Sports in Koh Samui

Rock Climbing is one of the sports you can partake in at Koh Samui (photo courtesy  flickr.com)

An ideal destination is more than just a span of white sand beaches, tropical trees, and beautiful sceneries; it must be filled with fun activities. Vacationers are likely to gain extra pounds by just laying around the beach, enjoying the sun with a cold drink. Physical activities and sports are good ways to eliminate extra pounds. However, don’t forget to bring sunscreen and a cold bottle of water.

Santiburi Samui Country Club, high up in the hills above and with an incredible view of Samui’s north coast, is the best place to play golf. It offers full cart and caddy service. It rents out golf shoes, clubs, and other golfing gear at the pro shop. After an exhilarating round of golf, one can relax with a light lunch and refreshing drink in Santiburi, a breezy patio restaurant. Dress code is a must and reservations are necessary. Green fees are 3,350 THB and cart/caddy charges.

Most people come to Koh Samui to do water sports. Some popular water sports on the island include jet skiing, go carting, and rock climbing, bungee jumping, fishing and scuba diving.

Other Koh Samui sporting activities include running which can be done at several places such as at the hotel gym or along the beach. Running along the road is discouraged for two reasons: road surfaces are concrete and not advisable for joints. The highly recommended running venue is the beach of Maenam, which is longer and flatter than Bophut and Choengmon. The best time to start is before 7:30 a.m. otherwise it might be too hot.

Yoga is another sport that visitors to the island love to partake in. Thai yoga is Koh Samui is superior to other places due to its ambiance. Everyone is welcome and yoga skills do not matter, as there is both advanced and beginner courses offered.

 Additional sports that tourists like to enjoy on the island are kayaking, sea swimming and tubing. Sports lovers will also consider the Angthong Marine Park, which offers numerous water sports. Many places throughout the island offer Scuba courses and PADI certification. Some places a person can get certified at includes the Choeng Mon beach and Fisherman’s Village in Bophut.

Lastly a person can go Kite boarding in Koh Samui. There are individual or 2-on-1 lessons from certified instructors. 3-day beginner’s courses are also available.

There are so much Koh Samui activities that tourists have to make a second or third and even fourth trip back to experience them all. A person should never have a dull moment in Koh Samui. 

Koh Samui Packing Tips and Tricks

All packed up and ready to go? (photo courtesy of  flickr.com)

Having a hard time figuring out what things to bring to Koh Samui, Thailand and which to leave at home? No need to panic, as we'll list down some tips and tricks that will alleviate the stress and make your Koh Samui travel experience a memorable one.

Keep in mind your hosts

Locals, especially Thai women, typically dress modestly. Most often than not, you'll see that they keep their shoulders and knees covered. Make sure to follow these dress codes especially when visiting sacred temples and shrines. On the other hand, rules are more relaxed when it comes to islands such as a Koh Samui beach. The locals typically don’t bikinis, however they aren’t offended or care much about tourists who do decide to wear them. The important thing to remember is to look decent and presentable when visiting a temple (means no sandals or short skirts or shorts).

Don't forget the climate

Koh Samui is a tropical island – meaning it's generally hot all year round. Stray away from heavy clothing such as jeans, as well as anything made of polyester. Instead, go for the cotton. Whatever style of clothing you choose just make sure it's light, preferably cotton. It best suits the Koh Samui weather.

Think about the Koh Samui activities

There are tons of things you can do a Koh Samui – frolicking by the beach, sailing through the waters, hanging out by the pool, pigging out by some nice restaurant, and even trekking your way to a waterfall. Think of the best combination of clothing and footwear that matches every possible activity that you can do when you get there. Just be smart in prioritizing or else you'll end up bringing your whole closet with you!

Bring some sunscreen

This is a necessity you will need to any tropical country you plan on visiting. Generally, the closer to the equator, the harsher the sun is. The sight of the Koh Samui beach will make you want to go and lay out and tan bur remember to do your skin a favour by bringing some sunscreen and applying a generous amount before basking under the sun. For added protection bring a hat and sun glasses.

No need to worry about laundry

 If you're staying for quite a while in Koh Samui, then laundry is going to be the least of your problems. Almost every area and decent hotels offer laundry service. If there's none, then fret not because laundry shops can be found in almost every corner of the island.

Getting Around Koh Samui

This a view from the back of a Thai Tuk Tuk, one of the many types of transportation available in Koh Samui (photo courtesy of Flickr.com)

A few decades ago, the Koh Samui beaches were visited only by a limited number of backpackers craving for a quiet and relaxing getaway. Now, Koh Samui has seen an influx of tourists, attracting all types of travelers from the posh, luxury vacationists to budget travelers staying in simple beach-side bungalows. What's unique about the Koh Samui travel experience is the way it offers comfort and privacy to its visitors through the relaxed atmosphere, which can be felt all throughout the area. 

Getting around Koh Samui is very easy. You can navigate around either by car, motorbike, boat or on foot. Koh Samui is just a small, simple place it's just 25 kilometers long and 21 kilometers wide. A circular road sits around the entire island connecting the beach to the other note-worthy Koh Samui attractions.

So if you're trying to get to a certain place, chances are you can easily reach your destination by motorbike. The good thing about this is that most of the Koh Samui local people are truly nice and hospitable people. You can always ask around if you're unsure of where you're headed.

