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Published: August 8th 2007
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Same same
But different. . . Familiar things, familiar places but strange all the same. Arriving at the little boutique airport on Samui is a very welcoming experience.
The set up there is like a 1940's pioneering tropical airline movie set. From getting off the twee propeller plane, you take a ride in cute little trolley bus thingys to the open plan palm thatched huts that serve as the terminal buildings. The only difference between being here & being in the movie is that this is in colour.
We were collected by Michael, son of our hosts at The Waterfront, Bophut & whisked back to our recharge spot for the 1st two nights where Robin & Sue greeted us with drinkies. Smashing people, top gaff. An absolute gem of a place! Sue & Robin are the ultimate holiday hosts, the staff & rooms are top class & you can even sleep in Denise Van Outens' bed!!. Ideal place to start a trip on Samui.
Our friend Simon (lifelong chum of Dads who has been living here on & off for the last 5 years) popped by & with a second wind in our sails at half eleven at night, went out for a
Morning Glory
Waiting for breakfast, Mum takes me for a paddle beer to the Beatles Bar just up the road. Bedtime 2AM.
Up surprisingly early for the customary museli, fruit salad & yoghurt brekkie. Mum took me the 25 yards down to the sea for a paddle while Dad caught up with the Daily Telegraph. They get the papers downloaded from the internet every day, great for keeping up with stuff from the cold place.
Tummies filled, we headed off to explore in our car. 1st stop Tesco Lotus. Surreal, a full blown supermarket selling everything, from those bits of animals that even the humans don't eat back home, to 1st aid kits which people donate to Buddhist monks.
Hooked up with Simon for lunch at Nathon, the port town of Samui. Did some people watching at Coffee Island, our fave spot in town opposite the ferry pier, then had a saunter around some of the market stalls in the snickets that fill the gaps between the main streets. Picked up some shirts for silly money & had a lot of fun haggling.
Hit the road to Lamai, stopping off at Mr Ungs
Mind The Gap
These guys are not the most friendly citizens of Samui Jungle Safari place. A couple of lads waved us down at the turning from the main road demanding money for tickets. Simon explained that we were good friends of Mr Ung & they happily let us through. Here I met Samui Bob. My first simian contact for quite some time. Bob's a gibbon (I think) who works here clearing the coconuts from the tops of the trees so they don't fall on unsuspecting visitors heads on the more breezy days. A very noble line of work indeed. They also have elephant trekking, crocodiles, some very fancy birds & a "Sky Fox" ride, an aerial runway affair that flies you through the canopy of the jungle - just like a real Munkey! I chatted to Bob for a while but, as he's fed up with bananas, we had very little in common.
Next a brief G&T at Rocky Resort (you need to keep up your fluid levels up in this heat you know). We've stayed here briefly on our last two trips & felt it rude to pass by without popping in. Then on to the high point of the day - sunset at the
Home From Home
A swift Gin & Tonic at Rocky Resort Jungle Club.
Impressive.
Access is by 4WD or, on foot I guess but the road is a bit too much for anyone who's not a regular rock climber. Once up there the views are stunning!. You can see pretty much the whole of the north east corner of the island from Chaweng right round to Bophut. JC is owned & very well run by Simons' friend Mr It & his pretty French wife Valerie.
We hung out there for a couple of hours. Dad nibbled on a spag bol (the first item on the menu of international cuisine) Mum went for stir fried Thai veg with noodles & a side of asparagus tips in butter which she said was yummy. After a dip in the infinity pool we all indulged in a smoke of some funny stuff before wibbling back down in the jeep to drop Simon off & heading back to The Waterfront.
Had a shower (hot water!!) then strolled into Bophut ending up drinking & joking with a quartet from Leeds who had just bought a house in the village & were out
Jungle Jungle Everywhere
"High Point" of the day. We'll be back. on a jolly to check out their new domain. I'll never understand why these humans should want to travel three & a half thousand miles just to hang out with folk who live ten miles from whence they came. They do it constantly.
Bedtime 3.30AM
Tomorrow its off to The Imperial Boat House for a bit of posh.
Mr. M. :-)
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