example, the island’s northern and western coasts. And it’s here, on the west coast, that you’ll find The Siam Residence.

Perhaps the Austrian owner of the resort has a crystal ball, because Siam Residence is no breathless newcomer to the Samui scene. And not only has it continued to succeed for the last 25 years, but it’s also been subject to an ongoing policy of modernisation to keep up with the changing times. All of the bungalows look brand new, both inside and out. The two glass-sided dining

rooms and interlinked kitchen area seem as if they’ve come from a glossy magazine – and this futuristic design is echoed in the nearby massage room, too.

Mature pines line the grassy lawn at the seafront, and carefully placed bursts of colour come from real Euro-style flowerbeds with neatly-trimmed edges. The view is the expected ‘island paradise’ vista. The beach is as pristine and as private as it could possibly be, and there are miles of it!

Right from the start the policy was to keep it all small and friendly, with excellent facilities, quality accommodation and a high level of personal service. “There’s a team of 17 staff here,” the resort’s General Manager, Swiss-born Benjamin Lehmann, told me. “And it usually happens that, by the end of your holiday they’ll all know you by name. Indeed, we have a number of guests who keep in touch with our Thai staff throughout the year, and then return after a year or more to be greeted like family. And that’s really what we have become – a large extended family.”

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Even the villas themselves lend weight to this sentiment, as they are designed to reflect a home environment, rather than an anonymous hotel suite. The family villas have air-conditioning throughout, a large well-appointed living room with flat-screen TV connected to satellite channels, plus a stereo music centre with USB and iPhone connectors. There’s a mini bar and fridge, with tea and coffee-making facilities. Plus an international direct-dial cordless phone. The design is like one big apartment, with two king-size bedrooms, each with their own TV, and each with their own bathroom, and with one of them having a luxury semi-open-air Jacuzzi and outdoor shower. There’s even a third small toilet conveniently placed just off the living area.

There’s a shared gigantic walk-in wardrobe, which is almost as big as the living room, plus the main bedroom also has its own built-in wardrobe. The entire design is thoughtful, as all the rooms are inter-connected in one way or another, yet doors can be discreetly locked if required. And the service is first rate, with fluffy towels and bathrobes, and fresh flowers and fruit replenished daily.

The larger villas have their own massage bed too. There is an octagon-shaped all-glass massage room at the edge of the beach but, over the years, guests mentioned that they would appreciate a bit more privacy. True to form, the management responded in the usual Siam Residence manner, and the following season their wishes were granted. (Massages and other treatments are bookable one day in advance.)

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KHAO SOK

The Cliff and River Jungle Resort

Come and Relax with us at The Cliff and River Jungle Resort in magnificent Khao Sok. Enjoy the natural beauty and fresh air at this Scenic Riverside location.

Sightseeing Info - Canoeing - International Restaurant Luxury Recreation Facilities - Elephant Trekking

for more information and reservation please call 0 872 718 787, 0 812 721 221, 0 7791 3050 Fax. 0 7791 3099 www.thecliffandriver.com

P. CHAWENG GUEST HOUSE

100 ISLANDS RESORT

Located at the end of Soi Colibri, opposite Centara Grand Beach Resort.

Thai owned and managed, offering the beauty of Thai style architecture combined with European comforts.

The first boutique hotel in Suratthani.

Reasonably priced with friendly service and a family atmosphere. Relax by the pool or ease your tensions at the luxurious spa.

Recommended by Lonely Planet

Tel.: 0 7723 0684

Tel.: 0 7720 1150-8

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And then there’s the resort’s ‘Pavilion Restaurant’. Khun Lamyai Chaisuwan is the Head of Kitchen here and, like a number of other staff, she has been happy to work here for quite some time now – 22 years, in fact. There are no pretensions to food fads at all. But with Austrian ownership, Swiss management, and a time-served Thai chef in the kitchen, the cuisine is understandably excellent. The menu is Thai and International, featuring all the expected daytime lite-bites, salads and snacks. The Thai menu features the usual favourites, but there are a couple of eye-openers elsewhere. Such as the super crusty baguette with a choice of fresh pizza toppings. Or the fried ice-cream for dessert. But the star of the show is the seafood.

