Travel Diary Koh Samui

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In the middle of our Thailand adventure we decided to take a break from the city and hop over on a quick 1 hour flight over to Koh Samui. Chaweng was every bit as beautiful as described, but we found our little piece of paradise at Crystal Bay. An idyllic little bay between Chaweng and Lamai, it's the type of beach you'd want to be stranded on forever.





Chaweng was a bit crowded but the wonderful shallow waters extended for miles leaving plenty of room for frolicking in the waves.







Instead of staying at a hotel we rental a 2 bedroom villa near Bangrak Beach toward the northern part of the island. Having our own pool to dip in any time we wanted was a definite treat.









Not to mention the outdoor sunken in stone tubs that came with each room...



Weather in Koh Samui in July is not ideal however. I read everywhere that Koh Samui is not in rain season in July, it's actually high season...the internet lied! We were there for 6 days and only 1 day was sunny, the last one! I think during the summer everywhere in Thailand is rain season.

And rain season in Thailand is not the same as hurricane/rain season in the Caribbean where it rains for 10 minutes then the clouds break into sun. Almost our entire stay was covered in perpetual clouds with no sun in sight. It wasn't constantly rainy but it was definitely not sunny. If you want to visit I'd advise going before summer, in the January to April time frame. As a result of the poor weather conditionals all the tours I had planned didn't happen. I never got to see the surrounding islands unfortunately.

But I did get the chance to go to the most amazing spa sitting on top a mountain. Surrounded by the most lush greenery I steamed then plunged then was massaged to a pulp under an open air canopy...bliss is the only word to describe Eranda Herbal Spa.





And they give you the most amazing little sweet treat and tea after your treatment.

Travel Diary: Thailand Wat Arun

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I couldn't be more excited to return to Thailand after my initial trip there a few years ago. I'd been plotting my way back there for years but other people's lives got in the way.

Thought not ideal, we ended up going in the midst of monsoon season in July. The weather was steamy and cloudy, but we tempered it by ducking into the many shopping malls for some reprieve from the heat and unexpected showers.



This time we went to the amazing Wat Arun, Temple of the Rising Sun with the beautiful burmese style architecture so different from the Grand Palace which I visited last time. The most amazing site of this temple though is not actually within, but across the river at the Deck Restaurant. We took the boat from the temple to Tha Tien Pier, bought some fruit and snacks from the multitude of street vendors, then headed over to watch the most amazing sunset from the bar at the Deck restaurant with drinks in our hands. We got here about an hour before sunset and scored a great table right at the balcony. When darkness came the temple lit up beautifully as we finished our drinks and fruit.