Koh Samui day 1

The train is an hour late in arriving at Surat Thani station, but nevertheless our transfer to the waiting coach is smooth and painless and we are soon on our way to the ferry port at Don Sak. Surat Thani is on the east coast of southern Thailand and is the nearest train station to the ferry port for Koh Samui. It takes about an hour’s drive to get to Don Sak, but despite the train’s late arrival we are in plenty of time to get the 10 am crossing. The crossing is rather choppy and the old ferry creaks as the bows occasionally crash across the waves. We arrive in Koh Samui to a cool, grey and windy morning. Where are the hot, sunny days we have been following in the weather reports? After a bit of haggling with the metered taxi drivers (who apparently routinely refuse to turn on their meters) we agree a fare of 300 Baht for the 15-minute journey to Moonhut Bungalows on Mae Nam beach.

We found Moonhut Bungalows on the internet after some extensive trawling for reasonably-priced accommodation and have booked only a couple of nights initially in case we don’t like it. The bungalows turn out to be set well away from the busy ring road that runs around the island and right on the beach. There is a beach bar and restaurant and the bungalows are well-spaced around a central sandy area. Our bungalow is petite but can hardly be described as bijoux, it doesn’t have hot water or a sea view – but it is set in a tropical garden amongst shady palms on the edge of the beach with its own veranda – and it suits our modest budget! We would, of course, prefer to have hot water and the plan is to look for something a bit better appointed and slightly more off the beaten track. But for the time-being this will suit us fine.

The weather is rather disappointing. It is quite warm but overcast and very windy on the beach. The sea is grey and rough and waves are pounding right up the beach, breaking against the veranda of one of the sea view bungalows. Apparently this bay is supposed to be calm and tranquil with a uninterrupted 2km beach, but because it is full moon the tide is so high when we arrive that it isn’t possible to walk along it and any thoughts of swimming have to be shelved for the time-being. Hopefully this is just a blip in the weather and normal service will be resumed shortly!