This is Samui island, so every restaurant is compelled to use the word ‘fresh’ in connection with this. But here it really is fresh. So much so, in fact, that each day guests have a standing invitation to join the Restaurant Manager, Khun Kookai, and go with her to the local fisherman’s market and make their own selections, if they wish. Alongside this, Pavilion offers an exceptional menu of daily seafood – you can opt to have it prepared in one of several ways (BBQ, sweet and sour, deep fried with garlic and pepper etc.) or even go for a steamed ‘healthy menu’ featuring three different Thai preparations. There are enough fresh items bought-in each day (snapper, barracuda, mackerel, squid, prawns, king prawns, rock lobster) so that you really don’t need that market trip. And dining visitors from outside can enjoy all of this as a matter of course.

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Speaking of which, just check out the map. Siam Residence is on the only side road between the road going to Nathon Hospital and the parallel road that runs to the Raja ferry pier in Lipa Noi. This coast is delightfully quiet. So much so, in fact, that there are very few good beach restaurants here. So if you’re staying anywhere on the west coast, Google it, check out the website and drop in one night. Book a table on the beach. It might be off the beaten track, but The Siam Residence is most certainly one of Samui’s little gems!

Rob De Wet

______________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7742 0008. www.siamresidence.com This is the original health destination on Koh Samui offering only the best Vegetarian, Raw and Healthy Thai Food. Listed as one of the 50 best restaurants in the world.

Over 17 years serving the freshest mouthwatering healthy food.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Daily @ both locations 7:00 am until 9:30 pm.

Radiance is a part of The Spa Resorts.

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GOING OVER

THE HILL

Down in Lamai there’s a crowd every night – at Seafood Palate.

There are probably a dozen reasons. But nobody can tell you exactly why. True, it’s not so compact; it’s more spread out. And the ‘main strip’ isn’t as long and intense as Chaweng. But the fact is, Lamai has always been a kind of little sister to the bustle and neon of Chaweng. It’s certainly less pacey, and this aspect alone has gained it a big fan-base – with the folks who value a calmer vibe for their holidays here. Others will toot on rabidly about the straightline spangle of Chaweng – five kilometres, all in a line along the beach. But it’s horses for courses, and here’s the thing – go over the hill and turn into Lamai and drive slow and straight until the road narrows.

You won’t fail to see the glow of the lights and feel the buzz. You’re at Seafood Palate; one of the most talked about eateries on the island today.

Okay – to be more precise, head up and over from Chaweng into Lamai, take the first left (blue signposts to Lamai Beach) after the small road bridge, and Bob’s your father’s brother. The thing about Seafood

Palate is that it didn’t just pop up overnight. It’s been slowly growing, flourishing even, for well over a year.

And that’s not surprising, given the spot-on formula that has been so successfully applied.

Firstly, it’s tiptop food. No, it’s not fine-dining or silver service. But the meat is imported from Australia and New Zealand and the seafood is mega-fresh every morning, from the nearby market in Hua Thanon.

The chef who set all this up previously had 20 years working for the Amari chain as an instructor, teaching other chefs how to make Italian food. The chefs here have not only put together a menu which will have you trying something different every night, but they’ve hooked in some very special Thai offerings, too.

It’s light, it’s bright and it’s cheerful. The layout and décor are lovely. There’s entertainment three nights a week, and a Thai dance show every Sunday. But the clincher comes from one random TripAdvisor comment.

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A female diner wrote a word or two in general and then she concluded, “. . . the quality is like a hotel, but the cost is the same as a street restaurant.” And that’s the killer punch that most other restaurants just can’t dodge. Prime New Zealand T-bone steak with vegetables, a baked potato and a speciality herb sauce for 850 baht. A whole pan-fried sea bass with mixed vegetables and white wine cream sauce for around 400 baht or so. A speciality Italian menu, with in-house pasta made fresh each day, plus homemade pizzas, that ranges between 250 and 350 baht. And there’s a huge Thai section where most of the dishes are half this cost, including some specialities you won’t find elsewhere.

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But, you know, this is not an accident or some kind of random good luck.

Restaurants don’t just suddenly wake up one morning with all this going on (and you haven’t heard the half of it yet!). Right across the narrow street is one of Lamai’s longest-established resorts –The Pavilion Samui Boutique Resort. The owner, the very canny Khun Virach Pongchababnapa, has been successfully steering his establishment through ripe times and lean ones for the last couple of decades. And for every small step down, he’s popped up with two steps forward. The guru-chef previously mentioned already manned the Pavilion’s own signature restaurant, The Patio. And about 18 months back, the building across the road became available. So, when you see a comment on TripAdvisor about ‘hotel quality’, it’s spot-on.

