The Snake Farm

Get up close and personal with some snakes at the Koh Samui snake farm  (photo courtesy gonomad.com)

Needless to say, it’d certainly be in the best interest of any tourist to make sure he or she sees as many Koh Samui attractions during his or her visit in this island. Now, while enjoying the warm and relaxing Koh Samui weather is alright, a vacationer would be so much happier if he could set time aside for a visit to the Snake Farm.

This island attraction has gained international fame back in 2008 – the year when Thailand’s “Scorpion Queen” Kanchana Kaetkaew utilized the farm as the venue for setting a Guinness world record for holding a seven-inch-long scorpion in her mouth for two minutes.

Inside the farm is a reptile zoo, wherein guests are given the opportunity to touch or even handle docile snakes – that is of course, if they can stomach the riveting experience.

For those who’d prefer to watch other people doing the snake-handling, they’re in luck, as shows featuring snake wranglers coaxing the venomous beasts into showing deadly poses are held daily. While a wide range of snakes are utilized for these presentations, king cobras and massive pythons are considered by many spectators to be the biggest crowd-drawers.

Shows last two hours, starting from 11am and ending at 2pm. During the first segment of the show, snake charmers kick-off the production with a variety of poisonous snakes. Here, brave entertainers dance around the snake, while exhibiting moves that seem to aggravate the slithering beasts, and provoke them into taking defensive and offensive positions.

As daredevils continue to aggravate the deadly reptiles, the animals exhibit even more violent behavior, which includes lurching, exposure of their fangs, and even venom-spitting.

This segment is then followed by a display of cock-fighting. Unlike other shows, these birds won’t be wearing blades, so there isn’t any need to worry about the poor animals getting bloodied or killed.

Following the demonstration is the scorpion show, wherein a female entertainer is made to stand still as scorpions climb around her body. And finally, the king cobra is placed on stage, wherein an even braver snake charmer coaxes the killer to show-off its deadly attack moves.

Of course, the Snake Farm is just one of the many Koh Samui attractions for vacationers to enjoy. Paying a visit here is strongly recommended for vacationers who want to do more than relish the pleasant Koh Samui weather, go swimming, or engage typical activities most beach-goers are into.

Vacationing in Koh Samui

Gorgeous view from Beyond the Sea in Koh Samui

Even a brief stopover at the vacation island of Koh Samui can readily captivate a passing visitor who in most probability would vow to come back for a longer stay. This alluring tourist destination is located off the eastern coast of Thailand, now easily accessible within an hour by plane from the country’s capital, Bangkok. The island dazzles with the pristine sands of its beaches and its blue crystal clear waters. Samui also boasts of a wide selection of fine bars and restaurants serving both local and international cuisine.

The third biggest in the Gulf ofThailand, Koh Samui is actually the crown jewel of an archipelago made up of eighty islands. Thus, a Samui visit enables choices from a wide array of beaches to chill out. Despite the growing influx of tourists drawn by these kaleidoscopic delights, it is endearing to note that this tourist attraction has retained much of its rustic splendor. Islands near Samui worth a visit include Ko Pha Ngan which has superb beaches and eye-pleasing waterfalls. A stop at the Ko Tao is likewise an enticing option as this virgin island flaunts magnificent corals in its waters.

An inland tour of Samui will reveal sprawling plantations of coconut palms which is a major driver of the economy in the island. The produce from the coconuts are sold at the mainland, and the plantations’ palms likewise locally supply  fiber for mats or ropes, thatch for roofing, and vegetable oil which isn’t only a base for food items but also serves as raw material for consumer products like soap and candle. Besides coconut farming, rice cultivation and fishing are also sources of livelihood for the locals.

With the growing importance of tourism in the island in recent years, the travel business has also started to have a positive impact on the local economy and the island’s residents. It was not too long ago that tourists found the path to Koh Samui which was erstwhile popular only among backpackers.

