Life In Paradise on Koh Samui

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Hello Again!!

After a lovely one hour flight on Bangkok Airways we arrived on the beautiful island of Koh Samui - our home for the next month. First impression kind of reminded us of Hawaii. We have a clean, comfortable and spacious apartment nestled on a hill in the jungle about a 20 minute walk from our resort beach. The best thing about our Aloha apartment is the monthly price tag of 12,000 bahts (about $14.00 Cnd per night!!) We enjoy the peaceful surrounding, the tropical tees and plants and the mysterious sounds of the jungle ceatures. We have Thai families living close by so we don't feel isolated as well in the 19 other apartments in the same complex- mostly German who are here long term. They have been very helpful in giving us tips for the island. We have full use of their main resort which includes the beach chairs, towels, shower and pool. We have rented a scooter for the month at $3.00 per day!

Koh Samui has a population of 45,000 and has a perimeter of 100 km. around the island. Fishing, cocanut and palm farming and tourism are the top industires. Lots of souveneir shops, restaurants and 7-11's on every corner.

Our friends from Edmonton Gary and Carol arrived on the third day and will be here for two weeks. We have lots of fun and laughs, never a dull moment. We are all beach people so that is where we spend the day, swimming, sunning, walking the beach and enjoy our evening meals and cocktails. The resort pool is very large and clean so I try to get in lots of swimming exercise. The food here is excellent - the Thai food never ceases to amaze us and the seafood is scrumptious and very inexpensive. Pizza, pasta and weinerschneitzel are also very good. Live music in the evenings is enjoyable.

We have become friends with a Thai family who run a restaurant and bar on the beach. We give them our business throughout the day and enjoy their company. There are 5 kids ages 8-16. Unfortunately the parents cannot afford to send them to school as it costs $5.00 per day per kid. It seems such a shame, they are such friendly, polite and bright kids. They all work at athe beach bar from sun up until sun down. serving the customers. They have learned some English from the tourists and we are teaching each other English and Thai. We bought them some puzzle books and dominoes and they seem very appreciative. I guess we just take an elementary education for grant it.

One evening we watched the weekly Thai boxing event. Wow - what a spectacle! Booming music, 5 different matches of 5 rounds each, both men and women. It is a combination of boxing and kicks. Very interesting and entertaining. It is not too violent however one girl knocked out her opponent in the first round! They begin each match in a kamona, headress and money draped around their neck that people gave them ahead of time. Then they do a ceremonial dance around the ring to traditional Thai music and then return to their corner for their preparation to fight.

As many of you know a common sight here is white caucasion men (usually fat and unattractive) who come to Thailand to find a Thail girl to spend their time with for next to nothing. Very sad to see but it seems a fact of life and here and everyone involved seems happy. It is very interestring to see how it ll works - from the pick up at the girly bar to the arrangement. Everyone is welcome to have drinks including us ladies and they are very polite and friendly. The girls pole dance in the middle of the bar to advertise. Quite the event!

Bye for now until the next blog. Take care everyone.

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