Samui and surrounding islands are as wonderful as ever! That is the bottom line after ScandAsia visited Koh Samui, Koh Pangan and Koh Tao by the end of April to see if the flooding had left any lasting damage.
So if you were worried if it is safe and pleasant to come back for that weekend trip – rest assured that Samui and surrounding islands are as clean and wonderful as ever! Enjoy more photos click here
Samui Big Cleaning Day
Finalizing the cleaning up process, Samui Municipality organized on 24 April a Big Samui Cleaning Day together with Bangkok Airways, Bangkok Hospital Samui, The Tourism Coordination Center in Samui, Thai Hotels Association and the Tourism Association of Koh Samui.
Everyone, including many local residents and even some tourists, joined in the action.
“This teamwork conveys a clear massage of how the residents of Koh Samui love their home,” Koh Samui Mayor Mr. Ramnate Jaikwang said about the event.
Clean Beach Clear Sky
Jocke Nylander, a Swedish retiree who has lived on Koh Samui for the past five years told ScandAsia how he experienced the flooding.:
“I was here during the storm. At that time I was bored because there was nothing to do at home. But when it was gone, the sky was clear again. And the beach is as clean as it can get, as you can see!”
“Actually, Lamai Beach is more peaceful than Chaweng Beach,” he added.
Diving at Koh Tao
Koh Tao is the top five extraordinary diving destinations in the world. Here ScandAsia found Swedish diving enthusiast Daniel Attling who enjoys diving at Koh Tao.
“The news coverage about the storm and flood was really bad. It mixed together news about Suratthani, Chompon and the islands, but the fact is that we were only we stuck in flood one single day,” Daniel Attling.
“Koh Tao is an island so the water just rapidly flowed into the sea. We actually took the speed-boat from Koh Tao to mainland on the day that the Royal Thai Navy ‘Chakri Naruebes’ rescued tourists. Therefore the situation was not too bad from my point of view.”
“My family back in Sweden was quite worried about me, but I told them that everything was really OK here,” he added.
Beach Party at Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan is famous for the full moon party on the beach. In the day time, Haad Rin Beach is normally a very quite place which is opposite to the night time where the tourists enjoy the beach party.
The Tourism Coordination Center in Samui, Ms Saipayom Somsuk said “Koh Tao and Koh Phangan were mostly indirectly effected because in order to get to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao from Koh Samui, the tourist have to get on the ferry from Koh Samui. We hope that the tourists understand the current situation and come back here soon!”
Round-the-clock Paramedic Service
Dr. Narintara Boonjongcharoen, Hospital Director Bangkok Hospital Samui said:
“The tourists can be confident that we at Bangkok Hospital Samui can handle an emergency situation like this. We provided food, drinking water and the best treatment to both tourists and locals 24 hours 7 days a week during the flooding without a problem.”
Flying to Koh Samui
Bangkok Airways provides more than 30 non-stop flights daily back/forth Bangkok and Koh Samui. It takes about 45 minutes.
M.L. Nandhika Varavarn, Bangkok Airways’ Vice President talked about the exclusive package:
“Summer season is the best period to visit Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao so Bangkok Airways will launch the limited round flight with special promotion of 4,300 baht net from 12 -20 May and valid for travel within 30 July 2011”
Ferries to Samui – Koh Phan Ngan – Koh Phangan – Koh Tao – Koh Nang Yuan
Ferries are the most popular means of reaching Samui, and the only way to get to Koh Phan Ngan and Koh Tao. Lomprayah high-speed Ferry is the transfer services between Koh Samui – Koh Phangan – Koh Tao – Koh Nang Yuan – Chumporn – Bangkok. Many travelers choose Lomprayah because they enjoy sailing along the Gulf of Thailand.
One backpacker that ScandAsia met at the Lonprayah Ferry said:
“I’m on my way to join the full moon party at Koh Phangan and I have heard that Lompraya is the best ferry service.”
Important Contacts
Tourism Authority of Thailand: 1672, www.tourismthailand.org
Bangkok Airways: 1771, www.bangkokair.com
Bangkok Hospital Samui: +66 7742 9500, www.samuihospital.com
Lomprayah High Speed Ferries: +66 0 7742 7765 to 6, www.lomprayah.com
