You know, "Booking.com" the accommodation booking web has always mailed and said "Eyane, your summer is finally here". Nah, we have all summer days in Malaysia. Summer to me marks April to July, which is also -- beach time!
Okay I know this has been kept for too long for sharing.
I visited Koh Samui, Thailand in 2013 and Koh Lipe, in Thailand a.k.a little Maldive (as what people said) in 2014 with my family. They are both incredible beautiful islands but with different excitement you could have.
1. Size, environment and transport
Firstly, Koh Samui is like the size of a city with 3 main attractions, Bophut, Chaweng and Lamai. With the size of a town, you could travel around the island with scooter or motorbike rented. People in Samui just ride as they like without helmet. I could say, when in Samui, do as the Samui-ans do. Enjoy the breeze brushing through your cheeks, and hair. *This is just Superb :)* However, for longer journey, it is advisable to go with tut-tut instead.
On the other hand, Koh Lipe is a small island. You could save transportation fees a lot as shops and restaurants are within walking distance, which is very convenient. Lipe is still a new developed island, thus the sea water is turquoise blue and crystal clear. No joke. You could see the rocks in the sea clearly. This part, the sea, is definitely more beautiful than Samui's. We travel a lot on long tail boat and speedboat for sea sports in Lipe.
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| I have never seen any sea water like Lipe before, really. |
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| Long tail Boat, Lipe :) |
2. Accommodation
You could simply spot motel or hotel in Samui, lots of choices, even local might not know all of them. Well, I stayed in Akwa hotel, Chaweng beach. I still recommend to stay in Chaweng as it's a happening paradise, from day to night and vise versa. I love the ambiance of the motel, and it is stated in the centre of the town. To me, accommodation is only a part of the journey, and the purpose of travelling, is more than picking good bed. It is to explore the new place.
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| Directory from Akwa :) |
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| Breakfast at Akwa, Chaweng :) |
For Lipe, you will be amazed by the hotel built there. They are all quite luxurious. And best part of all, they are all built along the beach. The sand, the beach, the crystal clear water is just a few steps from your doorstep.
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| Hotel with private pool, Lipe :) |
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| View from Hotel, Lipe :) |
3. Food & Night life
Awh I miss the food in Samui! From Akwa, just walk along the street for food. You must try the roasted pork, with the crispy oily skin, and it is ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT along the street stepping out from the motel. A few restaurants are selling this and you just have to turn back to them when u passed by. Well, don't waste money buying fruit juice or water as you have better choice like beer and cocktails which is just around 40B - 60B (RM4-6.00). Singa beer is good, I like it better than Chang beer.
Night market is next station after dinner. It's also states in Chaweng. And I love the night market here. Did you see that? "Save Water, Drink Cocktail". This little stall selling cocktail in night market. Lots of Angmos were sitting besides with these in their hands. This is a must try too.
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| Cocktail, night market, Chaweng :) |
Other than this, Fisherman Village in Bophut is another fabulous place to dine. It's a few mins ride from Chaweng, another food heaven. Majority of restaurants there are western, and they are built along the beach. Enjoy the sunset when ordering your food! I tried pizza at Le Gabanon, a theme restaurant with menu on an old CD Disc. Do spend some time to the Siamese-Buddhist temple there too.
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| Pizza @ Le Gabanon, Fisherman Village, Bophut |
Not forgetting bar and clubs. Chaweng is a sleepless city. At first I thought "Green Mango" is a famous bar/club in Chaweng, as whoever u asked, they know where it is located. It turned out surprisingly that the bar and clubs are all built in one street. You have everything you want along the street. Bar-->Clubs-->Strip Club. Well, just forget about the strip club. DONT even think about going in there. haha you will regret.
Now saying about Lipe, Lipe is not as happening as Samui at this point. Lipe is very peaceful instead, it's meant for honeymoon, going with your loved one, walking on the beach, listening to the sea breeze, and counting stars. Lipe has all restaurant, bar, convenient stores in "The Walking Street". And many shops will not operate during low season in July August.
However, you must try the seafood there in a shop named, Progress Restaurant in the walking street. They served good BBQ crabs, king prawns and Tom Yum Kung. Crabs are about RM70 per kg (about 3 crabs), a bit pricy though, but they are GOODDDD!!
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| Super Prawn King |
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| BBQ Crabs *Yum Yum* |
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| Tom Yum!! My favourite :) |
5. Activities you must try
Finally, there are many activities you can do in Samui. You should go Koh Nang Yuan if going for Snorkeling. It is a private island thus sea water is kept clean. But sea water in Lipe is still better comparatively.
In Koh Nang Yuan there is one interesting activity you must do. Climbing up rocks and staircases to the peak of the small mountain and you could see everything under your feet. The whole island. You know, I am adventurous, but I was scared like hell on the top as there is no safety precautions like safety gate at the peak. Perhaps I am scared of being blown away by the strong wind up there. Well, i have no regret putting my feet up there. The view is fabulous.
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| Peak of Koh Nang Yuan :) Okay la, camera 2 years back is not advance XD |
Other than snorkeling, you should go for elephant riding too in Samui. It is mean thinking of how they trained the elephants to let you ride on them. But, it is a good experience. There will be an elephant trainer going to the jungle with you riding on the elephant. Each of the elephant has name. You will see how funny these animals are. They will just eat, and pee and poop while walking, and drink, and splash you with the river water. It is a trend in Samui to give the trainer tips for they will take a lot of pictures for you with the mammal along the journey.
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| Elephant and us:) |
You could also go for waterfall and go carting at the same jungle of the elephant riding in Samui. There are a lot of Angmos in Samui, with majorities of white people from France, Italy, Paris etc.One more interesting thing to visit in Samui is the Grandpa- Grandma Rocks aka Hin Ta Hin Yai in Lamai Beach. A penis-looked rock. You could try fish spa and massage if you have extra time. :)
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| Hin Ta Hin Yai, Lamai |
Talking about Lipe, it is really a good place for honeymoon which is also suitable for me to go with family. You know la, they don't club or pub. *Evil Grin* Main activities in Lipe is Snorkeling, sunbathing, massage and most of all, relaxing :) It is soothing listening to sea water splashing on the sand, lying your lazy body on the chair provided by hotel along the beach. Massage here is standard price of 300B (RM30) per hour :)
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| Jumping shot with Fam during snorkeling session, Lipe:) |
I will continue travelling to an island each year from now on :)
It depends on your choice really. I love both islands and would go for both again definitely. After working, Lipe is so much of my needs now. But on other times, I will go for Samui to know that I am still living young.
Bali tour in 2015 will *soon* be shared.
x.o.x.o
