Thursday 12th June.
11 hour flight from Rome to Bangkok then 1.5 hours to the island of Koh Sumai. Arriving at 10am I am staying at the Sama Sumai Resort recommended by Johnno Wilson, son of John and Judy, brother of Pod. The resort is right on the beach at Choeng Mon. I need a swim and a massage which I book at the end of the day at the hotel spa. After a swim and lunch with Anthony Morgan he takes me to visit the land we own in the hills of North Chaweng. It is reputed to be the best estate in the district and we have 4 blocks with magnificent views of Chaweng Bay and Koh Matlong. I am advised the market is getting stronger and the idea is to build 8 villas.
Anthony then takes me to several resent projects being apartments and villas that he says have been successful. All are very modern and white. We then visit his architect Khum Arm of Point Architects. We spent about an hour or so working out possible designs which I had early drawn up in concept.
Friday
I have my first yoga session in my suite with Boa, a young Thai, really slim and fit looking. He says he gave up weight lifting and running, and he says yoga gives him better strength and fitness. It is such a great session, I invite him to come back the next morning. I have a swim and breakfast then visit the Indian taylor to make 2 new pairs of microfiber slacks. He quotes me $60 a pair and says they will be ready the next day as I will be leaving. At lunch I am joined by Johnno Wilson's Irish friend who is actively developing in Kho Samai and buying land in Burma which he says will be the next tourist boom area. He explains the returns are ridiculously high and he is doing well. Afternoon is spent relaxing, reading and emails.
I have dinner that night with Johnno Wilso, Anthony Morgan and his girlfriend. Johnno appears to be very agitated and tells me his daughter was kidnapped from school. He thinks it was her mother who lives in the north of Thailand and had been visiting. His daughter lives with him and goes to a good school she would not be able to obtain in the north. Johnno drowns his sorrows with multiple beers whilst Anthony and his girlfriend drink copious whiskey and cokes. It appears that this is the way of expats.
But we have a very good local cuisine for dinner.
Saturday
Yoga session with Boa, swim, breakfast and read the local paper. It is interesting reading the government of Thailand is controlled by the military calling themselves "committee of peace and harmony" they are very dictatorial and introduced strict curfews some of which were lifted in several holiday resorts just as I arrived. However it appears they are making some very serious decisions to improve infrastructure and not frightened people from investing.
I then visit the Indian taylor for final fitting which I should have paid more attention. The material after I took delivery had not appeared to be what I had chosen and then realised why they were only $60 each. As I was not leaving till later that day and had to vacate my room I booked into a Thai cooking lesson which was to become my lunch. I learned to cook 4 recipes mainly fish and prawn, it was great learning again this cuisine and realised how important it was to prepare herbs and spices properly.
This is the end of my world wind tour that has taken me to 3 really great places, but I am looking forward to home.
MB