Travel to the island when the transport facilities weren’t as developed as today was a challenge. Samui was then fairly isolated, as it is 560 kilometers north of Thailand’s capital, Bangkok. Geographically, Samui is in fact closer to Malaysia than it is from Bangkok. The island is also about 80 kilometers from Surat Thani, the local capital. With the construction of the island’s airport, however, the travel time between the Thai mainland and Samui was significantly reduced, enabling the island’s tourist industry to blossom.  

Enjoying a Night at the Ladyboy Cabaret Shows in Koh Samui

Is this a man or woman? Ladyboy Cabaret shows in Koh Samui are extremely popular, stop by and you'll see why

Thailand’s katoey or “third sex” is widely recognized throughout the entire country and across the globe for their striking resemblance to actual females. Regardless of whether The Ladyboy Cabarets are a person’s cup of tea or not, these business are generally considered one of the biggest Koh Samui attractions to date.

Nonetheless, anyone looking to enjoy the nightlife can’t go wrong by planning a stopover to the popular attraction. A typical show incorporates elaborate costumes, glitzy makeup, and trained-performers lip-syncing popular songs. Every segment of these presentations is expertly choreographed with light-hearted tones to keep spectators entertained.

The majority of these cabarets are hosted at Chaweng, which makes the idea of watching such presentations even more attractive, as the beach is one of Samui’s biggest crowd-drawers. That being said, the Moulin Rouge Cabaret – formerly known as Christy’s Cabaret prior to its purchase – is one venue to visit.

Specifically located at Central Chaweng, this establishment presents three shows every night at 8pm, 9:30pm and 11pm. It also features around 20 performers that put on performances suitable for families during the first show, and progress into more “adult-oriented” presentations later in the evening.

While entrance is free, the price for drinks at the Moulin Rouge is more expensive in comparison to other businesses on the beach.

Starz Cabaret is another establishment that rightfully belongs to the list of popular Koh Samui attractions. It boasts a wonderful combination of Thai cultural dance and western pop divas who carry out performances with a great sense of humour and zest.

In addition to free entrance, beverage and edibles are priced reasonably. Any of these two venues will give tourists a pleasant taste of how fun the Koh Samui nightlife can be. However, the ladyboys are known to get a little aggressive with their male audiences, especially with the ones they find attractive. Of course, dragging the male into the bar by the arm is just one of their various business strategies, so no offense should be taken.

For tourists who feel uncomfortable attending these types of shows, there are plenty of other Koh Samui attractions spread around the island. In Chaweng, there’s a wide variety of bars, clubs and other businesses designed to keep customers entertained throughout the duration of their stay.

Koh Samui Shopping: How To Bargain For Bargain-Basement Prices

You can find some great bargains in Koh Samui!

The most important thing to remember when you are dealing with shopkeepers and stallholders on Koh Samui is to smile. It might sound trite, but the smile is one of the most important parts of getting a good deal. Smiling establishes good intent and even if you don’t end up agreeing a price or buying anything, so long as it's done with a smile, nobody loses face. An aggressive, confrontational approach is not the way to go about shopping in Koh Samui.

Most stall holders and market vendors are willing to do a deal. If the price isn’t marked on the item you are interested in, then there will usually room for negotiation. To get the best deal, don’t ask for the price straight away. Try and establish a rapport with the person selling; smile, get them to smile or better still, get them to laugh. It doesn’t mean you have to launch into a 20 minute stand-up comedy routine, but if you have a sense of humour in your haggling you will definitely get a better deal. Thais like everything to be "sanuk" (fun!)http://www.thaizer.com/culture-shock/sanuk/ and that includes shopping. Ask them if the item is hand-made and if so, did they make it themselves. 

Compliment themhttp://www.thaizer.com/culture-shock/thai-flattery/ on how nice their stall is, how nice their smile is or how good their English is. If it’s a DVD you’re buying, ask them if they’ve seen the film, ask if it’s any good, tell them they look like Jackie Chan or Miss Thailand Universe - anything to make them smile!

