Koh Samui is a beautiful tropical island that provides a wide range of accommodations for all, has a great nightlife, amazing scenery, and lots of activities to keep you busy. This island is unique as it appeals to all young and old, and with its seclusion, is an ideal escape from the busy world.
Koh Samui Culture
Koh Samui’s culture is steeped in Thai traditions of old, yet it allows in enough of western influence to make it a great tourist destination. The one thing to keep in mind when visiting this tiny tropical paradise is that it is not a bustling metropolis; it is simply a tiny town. Samui is currently home to about 40,000 full-time inhabitants. Once a thriving fishing community, Samui is now famous for its lucrative coconut and rubber farming industries. Samui is home to more varieties of coconut palms than any other place in the world. And while Na Thon and Mae Nam are still fishing villages, most other island natives are actively involved in coconut cultivation.
Officially recorded on a Ming Dynasty map over 1, 500 years ago, it is thought that the first inhabitants of Samui were Chinese from Hainan province in the mid-19th century, as well as ethnic Malay fishermen who also settled here. In the mid 1970’s Koh Samui was first discovered by backpackers traveling through Thailand and since then has grown to become a major tourist getaway. There is even a McDonalds on the island now.
While most people here are Buddhist, a small percent of the population are Muslims living in the fishing village of Na Thon. There are many beautiful and old temples dedicated to Buddha here that are worth visiting. On the north coast of the island is a huge statue of a seated Buddha which is a massive 15 meters high and overlooks the ocean. This statue is a major island land mark.
Offering warm Thai hospitality and friendly faces, Koh Samui’s natives are very welcoming to tourists. Here most people do not allow themselves to get worked up over problems; they believe life is simply a passage from one life into another and have a "take life as it comes" approach to living.
Weather in Koh Samui
Samui has great weather all year round with warm tropical sunshine for the better part of the year. However Samui’s rainy season is different from other parts of Thailand, this is because Koh Samui is an island situated on the Gulf coast, facing east. It is mostly affected by the northeastern monsoons.
January and February are quite cool months on the island; here temperatures average a pleasant 26°C. This is the best time to visit as it is not too hot. From March to May, the temperature rises quite a bit and it can get pretty steamy. June through September are warm sunny days with an occasional downpour that usually does not last too long. And from October to December there are frequent showers with extended periods of dry sunny weather on the island, but the sea tends to be a bit rough at this time, and visibility is affected.
Shopping in Koh Samui
From market stalls to the more up market shops, Samui has something to satisfy all shoppers. Bargaining is necessary at most stalls and makeshift shops, but in most other shops the prices are fixed. From antiques, to sportswear and jewelry, nearly everything under the sun can be found here in Samui.
Antiques & Furniture – You have to be careful buying antiques here, as many of them are fake. Worth checking out for high quality furniture is the recently opened Java Teak on Route 4169.
Jewelry – In Samui jewelry is comparatively cheaper. Local gold and gemstones are a real bargain, but stick to buying at established jewelry shops such as Classic Gems, and Farn Shop next to Big Buddha Wat.
Sportswear – There is plenty of real and fake sportswear sold in Samui. Nike, Adidas and Reebok all have shops on the island. Surf wear and swim wear are also available in wide variety. Real surf wear is available at Hardcore Surf in central Chaweng, while good quality swim wear is available at Life's a Beach.
Tailoring – Samui, like the rest of Thailand offers great deals on tailored clothing. However, make sure you get a trial or fitting before you pay for the suit. Baron Fashion Tel. 077 230 406, John Tailor Tel. 077 413 467 and Joop! Tel. 077 413 237 are some of the many tailor shops.
Thai Silk – Samui’s fabric shops provide a wide variety of Thai silk in different colors, designs and quality.
Woodcarvings and Ceramics – For coconut-wood carvings unique to the island, check out the stalls at Hin-Ta and Hin-Yai. Ceramics are available all over the place and are well worth checking out as well.
