Thailand 2004 travelogue BKK & USM

So we spent our days lounging on the beach or by the pool. With the temperature at nearly 40c every day that is all you wanted to do. But we wanted the rest to recharge our batteries.

Most mornings a young elephant would appear on the beach with his mahut (handler). At first I was a bit anti because I was thinking he was there against his will but then I was told that he was a rescue animal. He was 2 year old and loved his trips to the beach each day demanding his breakfast from the hotel and then going for a wallow in the sea. As you can understand it did not take long for a crowd to gather round and sometimes he would give rides to some of the kids. But at no time was there any agro the animal ruled the roost. Soon he would disappear leaving the beach for the cool shade of a nearby coconut grove.

There were also a couple of local ladies giving massage (kosher ones!!) on the beach. So I laid there having oil rubbed into my skin by a petit lady of a about 50 with hand like old leather with hand pressure of an irish navvie. 200baht for an hour was fantastic value. You felt really chilled and defintely walked a little straighter afterwards.

Night times were spent checking the restaurants. Samui Seafood is definitely my fav. But other great places are Zicos, Iyara hotel restaurant on the beach & Pregos(Amari palm reef hotel).

After dinner we always spent time shopping and bartering for a good deal on shirts, handbags (her not me),gifts for the family, cds (I only brought back 27 and any tourist rubbish going for a song.

We also loved to walk along the beach late at night with that warm wind adding to the atmosphere, it was quite safe.

One place you should really try is the lounge in the Amari palm reef hotel. A delightfully designed area open to the elements with large sofas and the best chill out music (Buddha bar, Cafe del mar etc.) Sitting there sinking a Singha and looking across their twinkling lights in the garden to the sea with fireworks occasionally filling the air will be one of my memories that will live for ever and sitting there pumping out sweat at 11 at night. But that led to another excuse for a beer.

Every night the hotel reception would ask us what we wanted and every night we said the same. Yoghourt, Fruit, Croissant and coffee

And every morning we woiuld receive a feast