Don’t worry about trying to speak Thai. In most tourist areas, shopkeepers can speak English to some extent. As a tourist you won't be expected to speak Thai,http://www.thaizer.com/language/learning-the-thai-language/ but if you’re polite and remember your "sawatdee kha/khrap" and your "khop khun kha/khrap",http://www.thaizer.com/culture-shock/being-polite-in-thailand/ you’ll establish a good rapport immediately. At some stage of your browsing you will probably notice the ubiquitous big calculator. Just about every stall that deals with tourists will have a large calculator on hand to save any misunderstandings when it comes to agreeing a price. If the seller doesn’t speak much English, you can still guarantee he’ll understand the words "how much?". Once you’ve uttered those magic words, then the fun begins and the stallholder will either quote you a price or key it into the calculator and show you.

Normally, this will be a price well above what the real price is. When he gives you a price, smile. You should counter with an offer well below that which you are expecting to pay. However, be sensible. Decide before you start haggling what you think is a fair price and how much you’d be prepared to pay. After a few offers and counter offers you should come to an agreement.

At markets and in tourist areas many shops and stalls sell similar items so you can ask around at a few stores to establish what the average going rate is and decide on how much you want to pay. If you are buying in bulk that’s obviously perfect from the shopkeeper’s point of view and he may offer a discount straight away, but there’s still usually room for extra negotiation.

Department stores and large shops work on a fixed price, so these are not the place to start haggling. However, if you have bought a really expensive item, there’s no harm in asking for a discount or a free gift. Very often this may be offered automatically, but if it isn’t, just smile and ask politely.

Four Reasons to Visit Koh Samui Today

It's hard to imagine that it was only in 1971 when two backpackers on coconut boats arrived in Koh Samui -- a 228-square-kilometer island off the Eastern coast of Thailand.

Just like similar undiscovered resort islands that dot the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui benefited from its natural beauty populated by swaying palms, virgin beaches and a tropical climate that is mostly dry throughout the year. Forty years later, Koh Samui may not be as tranquil as it once was. The 45-minute flight from Bangkok has made the island into one of Asia's hot spots for tourism, rivaling neighboring Phuket and Chiang Mai as Thailand's top destination.

1. World Class Resorts

The ShaSa is one of the most luxurious resorts in Koh Samui

Koh Samui is home to some world-class accommodations, such as the ShaSa Resort that sits on the side of a hill with majestic sunset views of the water below. With its choice of luxury beach front bungalows, plus amenities like outdoor living spaces and a refreshing pool, its luxurious style and comforts are on a par with some of the best resorts in the world. Meanwhike, dinner by the beach at the Beyond The Sea restaurant offers a refreshing take on Thai and Western-inspired dishes.

2. Chic hangouts

Koh Samui's beachside atmosphere is sophisticated with an aura of serenity while only being steps from the chaos of the lady-boys and beer girls at Chaweng beach. If you're looking for somewhere where its possible to both escape from the crowds and head out for a night of partying, Koh Samui has it all.

3. The Land of Buddha and humongous sculptures

The monks, Buddhists temples and giant Buddhas in Thailand are the equivalent of Christian pastors, churches and the huge ArtPrize collage of Jesus Christ in Grand Rapids. Wat Plai Laem, a giant 18-arm Guanyin (the goddess of mercy and compassion) is the most famous temple for tourists, in the northern part of the island. The giant laughing Buddha is the most memorable among the many Buddha statues that call Wat Plai Laem home. Also of interest, down on Lamai beach, there are two giant natural rock formations called Grandpa and Grandma rocks that resemble sexual organs.

4. Markets and festivals galore

Food markets in Asia are similar to those back at home, except for the fact that you can find every part of any animal for sale (some are alive), food carts outside of the market may outnumber the actual stalls inside, and there is an organized chaos to the screaming dialogue between the eager vendors and determined buyers. The Fisherman's Village Five-day Festival every August may be your best bet for a complete culinary and cultural excursion.