Gym and his lovely sidekick left Bangkok on March 21, 2023. They cabbed it to Sukhumvit International Airport and entered the domestic departure wing. There is only one airline that flies to Koh Samui and it is Bangkok Airways, a small regional carrier. Gym was initially a bit unsure of how Bangkok Airways would turn out to be but the service was comprehensive and the employees were all very professional. The Airbus A319 arrived at the small Koh Samui Airport about 50 minutes after leaving Bangkok. There were no issues after landing at the quant little open-air terminal that is owned by Bangkok Airways.
Gym had arranged a hotel shuttle from the airport and as they drove across Koh Samui, it became obvious that they had arrived at a place that was quite different than Bangkok. The air on the island is clean, the landscape is lush, there are no tall buildings and one instantly relaxes into the laid-back, tropical vibe of the island. Smiles from every Thai you meet are guaranteed. You are always greeted with a 'wai', a gesture of great respect, with head bowed and palms clasped together. It is humbling when you come from a society that puts less effort into greetings and has adopted less respectful attitudes. Gym hopes the Thais never lose these customs.
Vana Belle Resort is located on the best beach on Koh Samui. It is separated from the main beach at Chaweng, by a rocky point and a small creek, that flows into the Gulf of Thailand. The accommodations all face the sea and are built on the side of a steep slope facing east, so that most rooms have an unobstructed view of the rising sun. The hillside is heavily forested ending on a wide strip of sand, beyond which is the gentle Gulf of Thailand. Sailing directly east you would eventually land in Vietnam, some 450 kilometres away. The gulf was dead calm on the day our travelers arrived.
You might hear the occasional plane or a jet-ski on the water below but this is a very quiet place. At certain times of the day the gentle waves provide the only background noise but there are a few vocal myna birds and the cicadas are pretty noisy off and on. Notwithstanding, it seemed like paradise.
Over the next few days our travelers plan to explore the island and will be visiting some of the other islands nearby. Stay tuned!
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| View of sunrise from hotel room on the first morning |
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| Standing at the checkin counter |
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| Chaweng’s narrow streets |
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| Hotel Pool |
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| The beach at dusk |
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| A fire dancer at dinner time |
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| You just don’t get this kind of show at home |
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