Sightseeing on Two Wheels

We woke up early and headed down to try the breakfast buffet at our very pricey hotel. To be honest, we weren’t all that impressed, especially considering the hotel’s cost and the other buffets we’d experienced. After breakfast, we made our way to the beach since we didn’t have to check out until noon. We found a place offering Thai massages, and Jan couldn’t resist treating himself to a half-hour of relaxation while I soaked up some sun. Thai massages are a bit pricier in Koh Samui than in Bangkok. At noon, it was check-out time, and we packed our backpacks to search for a cheaper hotel. After a bit of looking around, we found Golden Sand Beach Resort, which only cost 1100 baht per night for a bungalow with a sea view and breakfast included. It’s easy to find something even cheaper, but we were in the mood for a little luxury, and since it didn’t cost much more, we couldn’t say no to Golden Sand Beach Resort. In the afternoon, we rented a motorcycle to explore the island. We were pretty excited about riding in the bigger towns, especially since they drive on the left in Thailand, but it surprisingly went quite well. The only mishap was when my leg brushed against the exhaust pipe and got a burn. It’s a pretty common souvenir to bring back from Thailand, which is why it’s called a Thai tattoo. First, we rode up to a waterfall with an 80-meter drop, where we took an elephant ride for the first part of the journey. We had to walk/climb the last stretch up to the waterfall and back down again. The elephant ride cost 600 baht per person. Next, we drove up to the highest point on the island, even though it was technically prohibited to take rented motorcycles up there due to the rough road. The view from the top was stunning. Unfortunately, we couldn’t enjoy it for long because there were huge bugs buzzing around. Back on the road, we decided to grab lunch in the next bigger town, where I also bought a T-shirt to replace my tank top for a bit more sun protection. After riding about three-quarters of the way around the island, we reached Chaweng, the other major town in Koh Samui that attracts many backpackers and tourists. While in Chaweng, Jan suddenly felt the urge to get a haircut. Finding a barber wasn’t hard, but explaining how he wanted it cut was a challenge. After half an hour of using charades, we finally managed to communicate the haircut since the barber didn’t understand much English. The haircut cost 150 baht. From Chaweng, it wasn’t far back to Lamai. In the evening, I thought I might have heatstroke because I felt cold, even though it was 30 degrees outside. We went out for dinner but had to head back quickly afterward since I wasn’t feeling any better. During dinner, we chatted with a Danish couple who shared some great travel tips with us. Besides water, soup is a good way to get minerals. Eating a bit of sugar and salt is also helpful to maintain your fluid balance.