If you want to drive around the island, there are two options available – you can either rent a car or hail a taxi. Renting a car is one good way of making the most out of your trip, offering flexibility and allowing you to visit as many Koh Samui attractions as possible. On the other hand, taxis are a good alternative when you simply want to hop from one spot to another such as to a restaurant from your hotel. However, make sure to negotiate the rates first, especially at night when rates are usually higher.

The Koh Samui travel experience will never be complete without riding a songthaew – the island's public bus system. It looks nothing like a bus, it's merely a pick-up truck with converted seats but it's your cheapest alternative to get around the island. It has a fixed route around the ring road and fares normally start at 20 baht. During the night, several songthaews also double as private taxis that tourists can rent to get from one beach to another. The fare depends on distance but it usually costs a hundred baht.

Lastly, traveling by boat is also common in Koh Samui. Some beaches cannot be reached by car or motorbike, they can only be reached by taking a boat. Depending on the location and the amount of people you are travelling with, you will probably have to pay anywhere from 200 baht to 500 baht per boat ride.

Shopping: Tailors On The Island

Don't forget to get your own tailor made suit while in Koh Samui  (photo courtesy of  flickr.com)

Going to a distant island such as the beautiful island is an once-in-a-lifetime experience to many. Though a lot of good memories can be preserved through photographs and video documentaries, actually purchasing something from one of the Koh Samui shopping establishments to take back home, as a memento that’d last forever, would be even better.

Plenty of tourists who spent some time looking for neat stuff to buy have almost certainly stumbled upon a wide range of tailors. Designer clothing, or even garments of any sort, serve as great reminders of the tropical getaway experience – though no apparel is actually designed to last an entire lifetime, keeping it locked up in the cabinet (upon turning scruffy of course) is always an option.

Since the majority of these shops can be found in town, along popular streets, and even at the beaches, visitors of the islet are given convenient access to outstanding designs and fabrics from the leading brands in fashion today. To make things even better, establishments bearing some of fashion’s biggest names can be found throughout the island as well, including Armani and Zara.

A good thing about suits here is that the price is substantially cheaper within this country than other places around the world, therefore customers get more bang for their buck. Despite the fact that a vacationer will save large amounts of cash from whichever store he or she buys from, doing a little Koh Samui shopping before ultimately making a purchase is advised.

The prices charged by tailors will vary from one another, so canvasing is important – that is of course if the customer intends to save as much cash as he or she possibly can. Also, while plenty of shops have built good reputations amongst the various clients they had from foreign countries, there are some, which have managed to achieve the exact opposite. Some businesses are popular amongst the locals for all the wrong reasons – getting a custom suit or dress from these establishments is often a mistake.

Travellers who were unfortunate enough to hire the wrong tailor for the job complained about the delivery of goods, which for them went several days beyond the deadline. In addition to this, others nagged about the use of unbranded material in their outfits, when they specifically ordered designer fabrics only.

With all that said, a tourist can easily eliminate the risks associated with Koh Samui shopping by asking for references from previous customers and by doing some research online first. Again, only some of these shops are well-known for bad reasons, there’s a whole lot more known for the excellent service they give to their clients.   

Delectable Exotic Fruits in Samui

Depicted above is some of the delicious fruit that can be found in Koh Samui (photo courtesy of  flickr.com)

Thailand is not only the land of smiles, but the land of delicious fruits as well. A traveller’s list of things to do in Koh Samui should include buying a sample of all the fruits found on the island. As a starter, try the fruits after you enjoy your breakfast.

Jackfruit is an exotic fruit available during summer and even rainy months. The fruit is exotic and is tasty in ice cream, while its massive seeds are used in cooking. Tamarind, on the other hand can be found during the winter. Its taste is tart and tangy when fresh, but it is sweet when dried. Open the shell and chew pieces of the fruit inside! Mangosteen is a spring or autumn fruit. These fruits are like little presents, as one has to cut through the thick red skin to find a bite-sized treat waiting within.

During the summer season, things to do in Koh Samui include sampling Thai fruits like: Salak fruit or snake fruit, which is available in the late spring or summer. Open the scaly skin and enjoy the neat white cloves of this fruit inside. It is truly a brand new experience for travellers looking for exotic and interesting things to eat. Rose apples can also be bought in the summer. This fruit is crunchy and bitter, with a texture resembling a very moist apple. Rambutan is another summer fruit, and it really looks like a tropical fruit because of its spikes. It’s also one of the cheapest fruits in Thailand. It is very tasty and can be eaten in large quantities. Custard apple or sugar apple is sold during summer, too. Open the fruit and scoop the inside with a spoon.

Durian is a summer fruit. It is known as the king of fruits, but its bad scent is offensive for some people. The skin is so tough that it makes a formidable weapon. It’s very hard to open especially for people who have never done it before.

Sapodilla is out in the autumn. Just remove the skin and eat it like a pear. This is the best fruit to use for fruit carving practice. Pomelo is another autumn fruit, and it’s actually the biggest citrus fruit. It is really like an improved grapefruit, but sweeter and easier to eat. For convenience, travellers should buy one that’s already been cut and prepared.

People who eat lots of fruit live longer and lead healthier lives. Thailand is also a paradise of fruits; it reminds visitors of the Garden of Eden. There are fruits of different sizes, shapes and colour everywhere. And they are not only cheap, but fresh too! So many of these fruits are home grown, so a lot of vendors just pluck them out from its source. Include indulging in a fruit holiday as part of your things to do in Koh Samui.