Thailand’s bananas: your new favourite fruit

Apr 282012
 

Just a banana? Overlooked as something quotidian – Thailand’s bananas hope to change your mind. Take a break from the supermarket and try out the Thai banana – you’ll find them hard to leave behind.

Thailand banana flower and fruit

Thailand’s banana varieties: hard to count?

Thailand has about, well,  a lot of banana varieties (we’ve read sources that claim 20, 28, 50 and ‘over a hundred’) – all with a preferred use. As with apples, some are better eaten raw, some stand out when cooking. Visit fruit markets around Koh Samui and you’ll begin to notice that some are fatter than others, and both colour and taste differ, too. GardenWeb has some great photos of a Bangkok banana tree show: Continue reading »

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Men – 7 ways to treat your girl on Koh Samui

Apr 192012
 

It may have been your idea, or it might have been hers. One way or another, you and the missus are coming to Koh Samui for a holiday, and you have several days of uncomplicated, soothing bliss ahead of you. Sure, the simple pleasure of allowing time to saunter on by itself is as pure and enjoyable on Samui as it is anywhere. But what if you want a head start? A few extra points, say? Whether she’s your girlfriend, fiancee or wife (or you’re hoping she’ll come as one and leave as another – in which case, bon chance, mon frère), consider the following your cheat sheet to relationship harmony while on Samui.

Spas & massage

1. Spas

Samui was voted second best destination in Asia for spas in TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards 2010, so be sure she samples some of the best the world has to offer in terms of prodding and pampering – even if it’s not your thing, it’s very likely to be hers!

Cutting to the chase, the following should do the trick:

  • Six Senses Spa in the hills above Plai Laem, on Samui’s quiet but accessible north-east
  • Tamarind Springs on the east coast, between Chaweng and Lamai
  • Eranda Spa, the “spa with a view”, on the coast road between Choeng Mon and Chaweng

And failing that, you can get a very good standard massage pretty much anywhere on Samui. If you’re worried about wandering into a den of iniquity, actual massage parlours usually have uniformed staff and no pink lights. If you’re in the area, try our current favourite – Charlie’s in Choeng Mon. Continue reading »

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Samui versus the world – 5 reasons to choose Samui

Apr 112012
 

Long sandy beaches, beautiful hot weather, excellent food. It’s true – you can tick all of these boxes in many tropical holiday destinations around the world. Even within Thailand, Samui competes with Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Khao Lak, Krabi and a number of other hotspots for travellers’ attention.

Choeng Mon Sunset

So why choose Koh Samui?

1. Convenience versus seclusion

In our experience, Samui offers the best balance of convenience and seclusion. Within the course of the same day, you can feel like you’re the last person left on the planet one minute, and easily search out the buzz of crowds and nightlife the next. How does Samui achieve this? Unlike Phuket, Khao Lak, and Krabi, Samui is an island. The scheduled ferry and flight services mean that there is a finite number of people who can visit, and the tap of travellers is turned off overnight. Since Samui cannot be reached by bus, there are fewer casual visitors, and people tend to stay for longer.

Continue reading »

Come to Thailand for its lemongrass? Why not.

Mar 262012
 

Lemongrass – Thailand’s coolest plant? It gets our vote and here’s why: mosquitos completely loathe it. Lucky for us, we love lemongrass. Often seen desiccated and unhappy on the shelves of Western supermarkets, in Thailand, lemongrass is a lush, green plant full of scent and flavour.

Thailand lemongrass

Thailand lemongrass

We’ll be planting it the house gardens – not only to keep the mozzies away but to ensure a continual supply of life’s most indulgent treat: lemongrass-scented cold towels. A stash of these in the freezer can, in an instant, make you a new person.
Continue reading »

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The Thai curry remedy? Combat your cold with chillies.

Mar 152012
 

Becoming one with statistic, we caught nasty colds on a recent flight. Though sniffling and coughing when it’s 30 degrees seems odd, the afflicted can combat their germs with a Thai weapon sure to deliver: a spicy green or red curry.

Thai curry for colds

The heat of a Thai curry travels directly to your sinuses and will quickly clear your head (if it doesn’t blow it right off). In fact, it’s the only ‘medicine’ we’ve taken. Continue reading »

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“Had Bang Po” – a must-try restaurant near Maenam

Feb 122012
 

We’ve covered this near-Maenam restaurant earlier in our top 5 Samui Thai restaurants (our vote for best beach lunch), but a recent visit required a dedicated review. This is a true Samui restaurant, a roadside gem that belies none of its waiting charm. Fact is, you’d probably drive right past on your way to somewhere with an English sign or better advertising. Don’t!

On arrival, the staff seem genuinely grateful that you’ve stopped. After ordering, your waitress will disappear – she’s gone to cook your meal especially, while another staff member might sit and carve a garnish too pretty to be true. Continue reading »

The best of Samui’s Thai restaurants: our top 5

Feb 102012
 

Forget the bathing suit – bring what Joey Tribbiani calls his “turkey pants”. Koh Samui holidays are about eating – morning, noon, night and every hour between. While high-end restaurants offer fantastic choice for splurging and special occasions, you can’t beat a casual Koh Samui beach place. Our favourite Samui Thai restaurants aren’t fancy, but they utterly delight. Believe us when we say “we’ve done the research”.

1. Best Massaman curry – Garland Restaurant on Choeng Mon high street. Anun, Garland Restaurant‘s owner, is an excellent host and his dog, Pop Eye, might be the cutest pup on the island. Come hungry – and ask to try his special fish dish, too. (There’s a photo of it on the wall).

2. Best pineapple fried rice – Smile House in Fisherman’s Village. It’s just unequalled – end of story. Continue reading »

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Surviving winter with a pineapple shake

Feb 102012
 

February – yuck. Sick of grey days and shivery nights? There’s an easy answer – and it comes out of a blender! In case you missed Koh Samui’s nearly non-stop sunshine this month (sorry if that’s hard to hear), we’re making sure you get a chance at the ambrosia of a pineapple shake.

Pineapple shake

If you’ve spent time on Samui, you already know the island’s signature concoction: the pineapple shake. Don’t think us mad, but we’d like to bring the island life to you with this frozen treat. Continue reading »

Koh Samui food: finding breakfast, lunch and dinner

Feb 042012
 

Samui food has something for everyone. Thai dishes can be found at five-star restaurants or hole-in-the-wall roadside stands and they’re almost universally guaranteed to delight. (See our favourite five). If you crave variety, Samui dining includes options from all over the world. Here we’ve included our favourite breakfasts, lunches and dinners for a delicious sampling of Koh Samui food and island dining.

Breakfast on Koh Samui

  • Coffee in Fisherman’s Village – For people-watching from behind dark sunglasses. All manner of beachside coffee places – choose your view accordingly. Continue reading »

Koh Samui’s best coconut shake? Taste testing.

Feb 022012
 

We recently undertook a scientific research project very near to our hearts: the best coconut shake on Choeng Mon Beach. Lucky for our esteemed, but lazy, judges, all 3 establishments are near each other. The results? A varied field with wide interpretation. Some of Choeng Mon’s coconut shake highlights include:

  • Crystal Restaurant: it’s just thick enough, just cold enough
  • Choeng Mon Bungalows: comes in a coconut, so it wins for aesthetic best. Not very thick, but perfect with their home-made coconut rice pudding pancakes.
  • Honey Cottages: Extra points for evening ambiance.

Heading to Koh Samui? Please! Go on a coconut crawl and try for yourself. Otherwise – as long as you’re not coconut-less, there’s hope. Continue reading »

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