My Travel Diary - Hiten Tejwani

Friday, May 25, 2007

It was around two years back when a friend of mine told me about this beautiful island in Bangkok called Koh Samui. Gauri (Pradhan, his wife) and I were desperately looking for an escape from our hectic schedules since long and this friendly advice came as a saving grace as it was becoming very difficult to choose where to go. We stayed there for five days and it was like heaven for us.

At just an hour's flight from Bangkok, Koh Samui is a perfect place for those in search of a laid back beach holiday. In fact as soon as you get down at the airport you will start getting the feel of this naturally decorated island. The airport happens to be very beautiful surrounded by sculptures and stones.

The "island of the coconut trees" as it is called, Koh Samui has curved sandy beaches, coconut plantations, rolling hills, offshore islands and, if you need some action, a great nightlife. As both of us love beaches, it was more than we had actually expected. Many of Koh Samui's hotels and resorts have lovely beachfronts and hillside locations with sea views. There were beautiful villas which directly opened into the sea, all you have to do is to just open the gate and walk into the water. With the privacy we had there, It really helped our romantic holiday quite a bit.

The place is famous for its sea food and bakeries all over. All you have to is to order what you wish and you will get it at your place. Though I am not too much of a foodie and don't like sea food much, I fulfilled my desires from the variety of fishes available in the restaurants.

Most of my time, particularly, was spent in swimming which I enjoyed a lot, while Gauri relaxed with sunbaths. Everything is just very natural there.

The market there attracts lots of tourists because it's affordable economy. You don't have to be millionaire to explore this market nor can it be called cheap (laughs). You get a lot of things which attracts your eyeballs in the first sight. Though I am not a shopoholic and was busy in sight seeing, Gauri was busy enough looking for her own stuff.

I feel if one is fed up of this city's mad rush, he/she should definitely try to visit this island city at least once. After all, it guarantees to charge up your discharged batteries and will fully rejuvenate your soul. So do try it out.