5

But when you set out to go over the hill to discover Seafood Palate – be warned. Finding easy parking is not a given. You’ll have to shuffle about if you have a car, but motorbikes will have no problem. The layout of the restaurant is memorable. The entire frontage is a blaze of light, with the open kitchen, behind the glass at the front, a hive of activity. Come in through either of the two entrances and you’re in an inner courtyard, open to the sky and with a huge mature tree around which tables are dotted – all très Mediterranean. But the cream on the cake is the upstairs balcony that overlooks the street – this is strictly bookings only! And one other nice little touch is the self-contained air-conditioned room at the back.

Right across the narrow street is another lovely little area, with openair tables, surrounded by large, low, mood lights. But don’t head over there on a Sunday! Book the balcony instead. Because this is the once-a-week Thai buffet night, complete with classical Thai dancing and live music. It’s all-you-can-eat from a lavish spread of Thai cuisine, plus the dance show, for the stunning sum of just 450 baht. But if you can’t manage a Sunday, look out for the harmonious duo of Ron and Kuk – an acoustic duo who are playing favourites and requests – every Sunday, Monday and Friday evening.

But that’s not all! Running right into the upper balcony, across into the next building, is ‘Coffee Way’. And above this area is an upperupper level where you can also dine. It’s bold, it crisp, it’s hip and it’s bright, with the communal red, white and black colour theme throughout. Coffee Way is open all day and serves humongous American breakfasts, as well as a range of coffees, a ton of herbal teas, plus pastries and nibbles. And, happily, beer.

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Zico's is an electric combination of colourful calypso, vibrant carnival rhythm and dance.

A unique party experience not to be missed! Every night is fiesta night at Zico's.

The beat goes on, and so does the dancing.

Tuck into a superb selection of all you can eat grilled seafood and meats, prepared just for you, complemented by large salad bar.

CHAWENG BEACH : OPPOSITE CENTARA GRAND BEACH RESORT SAMUI T : 077 230 500-10 | E : zicos@chr.co.th Open daily : Bar 17.00 - 01.00 hrs., Restaurant 18.00 - 23.00 hrs.

WWW.CEN TARAHOTELSRESORTS.C OM

Some would say it’s the hub of downtown Lamai. Me? I say it’s a must.

If you like Thai food you’ll love it. If you love Italian food, you’ll be back.

You might need to travel, but believe me, it’s worth it – even if it means going up and over a few hills or so!

Rob De Wet

_____________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7742 4420.

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UP UP AND AWAY You’ll make your party go with a pop, when you call-in Balloon Samui!

What is there in common between balloons and the internet? (Actually, to be fair, I could have substituted any number of other things for ‘balloon’!) Go on, try to guess. No? Well then . . . both of these things are so much a part of our lives that it’s hard to imagine being without them. I suppose that’s a bit simplistic. But you could also add that both the internet and balloons have only appeared on the scene comparatively recently – historically speaking.

Except, if you thought that, you’d be wrong: about balloons, anyway!

Because balloons have actually been around for a very long time indeed.

Here, on our little tropical paradise island of Samui, balloons are also alive and well, courtesy of a very interesting man who goes by the name of Supakit Duangngern, although he’s more usually known by his nickname of Khun Yod. He’s the man behind ‘Balloons Samui’, and a very busy time he’s having of things right now, too. But it wasn’t always like this. Indeed, for the biggest part of his life he was a sailing instructor, and one of national renown, too, I might add. In a bizarre way, it was this that led to his involvement with balloons and the formation of his company – but all of this will be explained in just a moment!

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Khun Yod hails from Sattahip, just a little way away from Pattaya. All of this coast, and the region around it, has a history of sailing, and from a very early age, Khun Yod wanted to sail. By the time he was 10, this had become a reality and he’d started crewing. On leaving school, he attended the nearby Thai Austrian Technical College, where he trained as an electrical engineer. But, as he told me, “I really wasn’t cut out for this kind of work! A lot of my time was spent in an office working strictly 9-5, and it was driving me mad. I come alive with the joy of open spaces and I had to make a change. So I joined with a good friend of mine and opened a sailing school in Bangkok.”

