SOUTHEASTERN THAILAND

KO SAMET 11TH - 15TH OCTOBER 2006

We got up nice and early on th 11th to catch the 8am bus to Na Dam, where we caught the 2pm ferry to Ban Phe, on Ko Samet. Ko Samet is a T-shaped island with most of the beaches and developements located on the eastern shore, ther are only a hand full of up-market hotels on the west coast. Ko Samet is a national park so there is an entrance fee, and this has just gone up from 200B to 400B each. Its a bit of a b***** as so many places in Thailand are national parks, and Lewis thinks its scandalist and they are making everywhere national parks just to make more money out of tourists, he does seem to have a point!

Ko Samets proximety to Bangkok has made it a very popular weekend break for many young Thai's and the beaches and bars seem alot busier on weekends. It is also a backpackers haven as a first or lat stop on many peoples travels.

There are no real roads round the island just extreamly worn and bumpy dirt tracks so the best way to get around is on a motorbike. There are many beaches and many coves the whole way round Ko Samet and while some are slightly dirty, packed with bodies and massage ladies, some are beautiful and completely empty, it just means a little exploring is necessary. All the bars are just off the beach and all show to movies a night, till about 10pm, then put out candle lit tables and cushions on the sand in front. With music and fire dancing as entertainment. Nightlife is pretty chilled but no variety from place to place.

I think the dogs seem to rule the roost on Ko Samet. Each beach has its own pack of dogs, they get scraps from the resturants and beat up any outsider dogs if they enter their area of the beach. They have a great life with loads of freedom. On our beach their was a huge family of dogs from little puppies to teenage dogs and their girlfriend to the daddy dog who sorted out any fights to the granddaddy, who we aptly named 'PIGDOG' due to us thinking he was a half breed (mum-pig, dad-dog). Nobody messed with that beast of a dog!

The main downer for us on Ko Samet was definatly the mosiquito's. Lewis got bit 19 times between 5 and 7pm on the first evening, i thought he was exadurating and winging but by day 3 i had 71 bites and was scatching constently. They drove us mad.

When we arrived off the ferry on Ko Samet we jumped in a taxi and had an extreamly bumpy journey to Ao Min Khok, which is the main backpacker area. We walked for a bit looking for somewhere to stay till we got to Ao Phai, the next beach along and found a place called 'Last Resort', up in the trees which was nice, a bit more pricey at 5 pounds per room per night.

On the 13th we thought we'd explore the whole island so we hired a motorbike. It was great fun, even if i got a bit scared on the hilly tracks. I'm glad Lewis is good on a bike cos i wouldn't have made it on that terrain! We stopped at loads of beaches and rocks, where no-one was about and went snorkling and clumbed down a mountain and sat on a rock to watch sun set.

We just chilled on the beach the following day and booked a ferry and bus to Ko Chang, the next island along, for sunday the 15th.