Thailand Trip Part 3 Koh Samui

After flying out from Chiang Mai in the morning we arrived at the very 'flash tropical' Airport in Koh Samui, ready for a very restful three days. It was pouring rain! About the same as the average wet season downpour in Lae! We also found out that we should have booked transport through the Resort as there is only one company that has a monopoly on the taxis from the Airport and it cost at least B500 to go 4.8 km (I saw the sign!). There was a mix up in our itinerary prepared by the travel agent and we ended up going to the first resort we considered, the taxi then wanted another B500 to go the three km down the road to the correct resort... it was still absolutely pouring down but I still said "*&%# No way". The taxi drove off and we were stuck at a resort which had no real need to transport us to a competitor! But they kindly offered (after the family of wet Aussies looked like they were about to campout in their lobby) at a reduced price of ... you guessed it... B500 to take us down the road. I hate that!
After arriving at Bandara Resort we realised that I had left our computer at the other resort. Bandara collected it later (at no extra cost!). Not the best start to this section of our holiday!

It rained basically for another day and a half then cleared up for one day (I am sorry I didn't get pictures of the 'lobster red' Pommy tourists sitting on the beach on that one sunny day!)

We had a lovely time relaxing, catching up on sleep, eating out, swim in the many pools, walk on Bophut Beach, trying to windsurf, kayak and shopping ... before heading out to Singapore.

Here are some photos...

Bandara Beach Resort Lobby Lounge

Topside pools

The path down to the beachside pools was through a large garden with many chances to stop and rest!

Many of the 'Island Beaches' are very commercialised at here are two examples!

Jenaya found a jellyfish and of course we had to rescue it. These are the views along Bophut Beach

Singing in the rain!

Cubbies on the veranda! Don't really need expensive toys do they?

Marilyn took around 20 pictures of me trying to windsurf and I was happy to entertain all the tourists watching on the beach.

Shopping along the main road in Koh Samui

Koh Samui Departures and then the walk through the 'Airport Plaza' to the International Lounge

The girls had fun in the toilets at the departure lounge!

Spending our last Baht at Swensons, family sized Icecream chocolate fondue!

Thailand Trip Part 2: Chiang Mai

Here is the Chiang Mai instalment of our trip.
Day 1: Shopping and a visit to the ADRA Thailand national office with Peter Mushenko showing us around.

Day 2: A bus trip to Wiang Pao Po, with ADRA Thailand staff and some visiting Aussies from Avondale College. We visited a HIV project school and then had a 'hiccup' on the way home to CM... Mazz and Tiarna had to go on one bus and Jenaya and I had to go on one an hour later.
Day 3: MaeSa Elephant Camp and Monkey Centre.

My nervous look is not unwarranted! I was trying not to think about what he was doing to my neck!

Day 4: Chaeng Doh Caves with some ADRA locals and other friends.

Thailand Trip Part 1: Bangkok

For our mid year break we decided to go to Thailand and Singapore.

Three days in Bangkok.

Four days in Chaing Mai.

Three days in Koh Samui.

Two days in Singapore.

Here are some pictures of Bangkok.

Shopping at the Weekend Markets.

Night cruise down the river.

Grand Palace.


Some more 'shopping experiences'