| Picture an island nestling in the calm, azure blue | | | | centrally astride the landmass and takes in the |
| waters of the Gulf of Thailand fringed by coral | | | | main resorts of Lamai and Chaweng. Lamai is the |
| reefs with beaches of powder soft white sand | | | | smaller of the two and offers a quieter and |
| framed by a backdrop of coconut trees, their | | | | perhaps cleaner beach. The latter caters for, |
| fronds dancing in the gentle breeze. The palms | | | | perhaps, a younger and more energetic visitor. |
| stretch upward to the central uplands, thick with | | | | Further on lies Bangrak is better known as "Big |
| lush tropical vegetation. The coast and lower | | | | Buddha Beach" as it takes its name from the |
| slopes are awash with coconut palms making Koh | | | | huge Buddha statue at the eastern end of the |
| Samui the 'Coconut Capital of Thailand'. It is said | | | | bay. Borphut boasts a trendy fisherman's village, |
| the island sends 2,000.000 coconuts per month to | | | | much favoured by French tourists and Maenam to |
| Bangkok. This green vista is interspersed | | | | the north offers spectacular views across to Koh |
| occasionally by black granite boulders. Some of | | | | Phangan and the Ang Thong Natural Marine Park. |
| these rock formations appear to defy gravity by | | | | This area is much less crowded than the bustling |
| hanging dramatically against the hillside. This tropical | | | | Chaweng and the marginally quieter Lamai. It still |
| paradise is called Koh Samui. A 250 square | | | | retains its original Thai flavour. However, to get to |
| kilometre rounded island which is about the same | | | | grips with authentic 'Samui' you need to rent a car |
| size as Penang. | | | | or motorbike and take one of the many roads |
| Koh Samui translates from Koh, the Thai word | | | | that lead up away from the coast and into the |
| for island, and Samui, which is probably derived | | | | mountain. As you climb higher you come to |
| from the Chinese "saboey" meaning safe harbour. | | | | rubber plantations and hidden away villages |
| The magic island first came to the attention of | | | | clustering around paddy fields, still hanging onto a |
| world travellers when it started to crop up in | | | | traditional way of life that is far removed from |
| conversation in many of the cheap hotels that | | | | the tourist dominated hotels, resorts, restaurants |
| then clustered around Bangkok's Hualamphong | | | | and bars that cluster around the coast. |
| Railway station some 45 years ago. It was | | | | Samui has over the years developed a reputation |
| difficult to get to, requiring special negotiation with | | | | as centre of complementary medicine offering |
| fishermen in Suratthani lying 80 kilometres across | | | | spas designed to detox inhabitants of an |
| the sea on the mainland. When you reached the | | | | overstressed globe. The Health Oasis Resort |
| island, there was no road and so those intrepid | | | | located adjacent to the unspoiled Bang Po Beach |
| voyagers hopped from beach to beach by boat. | | | | to the west of Maenam offers stunning views |
| In the past forty plus years things have changed | | | | across to Koh Phangan. Sit in the authentic |
| hugely. | | | | vegetarian restaurant after six p.m. and turn your |
| The island is now served by an international | | | | head to the west you will witness spectacular |
| airport that looks more like a botanical garden | | | | sunsets over the islands that comprise the Ang |
| than the accepted tradition of functional 'air | | | | Thong National Park. Health Oasis is unique in that |
| station'. Flights leave hourly for the new | | | | the Thai Department of Health lists it as a |
| Suvarnbhumi Airport in Bangkok and link the island | | | | traditional medicine hospital. It specialises in |
| to additional destinations such as Singapore, Kuala | | | | supervised detox and fasting treatments. |
| Lumpur, Hong Kong, Pattaya and Phuket. A | | | | Be sure of this, whatever your tastes Koh Samui |
| 52-kilometre road rings Samui and links all the | | | | will be able to provide a venue for a holiday that |
| major towns. Nathon the capital plays host to | | | | will linger long in your memory. So if you are |
| government buildings and banks and serves as | | | | planning a trip of a lifetime whether it be for |
| one of the ferry ports serving the Thai mainland. | | | | tourism or health this magical island is a venue well |
| The road skirts the 635-metre mountain that sits | | | | worth considering. |