What to Wear in Koh Samui
Samui is a laid back beach resort and casual swim wear and clothing is worn by all. Pack some functional clothes as well as there is a strict dress code when visiting temples. Shorts and sleeves outfits are not allowed. Also remember to cover up when roaming in the sun and wear plenty of sunscreen, so as not to burn. Also, please do not go topless to the beach, as nudity is offensive to the Thai culture.
Travel around Koh Samui
Traveling Samui is easy, unless you wander off the main road that encircles the entire island. Route 4169 is the main road on Koh Samui. Many tourists hire a motorbike or car to view the island, however there are plenty of Baht buses or Songthaews and taxis that also cruise the main road. Songthaews normally cost around 20 Baht to go anywhere within Chaweng or Lamai, however after midnight the price for a ride can go up to 50 Baht.
Always remember to ask how much your fare is before you sit in a bus. Metered taxis or yellow limousine cars are a more comfortable way to get around the island, however make sure the meter is switched on. The fare depends on the distance yof your destination. Renting a motorbike or ‘moped’ costs roughly 200 Baht a day.
However, they are a dangerous mode of transportation as most dovers on the island do not obey any traffic rules. Renting a car will cost anywhere from 800 Baht a day, up to 2000 Baht. Most hotels usually arrange for the rental and delivery of a car. But before signing the contract, it is a good idea to check the vehicle first. Using a map is the easiest way to help you get around. Excellent free green maps are available in stalls at the airport. For day trips look to local tour shops and guides to show you around.
Health Services in Koh Samui
There are quite a few hospitals on the island that are usually very busy as Samui has the highest accident fatality rate in all of Thailand. It is necessary that you drive with caution when touring Samui by yourself, especially on a motorbike. Koh Samui Hospital is the largest and most popular hospital on the island. Located near Na Thon at the end of the Immigration Office road, this hospital offers first class service at a reasonable price. Bandon International Private Hospital, offers a 24 Hours Accident and Emergency Ambulance Service as does Samui International Hospital at the north end of Chaweng.
Koh Samui Nightlife
Samui's nightlife is very good with many beach bars, happening pubs and clubs, and dinner cabaret shows. Of course there are also the legendary beach parties thrown on the island, which are now world renowned. There is something for everyone here, but remember that all the bars and clubs now have to close by 2am. The Billabong Surf Club in Fisherman's Village, Bophut is a great place to have a fun time. It is a main gathering point for Australian tourists on the island. The Molotov is a relatively new bar in Chaweng that has an excellent range of beers, spirits and cocktails. Shooters is Samui's first international standard pool hall. Located in central Chaweng, this pub has a big screen TV for sports, a full Thai and International menu and a separate play station and table football room for kids of all ages. Christy's Cabaret show in Central Chaweng, near The Islander, is a lot of fun, but is for adults only.
Dining Out in Koh Samui
Samui’s main dining places are in Chaweng, with everything from McDonald's to an elegant dinner restaurant available. For a good breakfast try Will Wait in the center of town. Many of the resorts and hotels on the island also have their own restaurants and coffee shops. Fresh sea food is sold everywhere on Samui, on the beach, in food stalls and in fine eateries. The Elephant is a popular British hang out that serves authentic English food like Sausage and Mash, Homemade Steak and Kidney Pie, Fish' n' Chips and Baked Spuds, while the Long Island Bar in the Long Island Resort in Lamai is the perfect way to wind down as bar has one of the best selections of cocktails and wines on the island.
Koh Samui Business
Before Samui became a tourist Mecca, fishing was one of the island’s main occupations. Now it is mainly in Na thon that most fishing is still done. Most Thai’s are involved in the tourism industry now and earn their living by renting diving equipment, boats and vehicles for hire. Many restaurants and bars are also managed by island natives.
Samui is known as ‘the island of the coconut tree’ and is famous for its coconut plantations. Cultivating coconuts is a massive industry, with majority of the people involved. Most of the coconut is made in to a sweet coconut oil which is exported world over. There are many indigenous breeds of tall palm trees on the island, producing over two million coconuts each year.
