Return to Island Life

Following a minibus and ferry journey, we found Koh Samui to be busy, with chaotic traffic, dense buildings and not quite the Thailand idyll we love and are used to, where most tourists were pensioners renting houses long term. Nonetheless, we found a bungalow with a sea view and a pool that the kids loved. Shai and Cat took a taxi the following day to Chaweng Beach to see if it was a little more up our street. When the taxi driver pointed out the MacDonalds, Burger King and Hard Rock Cafe, we had our doubts! As soon as we stepped out of the taxi we found ourselves in the middle of a downpour that had us soaked in seconds, and created rivers running down the steps of the resorts onto the beach cutting channels through the sand. It was mental. We quickly ascertained that although we found some nice accommodation, Chaweng wasn't for us, and instead we moved a little further down Mae Nam beach to a gorgeous room with an

amazing sea view to Koh Phangan, awaiting the arrival of first Joao and then Ella.
Following their arrival we took a boat to Koh Phangan and made our way to Had Salad. We found ourselves in a stunning beautiful cove, fringed with palm trees with bath warm turquoise water and incredible sunsets. We had an amazing and relaxed time and the kids had their first Thai massage. However, unlike every other place in Thailand, the food was awful in every restaurant we ate at. Although we befriended Fast Daisy (later to be renamed Fast Jack) who all the other dogs on the beach hated and chased. The water was also very shallow and had thousands of sea cucumbers and sea urchins, which didn't please Flora at all.

So following Pedro's and Joao's suggestion (they had rented scooters and gone to explore the island) we moved to a not too busy Had Rin, the place where the famous Full Moon Party originated, and stayed in a nice place at the quiet end of the beach with very friendly staff. The water was much better to swim but, as an Aussie woman told the kids as soon as we arrived, which put them off straight away, had sea lice. Worst than that, Joao was diagnosed with Denge fever. He wasn't too badly affected so it didn't spoil our time there and we much preferred Koh Phangan to Koh Samui. We then said goodbye to Ella and Joao and took the night train back to Bangkok.