Samui Island (Koh Samui)

Samui Island (Koh Samui) or often, simply Samui as it is referred to by locals.

Koh Samui, is Thailand's third largest island and lies in the Gulf of Thailand to the east of Surat Thani. It is rich with nature resources, white sand beach, coral reef and coconut trees.

Koh Samui measures about 21 kg at it’s wides point and 25 km at its longest and have only 2 seasons. Koh Samui nearly Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan.

The island was probably first inhabited about 15 centuries ago, settled by fishermen from the Malay Peninsula and Southern China. It appears on Chinese maps dating back to 1687, under the name Pulo Cornam.




The name Samui is mysterious in itself. Perhaps it is an extension of the name of one of the native trees, mui, or it is a corruption of the Chinese word Saboey, meaning "safe haven". Ko is the Thai word for "island."

Koh Samui has 2 beaches Lamai beach and Chaweng beach, that have many foreigner from American, Europe and Australia come to visit. Chaweng is a very nice long beach with white coral sand and crystal clear waters.




Chaweng Beach covers a large portion of the island's northeast coast, and is easily the most crowded and tourist saturated region on the island. The beach itself, while beautiful and clean often suffers from seasonal overcrowding as ever increasing numbers of visitors discover the island. Several hotels, ranging from budget resorts to luxury villas line up the shore.

Lamai beach is at south of Chaweng beach, Lamai is the second largest beach on Koh Samui. Lamai does not have white coral sand it’s sand instead is yellowish-brown. Lamai's beaches are clean and occasionally less crowded than Chaweng. Lamai was the original destination for travelers to Samui, and compared to Chaweng the town is a bit more tawdry and low budget, but it has its own distinct charms.

Historically the island's economy has been based around subsistence agriculture and fishing, with coconuts as the main cash crop. From the 1980s onwards, tourism has become an economic factor and is now the dominant industry. The construction of a stable, high-speed internet connection in recent years has also made the island a feasible location for IT-based enterprises, which are beginning to provide a certain degree of economic diversity.



Day Time Activities

In the day time feel free with many activities, Scuba diving & Snorkeling, Sea Kayaking, Bird Watching, Sailing Yachting & Cruising, Jungle Trekking, Bungy Jumping and Elephant Trekking. Many visitors take a day trip to Ang Thong National Marine Park and Koh Tao at least on their stay in Samui.
Besides coconuts, Samui is also famed for its silk, handicrafts and precious gems and these can easily be bought at great prices from reputable shops and companies. There is also lacquer ware, silverware, nilon-ware, pewter-ware, wood-carvings, brass-ware, gold and tailor-made suits.





Nightlife

Night time continue a happy time by boat (150 baht), speed boat (500-600 baht per roundtrip) from Koh Samui to Koh Pha Ngan for the big party “Full moon Party”. It began about ten years ago with a group of tourists seating quietly on the beach and who thought that the best place to admire the full moon. Full moon party is not just a normal party but it’s only one time a month with the moonlight at Haad Rin’s. There are about 10,000 to 20,000 people from every where attending every month for this party, that they know as name “Full Moon Party”






Chaweng Beach is especially famous for its beer bars (also called bar-beers), staffed by pretty Thai girls as hostesses, usually from the north-east of Thailand, most of which are ladyboys.
Beer bars can be found all over Chaweng. Besides having just girls for hire, the bars offer pool, Connect4 and other popular bar games. Since the nightlife on Chaweng can see serious debauchery at times, the local law enforcers are strict in concern to enforcing closing times.