Koh Samui

11 July, 2019

I found a hand written blog that I wrote on our Superstar Gemini Asian cruise back in 2007, so I thought I'd add it to my online blogs.

We flew in to Singapore and had an included night in a city hotel with transfers to the passenger terminal. I can't remember the name of the hotel off the top of my head, but there were many others picked up from the same place in the morning.

Koh Samui Tuesday 22nd May, 2007.

We were late dropping anchor today, so didn't get ashore until about 11am for our 'Free and Easy' day. The ship's tender took us ashore at Nathon. Met up with some other couples, Beth and John from Port Macquarie and Bernadette and Ainsley from Melbourne. Had no trouble finding a mini bus (air con) and driver waiting on the pier and he took us on a tour around the island for 2000 THB. I'd had a few sites earmarked to go to, just as well, the others had very little idea of where to go.
Firstly we went to a waterfall. It was nice but not a huge amount of water, although it was cool and shady. There was a mountain goat track down to the bottom of the falls and an elephant trek available, along with a market selling the usual things.
Next was the Mummified Monk, then on to the Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks. The GF rock is quite obvious but for the GM rock you need to walk across the rock platform directly toward the sea, then turn and look back towards the 'mainland' to see her. We bought a timber mask at a stall here for 250THB.
After that we went to Chaweng Beach for lunch and shopping. We spent most of this time in the Will Wait Bar, across the road and north from McDonalds, across the road from Captain Kirk, Chaweng Beach, eating 8 chicken satay skewers (80THB) and a plate of chicken pad thai (90THB) washed down with 2 Singha beers (60 THB each). 410 THB all up for lunch. Bought a DVD, Spiderman 3.
The Big Buddha was the last stop - a big, gold coloured Buddha! All the usual market stalls - bought a lightweight shirt for Trevor and some postcards.
Back to the pier by 3.30pm, tendered back to the Gemini by 4pm in time for a swim in the pool.
All up, the day cost us $67.00 AUD. Mini bus 670, lunch 410, mask 250, shirt 200, DVD 100, postcards 20 and water 20 THB. 

Breakfast before we left the ship was meant to be scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, but when it arrived, there was no smoked salmon. I commented that there was meant to be smoked salmon, so that plate was whisked away and replaced by a plate of smoked salmon!! What to do? I couldn't send it back twice. So I ate it all!! Yum!!