On the first morning of 2019, I took the very first ferry that departed from from the Full Moon Party Island (Koh Phangan), and traveled to my neon pink hut on Koh Samui. Koh Samui is my favorite island in Thailand because not only is it conveniently located, but it also has a myriad of activities and places to explore. What better way to kick off the new year than on a beach!
After doing some swimming and photography, I took a taxi to see the Hin Ta and Hin Yai, also known as the Grandmother and Granfather rocks. They are extremely famous due to their uncanny resemblance to human genitalia, and are definitely worth checking out for the view of the beach as well.
Next I had my taxi driver take me to the Secret Buddha Garden on top of Pom Mountain. This is a relaxing outdoor sculpture park surrounded by lush jungle and waterfalls. There are also some nearby temples and buildings you can walk to on foot. It is one of the most relaxing places in Koh Samui due to it being away from the beaches and center of the city.
I had originally planned to see the pink dolphins on this trip, but due to a severe storm that hit Thailand, I had to come back and do this on my 2nd trip. Instead, Koh Samui Tours rescheduled me to a Samui Aquarium & Tiger Zoo where I got to meet tigers, see birds race on bicycles, and get kissed on the cheek by an otter!
Though I’ve been to more zoos than I can count in Asia, I had fun seeing the wildlife here that is unique to this island. The double-beaked bird and the long-necked turtles were animals that I had never seen before. The otters were some of the friendliest I had ever met and could do a lot of neat tricks!
You could easily spend a week on Koh Samui Island relaxing and enjoying the scenery, but I recommend staying for at least 3 days. You can book ferries to other surrounding areas through 12go like Krabi, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. Each hotel usually has their own restaurant, and the island food is always fresh and delicious! Be sure to try the mangos and any fruit that you can find. My favorite dish was the glass noodles with shrimp.
Be sure to be outside during the sunset you so can look at the beautiful magenta sky!
I loved swimming under it every day! Though the weather during this trip was a bit stormy, I fortunately was able to a lot of fun things. Please come here if you get the chance.