The Thai sailing community is tightly-knit, Samui is interconnected, and it happened that Khun Yod was invited to come and live here, to work training the Samui youth team. And that’s how it happened – how the balloons appeared on the scene. “Sometimes I needed to discipline the kids, or bring them into line,” Yod continued. “It made my heart sink seeing their downcast faces, with all their bouncy joy burst like a bubble. Just after an occasion like this I was invited to the birthday party of one of the youngsters – and I decided to put some of the joy back again. I took along dozens of balloons – it made my heart sing to see how happy this made everyone!”

This turning point happened about two years ago. It had taken a while, but one party had led to another and suddenly Balloon Samui had come into being.

Khun Yod is a gentle, kindly man, whose face breaks into a smile at the drop of a hat. “It just grew,” he grinned. “Then suddenly I was getting phone calls from people I didn’t know. A couple of birthday parties – and then a wedding. Wordof-mouth was spreading my name around. I started to create more elaborate and complicated displays, like balloon arches and columns, and then whole walls.

Now I’ve even got a balloon bomb that explodes balloons from the ceiling!”

There is a steady demand for Khun Yod’s services, and he has been called out to weddings and birthdays at such prestigious venues as The Four Seasons, Six Senses, Banyan Tree, Centara and a host of others. And he is now Samui’s official distributor for helium, the lighter-than-air gas that everyone loves in those shiny balloons. (This also means that standards of safety and fireproofing are assured.) These helium balloons come in varied shapes, including hearts, and he is never busier than on St. Valentine’s Day. He has a small flotilla of motorbikes delivering all over the island, and even send items over to Koh Pha-Ngan.

“This year was scary for me,” Khun Yod recalled. “I had a big order from Koh Pha-Ngan, but I was so busy here making Valentine arrangements that I couldn’t go. So I inflated 40 helium balloons, tied them all up in a big net, and sent them across on a ferry. They were straining to get up into the sky, and I was so worried that we would never see them again. But they all arrived safe and sound!”

The way to go about getting yourself all ballooned up is to phone Khun Yod, at least one week in advance, to discuss your needs. Unless it’s a simple request, he’ll come and look at the site, indoors or out, measure-up, and work out how many balloons are needed. It’ll take longer if you want an arch, columns or a whole wall, so it’s best to plan ahead. And also allow time on the day for everything to be put in place; it takes a minimum of two hours to decorate and can take as much as a whole day for an extensive display.

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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�

ZAZEN If you are looking for something wonderful and different, Zazen restaurant is the place for you to discover. Their master chef emphasises the use of healthy organic ingredients while infusing dining participation. Zazen is truly one of the most romantic and serene beachside dining restaurants on the island. Every night this charming establishment lights up over 100 candles to set the ambiance for you to experience.

Tel: 0 7742 5085 Email: info@samuizazen.com Website: www.samuizazen.com

Samui Every conceivable Indian dish is on offer here – and they are all delicious! Conveniently located in Central Chaweng, the restaurant is open from 11:00 am – 11:30 pm.

For further information, reservations, and take-away orders (free delivery in Chaweng area), telephone 0 7741 3315.

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 7723 6120, 0 7742 1342 Fax: 0 7742 1185 Email: asia_int@samart.co.th For Taxi: ร้านตั้งอยู่ที่ถนนหน้าทอน

Simply the best

Brite Smile The Original BriteSmile Centre from Hollywood’s Professional Teeth Whitening. . One Hour . One Visit . One Dazzling Smile Offering other new services: Painless dentistry, depigmentation with laser and dental implants, as well as a wide range of dental hygiene and care.

Bangkok Samui Dental Clinic Open daily from 9:oo - 20.00 Tel : 0 7742 9500 www.DentalSamui.com

Tel.: 0 7742 9500 Website: www.DentalSamui.com For Taxi: ร้านตั้งอยู่ในโรงพยาบาลกรุงเทพ

ถนนรอบเกาะ เฉวง

This happened recently at a conference held at Centara Grand Beach Resort, when an underwater theme was called for. The tables, door, walls and stage were festooned with balloon sculptures (made from twisted balloon tubes) of fish, octopuses, seahorses and clams, plus hundreds of the usual round balloons all in aquatic hues. This was his biggest job to date, and he spent over two days on it – it was unusual and very much a custom job, but it just shows what’s possible with a bit of imagination.

