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Shopping and Seeing

Leisure shopping around the island is most popularly done in towns along the main beach fronts which include Nathon, Boh Put, Chaweng and Lamai. Chaweng seems to be the most popular and tourists make their way there for goods and shopping.

When we hired a van which took us around the main spots, it also took us to the towns mentioned above. However, some of us ladies were not satisfied with the swift visits and decided on the next day to freely roam around them ... without the men.

The adventurous us took the local tuk tuk truck and haggled smartly for right fares before we hopped into them and tour the island again. This time we had more time to scour the streets and bought whatever our hearts desired.

Generally, I find the prices of the goods reasonable and cheaper than her other counterparts in other parts of Thailand.

However, the goods mainly revolve around crafts, local jewellery, tit bits and souveniers.

A night scene along Lamai, where we stayed.

Local crafts, bags and clothes in Nathon...

Not only along Chaweng but also in Lamai are boutiques and tailors ready to get the attire ready for her customers in less than 24 hours.

This young lass is pretty, sharp and has fierce business acumen. She does her sales professionally and I have yet to see one of this kind along the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Even Kwai Lin and I gave in to her hot pursuits...we bought things from her because we could not beat her skills of negotiations. She is a Nepalese and has siblings on the island too. I asked why the need to be here and she said it was difficult to find a job back home. Next, she told me she needed to get a boyfriend by next year and get married. High ambitions...hope she will find one soon. Incidentally I met her sister selling clothes in one of the local stores too.

Yea, she sells leather goods and she mans the most expensive products on the island... and yet the goods have designs that are not easily found anywhere else in the world. So, I became one of her victims. I bought a leather pair.

Shell products harvested from the seas around the island.

The lights are creatively crafted and quite a sight but the thought of carting them home was too much for us. We decided not to get them.

The handmade soap carvings are found all over the island and are similar to the ones in Bali.

The clothes are for the slim and young...nothing for the old girls. But we did manage to grab some of the white cotton tops sold all over the malls in Malaysia for a very good price. 3 white cotton tops for RM100.00 ; quite a bargain. We get them in Malaysia for at least RM49.90 each and in fact before I left terimal 3 of Subang, I saw an exact replica which was priced at RM79.90. I bought it on the isalnd at RM35.00. So go Koh Samui to get them.

This particular top costs RM79.90 at Subang Terminal 3 but a mere one third on the island.

Perhaps the place that took our hearts is this quaint little village in Bophut. Once renowned for her rich harvest from the seas, the place boasts of serenity and laid back style of living. A perfect getaway for many who seek rest and recuperations from challenges of life.

Fisherman's Village reminded me of a counterpart in Taiwan - "Chiu Fen" also a quaint little township up in the hills of Taipei; so very pretty.

The streets of Fisherman's Village is a lure for many caucasians.

This is a real museum piece...so old the jetty that it should not suffice for the demands of the day.

Eating outlets are a many here and choices are varied but the calling price may not be as desired.

Frogs for the table ; the locals must have a fantastic way of presenting them for their guests.




Like most hinterland South East Asian countries, gasoline is sold in bottles here ; a sight that is so common but strange to us.

Like Phuket and Bali, the adhoc wiring system is reason to worry at times... you wonder at the safety gadgets.

A typical front of a lot.

I find these stairs interesting ; so steep and yet mysterious. What's behind the door?

The Caucasians favour this place I can see. All over the island we notice French influence and perhaps many more which I could not decipher.

But one thing I sure have observed was the presence of some Caucasians serving at food outlets here. I tend to concur that they are here for work and leisure. To work and gain pleasure ; win - win situation. This attitude is strange to Asians. We are such a 'kiasi' people that we need security and permanency in life. We cannot take uncalculated risks... how to relax la.

Incidentally, on one of our tuk-tuk rides to Chaweng, we met a young couple ; don't know if they were married - from the UK who lamented that the job situation in their motherland is so bad that they had to go off shores to earn a living. The female counterpart related that she had been all over Australia for the last 16 months on a work and tour visa and loved Australia. So before going back to the UK she decided to give South East Asia a good roundup ; including a visit to Pulau Langkawi and then to Kuala Lumpur and finally fly home through ...aha...Now Everyone can Fly plane. Air Asia is revolutionary.

I envy their carefree style. That's a skill to behold. Not to be bogged down by the cares of the world and to take life in good strides. I keep telling myself to do that ; not to worry about matters beyond my control.

Some more local looks... quite tastefully done.

In fact, we were not able to cover as much as we wanted; not with such a short span of time. I believe there is much more to explore.

For those who are retiring and the retirees ; how about accommodating here for a month and savour in all that is local and keep them for memories while looking for the next destination?

A good stay.