Joanna James
Koh Samui has come a long way from being just a backpackers' paradise. From celebrities to backpackers to sophisticated travellers, the island receives an eclectic mix of visitors.
Koh Samui resorts and hotels get full to the brim when there are special events taking place on the island. You cannot expect lowered prices for accommodation, but you can, however, find a place to stay if you make your reservations in advance. You can select from a range of options, and an example would be Avani+ Samui Resort.
Banyan Tree was going through renovations for several months, but now it's back in business. With the new wood-fired ovens, flaming woks and fire pits, the place intrigues its guests with novelty. Offering a range of fresh seafood dishes, Banyan Tree spoils those who want to enjoy barbecued delights made by expert hands. On the beachfront is a tuk-tuk cocktail bar that serves heady fusions of spirits. If barbequed seafood isn't a reason for visiting Koh Samui, then nothing is.
If you visit Koh Samui between February 21st and 23rd, you will see North Chaweng Beach occupied by about 50 teams competing in an annual beach volleyball tournament. This is the 3rd beach volleyball tournament taking place in Samui. The spots are limited, so you might want to get your team registered as soon as you can. Women and men both can participate, and entry is free for spectators.
This year's regatta will begin on May 23rd and will continue until the 30th. During the regatta, there are many activities that spectators and participants can enjoy. The event draws hundreds into the island, and about 500 of them are sailors come down from around Asia. This is the most significant event of its kind to be held in Asia and falls among the things to do in Samui. The event is all fun and excitement; the viewers are thoroughly indulged by the spectacle of participants testing their limits with the speeding boats.
This is a hedonistic mix of music, food, culture and parades. The festival is celebrated in September and lasts for about six days. Around the time of Samui Festival, the atmosphere of the island becomes cheerful. The dates haven't been announced yet, but there's one confirmation that the Samui Festival Marathon is due to be held on August 30th; this is the beginning of the festivities that fills everyone with anticipation and excitement. Artworks and tradition take the leading place in Samui Festival, there's also a beauty contest and a singing competition along with several Buddhist ceremonies and boxing tournaments. Food is inherent to any Koh Samui event, and Samui Festival is no different; you will find an overwhelming number of food stalls brimming with Thai delicacies.
Celebrated in November, the Festival of Lights is a Buddhist festival; the locals take this festival quite seriously. As the name suggests, it is, in fact, a festival of lights. The locals make small boats out of banana leaves and float them down Chaweng Lake with lit candles in them. It is believed that these lit banana boats diffuse worry and bad luck and bring about prosperity. You can make a banana boat with the help of a local and partake in the festival yourself. Around this time, street food vendors make the most of it by selling various local delights, and music permeates the entire island.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
