Thailand historically
known as Siam, officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast
Asia. It is located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning
513,120 square kilometres (198,120 sq mi), with a population of almost 70
million people. It is bordered to the north by Myanmar and Laos, to the east by
Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to
the west by the Andaman Sea and Myanmar. Thailand also shares maritime borders
with Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast, and Indonesia and India
(Andaman and Nicobar Islands) on the Andaman Sea to the southwest. Nominally,
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy; however, in
recent history, its government has experienced multiple coups and periods of
military dictatorships. Bangkok is the nation's capital and largest city.
Ko Samui (or Koh Samui, also often locally shortened to Samui;) is an island off the east coast of Thailand. Geographically in the Chumphon Archipelago, it is part of Surat Thani Province, though as of 2012, Ko Samui was granted municipal status and thus is now locally self-governing. Ko Samui, with an area of 228.7 square kilometres (88.3 sq mi), is Thailand's second largest island after Phuket. In 2018, it was visited by 2.7 million tourists.
Ko Samui is in the Gulf of Thailand, about 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Surat Thani town (9°N, 100°E). It is the most significant island in the Chumphon Archipelago. The island measures some 25 kilometres (16 mi) at its widest point. To the north are the populated resort islands of Ko Pha-ngan, Ko Tao, and Ko Nang Yuan. Close to Bangrak in northeast Samui is the small uninhabited island of Ko Som, and to the northeast of Chaweng is the tiny Ko Matlang. To the south are Ko Taen and Ko Matsum, each of which have small tourist facilities. To the far west are 44 other islands which together compose Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park which is accessible by a day-trip boat tour from Ko Samui.
The central part of Ko Samui is mostly tropical jungle, including its largest mountain, Khao Pom, peaking at 635 m (2,083 ft). The various lowland and coastal areas are connected by Route 4169, which is a 51 km (32 mi)-long road, encircling the island. Many other concrete roads branch off from Route 4169 to service other areas.
On the west coast of the island is the original capital, Nathon, which still houses many government offices, as well as two of the island's five major piers. Nathon is the major port for fisheries and for vehicular and goods transportation from the mainland. As the site of the main port and the closest city to the mainland has made Nathon the commercial centre for Samui locals. More recently, the transition from dependence on the local coconut industry along with the continued growth and development of the tourist industry, as well as the northeastern location of the airport, has led to the increase of commercial activity in Chaweng and Bophut.
Asian Destinations Readers can go to Samui by airplane from Samui Airport. Ko Samui airport is built in an open style, drawing connections between it and traditional Thai architecture. In 2009, the airport handled 1.3 million passengers and 17,707 aircraft operations. The airport is now additionally served by Thai Airways to Bangkok and Firefly Airlines to Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Flights from Samui to Phuket and other Thai destinations are available, and in 2012, the Thai government announced the possibility of a second Ko Samui airport due to complaints of high airport fees.
Several ferries connect the island with the mainland, including two car/passenger ferries, and connect Don Sak to piers in the west of the island, in Lipa Noi and in Nathon. Public buses to all parts of the mainland operate from a new bus station north of Nathon. Privately operated songthaews circle the ring road like a bus service with fixed fees mostly only in the daytime, and private taxis which charged a fixed, flat fee depending on the destination.
Some of the activities that can be done on Koh Samui include Snorkelling at Ang Thong Marine Park, Sunrise SUP Tour, Watching Thai Boxing at Chaweng Stadium, learn to rustle up at the Samui Institute of Thai Culinary Arts, Take a night walk to Fisherman's Village in Bophut , Seeing the beauty of Choeng Men beach, Seeing Khun Si Waterfall.
For Asian Destinations Readers, the right time to visit Ko Samui is as follows
- Buffalo Fighting Festival: One of the best-known festivals on Ko Samui is the Buffalo Fighting Festival which is held on special occasions such as New Year's Day and Songkran. Unlike Spanish bullfighting, the fighting on Ko Samui is fairly harmless. The fighting season varies according to some ancient customs and ceremonies. The buffalo are decorated with ribbons and gold-painted leaves. Before the contest, which lasts just two rounds, monks spray the buffalos with holy water.
- Samui Regatta: The Samui Regatta is a sailing tournament held every year. The tournament is internationally known and competitors come from as far away as Australia, Singapore, Japan, and China.
- Ten Stars Samui Art Party: A recurring cultural event bringing together art lovers, local Thai and international artists, and their artwork. The annual event, hosted at various resorts and other venues, focus on building the art community on Ko Samui, with presentations by featured artists.
- Samui Triathlon: The International Triathlon Union organizes this event every year. This event draws more than five hundred participants from around the world.
- Koh Samui THA Midnight Run: The Koh Samui Midnight Run is a charity run organized by the Thai Hotel Association (THA) and the Thai Association of Ko Samui (TAKS). It is a yearly event usually held in March.
- The Koh Samui (Anniversary) Festival is held every year around the second week of September, usually in the port city of Nathon as well as in Chaweng. It includes many events such as concerts, craft fairs, Thai cultural exhibitions and a huge, free buffet set up along the island's longest beach; so big in fact, that the festival's free dinner table offering earned a Guinness World Record for largest buffet ever served, on September 12. 2017.
- Koh Samui International Podcast Festival: The International Podcast Festival is held on Chaweng beach with the 2018 festival drawing a mainly international audience of several hundred people. Multiple podcasts featured, including Australian Logie award winner Dilruk Jayasinha hosting an episode of The Dollop.
Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko_Samui
https://www.timeout.com/koh-samui/things-to-do/best-things-to-do-in-koh-samui
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand
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