THAILAND 6

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General observations of the Samui Archipelago:


1 - If Thai folk generally drive like madman then the islanders need sectioning.
2 - The long haired locals are suspiciously laid back.
3 - If bungalow construction continues at the rate it is then in 10 years time that is all there will be.


Ko Samui is Ko Phangan's older and bigger messed up brother. If Phangan was Jonny Depp, liked to binge but essentially too cool to warrant problematic, then Samui is a drunk from the old school, someone like William Holden or Oliver Reed. Lamai for example is made up of Hua Hin rejects, tattooed skinheads and lascivious men with a penchant for Thai girls. It's only marginally eased by a steep beach that induces impressive waves abetted by the sudden storms that often creep in from the Gulf. It's small compensation though. Chaweng suffers from the same problems except the culprits are younger, more diverse and the place is big enough to find somewhere to escape the depravity. Pizza Hut, Boots and Burger King all stake their claim to a town that has taken the bait of mass tourism hook line and stinker. It has its advantages mind. The roads are certainly more formidable than the quaint excuses on Ko Phangan, and the Sawngthaew * drivers seem to have no regard for the 45km per hour speed limit which makes for an exhilarating ride home.

(* - Pick up trucks that have been converted into taxis by installing a bench on either side and covered with a canopy.)

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