Prices begin at around 2,000 baht, but every job varies in its size and nature, and the cost will alter to match. Balloon Samui has a website (see below) but it’s in Thai and so you’ll need to puzzle your way through Google Translate. But pictures speak volumes, and there’s no language barrier at Khun Yod’s Facebook page (Balloon Samui), where he documents every job he does (on average about two every week.) He also speaks excellent English, so the best way to make your party go with a pop – a bang even! – is to contact Khun Yod – and then the sky’s the limit!

Rob De Wet

___________________________________________ For further information, telephone 0 897 290 099. www.balloonsamui.com

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PROPERTY CLASSIFIED

Villa for Rent/Sale - Yupa Villa 1 5 fully furnished bedrooms with air-con throughout. All bedrooms ensuite, one with jacuzzi.

Living area fully furnished with TV and internet. Thai/Western kitchen. Swimming pool, remote control gate, security camera around house, safety box, parking area, garden.

Tel: 0 818 917 912, 0 897 636 032 E-mail: cr@chawengbayviewsamuiresort.com www.chawengbayviewsamuiresort.com

The Estates Samui

Villa for Rent/Sale - Yupa Villa 2

An exclusive and private collection of ultra luxury homes, cradled on a hillside overlooking one of the most pristine stretches of beaches on the island. A mixed-use development, including villa residences and the Four Seasons Hotel. Each villa features a private infinity pool with large sundeck, sunken dining pavilion, spacious living and dining areas, state-of-the-art entertainment and technology, indoor & outdoor bathrooms. Price starts from THB 145 million

3 fully furnished bedrooms with air-con throughout. All bedrooms ensuite, one with jacuzzi.

Living area fully furnished with TV and internet. Thai kitchen.Swimming pool, remote control gate, security cameraaround house, safety box, parking area, garden.

Website: www.theestates-samui.com Email: propertysales@minornet.com Telephone: +66 (0) 8 5484 8752

Chaweng - Bar for Rent / Sale Bar for rent in Soi Colibri, opposite Centara Samui Resort. Includes apartment on 1st floor with 2 ensuite bedrooms and seperate access.

Price for rent : 29,000 Baht per month

3 months deposit

No key money Price for sale: 4.9 million Baht Contact Khun Na: 0892914747 (English and Thai) Â

Chaweng - Shophouse for Sale Shophouse for sale in Soi Colibri, opposite Centara Samui Resort. Ground floor ideal for office space, retail shop or small bar/restaurant. Apartment on 1st floor with 2 ensuite bedrooms and seperate access.

Price: 4 million Baht Contact: Graeme 0 860 193 166

Tel: 0 818 917 912, 0 897 636 032 E-mail: cr@chawengbayviewsamuiresort.com www.chawengbayviewsamuiresort.com

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: 0 819 709 632 Email: asiatravel_international@yahoo.com

Profitable Established Business for Sale 18 hole, concrete tracked, mini golf course. Member of the World Mini Golf Federation (one of only 2 in Thailand). 3020 m2 of land including 2 storey house with foreign ownership. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 2 extra apartments. Sale includes well established, profitable Thai Limited Company.

Location: Near Choeng Mon Tel: 0 817 879 148, www.minigolfsamui.com

Santib

Santiburi Beach Resort Golf & Spa

Rim Talay Restaurant at Santiburi Beach Resort, Golf & Spa

Premier Pool Villa at Bo Phut Resort & Spa

Sala Thai Restaurant at Bo Phut Resort and Spa

buri Resort

Bo Phut Resort & Spa

FEATURING THE OUTSTANDING 18 HOLE CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE FOR YOUR PLAYING PLEASURE, THE SANTIBURI GROUP WELCOMES YOU TO EXPERIENCE OUR FINE DINING AND THE HOSPITALITY OF TWO EXCEPTIONAL BEACH RESORT GOLF AND SPA.

12/12 Moo1, Maenam, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84330 Tel: +66 (0) 7742 5031-5 Fax: +66 (0) 7742 5040 E-mail: info@santiburi.com www.santiburi.com

12/12 Moo 1, Bo Phut, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84320 Tel: +66 (0) 7724 5777, +66 (0) 7743 0201 Fax: +66 (0) 7724 5776 Email: info@bophutresort.com www.bophutresort.com

Sales Office: 245/7 Sukhumvit 31, Klongton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 2260 2530-5 Fax: +66 (0) 2260 7570