Koh Samui, Thailand - (Easter) April 9-15 2009

(Thursday, April 9th - 2009 Easter Holiday).  Its certainly been awhile since I've been on a plane (67 days, not that I'm having withdraw symptoms or anything) and written an email, so I hope I remember what to do! Will certainly help being in business class, before there is any comments I'm flying with my frequent flyer points. Thankfully I managed to find myself to the lounge and enjoyed a glass of Moet before take off. Let me tell you how great it tasted after 10 days of no alcohol!!!!

Flight was good, was so tired literally fell asleep as soon as I sat down. Of course that didn't last for long!!! Was lovely being in business class again.

One night in Bangkok and the worlds your oyster........ok not quite as it was only 9 hours in Bangkok. On arrival into Bangkok, it was full of activity. There were people everywhere. Keep in mind its midnight. Fingers crossed it doesn't take forever to get through customs then to collect my bag. The lines at customs were long, thank you APEC card. I was able to go through the same line as the airline crew, what a huge difference this made. Of course now I'm sitting waiting for my bag, but you can't get everything to work out for you when you are traveling.

When I finally met up with the hotel rep and walk outside it was like I'd walked into a sauna. I was told the car was going to be 3 minutes, I'm praying for a quick 3 minutes cause its hot hot hot and humid humid humid. There's definitely no cooling of the temperature after midnight. The car finally arrived and I was rather worried as it didn't have the hotel name on the door, the lady put my bag in the car and said goodbye. Now I remember being told by my Mum never to get into a strangers car......and here I was in Bangkok, where I can't speak the language, getting into a strangers car. All I ask for is to get to the hotel in one piece.

Thankfully I got to the hotel and managed to check in without too many issues. Finally to my room and nearly fell off the bed - it would have been more comfortable to sleep on a pile of rocks.....but given I had to be up in 5 hours I had to make do, no time to go looking for rocks.

Friday morning after a quick breakfast in the hotel I was on my way to the airport. As I was flying domestically I didn't need to be there too early before my flight. After a super quick flight, under 1 hour, we landed at Koh Samui. It reminded me of landing in the Dominican Republic - very small airport with thatched roofs. Of course my travel never goes smoothly - thankfully the bag was there however my transfer was not. After waiting around for what seemed like ages in the heat and humidity I called the hotel. Turns out my transfer was there, just waiting in a different place to me. I've never been so happy to be in a/c. After the cool weather HK has been having the heat and humidity are a bit of a shock to the system.

After checking in and literally dumping my bag I was off in search of the pool or beach, whichever came first! Ooh 5 days of heaven - relaxing, swimming, reading, eating. What else could I ask for........more time!!

I decided to have lunch at the hotel and go exploring the area later, I was having way too much fun lying by the pool reading then swimming. It's a hard life! At some stage during the afternoon the rain started, very light to begin with then heavy. I headed back to the room and sat on my balcony reading. So much for exploring the area around the hotel, I ate dinner at the hotel again. Let me say the restaurant (Italian) is very nice and is on the beach. Will definitely venture out further tomorrow.

At some stage in the middle of the night I woke to quietness, my a/c machine wasn't not on. Tried the light but that too wasn't working. Found out that the power was switched off due to the government.

Saturday I woke super early, so much for sleeping in on holiday and decided to head out for a run. Was good to see the area around the hotel but far too hot and humid to be running, think I managed 25 minutes. After breakfast I resumed my position on a sun-bed. Did manage to leave the resort for lunch, wandered along the beach until I came across a restaurant that seemed more local than touristy. Had a yummy green curry sitting under a tree hut type table while reading my book. It's a hard life :) Walked back along the beach to the hotel where I resumed position on the sun-bed for a couple more hours.
Late afternoon I went off to a spa place I'd passed on my run and had my nails done, before getting the hotel shuttle to the centre of the town/village. Had a brief look around but decided it wasn't for me - lots of small stalls, shops and drinking/food places. On seeing McDonald's, Starbucks, KFC decided to head straight for the beach, I definitely haven't come on holiday to eat at these places. Found a great place to have happy hour drinks, sitting on a bean bag on the beach, where I read my book listening to the sound of the sea. Walked along the beach in the direction of the hotel and enjoyed a yummy a seafood BBQ dinner while watching the moon rise. You pick our the seafood you want, decide on the sauce and away it goes to be cooked. To begin with I had no idea what was going on, and did wonder if it was the sun….as it was pitch black I knew this couldn't be. How much had I been drinking??? Was a new experience for me, seeing the moon rise, and one that was amazing. Am hoping the photos will come out. The last 20 meters of getting to the hotel I was in the sea, knee deep. I must learn another way for tomorrow night to ensure I get back dry.

Sunday after breakfast I was at the pool. Very repetitive I know but it was wonderful. I venture into the sea a couple of times but as the tide was really out you needed to walk miles, ok hundreds of metres, to reach the water. I walked down the beach for lunch, trying a new restaurant and choosing the local food. Everyone around me seemed to be eating tourist food (burgers/pizzas etc), not for me on this holiday. Back to the pool for a few hours before going to get a Thai massage as the sun was going down. Walked along the beach for happy hour drinks then onto somewhere else for BBQ seafood dinner.

Monday morning I woke to emails from my colleagues in Hong Kong and Tokyo enquiring if I was ok. I was a little concerned and on investigation realized that there were horrible riots going on in Bangkok. Thankfully they had not come to Koh Samui, yet. What worried me the most was receiving a call from the Head of our Corporate Security Team enquiring on my actual whereabouts, my flights details and my travel plan until I returned to HK. After giving him all the information, I made sure my blackberry was fully charged (as instructed) and headed to see the Manager of the Hotel. I wanted to see if I could change my flight to Bangkok so I had less waiting time there, didn't want to chance anything happening since I had at least 5 hours at the airport. He was great and told me he'd take care of it so I headed down to the pool area where I remained for the day - leaving only to get lunch and then late afternoon when it started to rain lightly. After lunch the Manager came to find me and informed me had had changed my flight, I know had a couple more hours in Koh Samui and had reduced my time in Bangkok airport. Walked along the beach and decided on a place for dinner, there is something so soothing sitting at the waters each drinking a beer while eating dinner. A life I would love to have every day of the year! I managed to get back to the hotel without getting wet…..walked through the next door hotel.

Tuesday morning after answering emails on my whereabouts and reporting to people I was aok, I returned to the pool. Lunch again was at a restaurant along the beach. For dinner I decided to walk along the beach to the town/village and look through the night markets. Picked up a few little things then was straight back to the beach for dinner. Couldn't believe this time tomorrow night I'll be on a plane, something I was not looking forward too! Enjoyed my last Thai meal listening to the sounds of the sea lapping up on to the beach.

On my last day, I got up at some crazy hour, so much for sleeping in on my last day! Went straight to the swimming pool, did a few laps then enjoyed breakfast. Had two hours to soak up the sun, go swimming and enjoy Thailand before having to put proper clothes on and leave this beautiful place. I was so pleased to have the extra time at Koh Samui rather than Bangkok airport.

The flight to Bangkok was quick - fantastic views of Koh Samui as we left. On arrival into Bangkok I literally walked into an airport person when I got off the plane. He asked "You are going to HK. Just one of you." And asked me to follow him. He was kind enough to point me in the right direction for the Cathay Pacific international transfer desk. It was of course at the other end of the airport! I got my boarding pass and headed off to the lounge. I had just under 2 hours at the airport which went rather fast thank goodness. The flight to HK was quick, always the case when I'm sitting in business class!