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A Luxury Honeymoon on Koh Samui, Thailand
November 23, 2010
Owen Milbury
A small island in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui offers natural beauty and luxury in abundance. Look beneath the surface, and you'll also find that this island has maintained its authentic charm. It's a winning combination and our choice for that most special of trips -- our honeymoon.
Our home base is the
Langham Place Samui at Lamai Beach
. In recent years, Koh Samui has seen a steady rise in the number of luxury resorts that dot its shores. Despite our many options, we know right away that we've made the right decision with the Langham. The staff is unfazed by our request to upgrade and they effortlessly slot us into a new room.
The high walls and thick, green vegetation that line the paths of the resort insulate us from the rest of the island and create a sense of solitude. There are many other guests, but our room is private and secluded. The bathroom vents to the sky and there's an oversized bathtub and exotic bath salts. It's the ideal spot to escape all cares for a while.
We share a pool off our front porch. The water is warm, partially shaded by the thick leaves of the palm trees that reach out to block the sun. Temperatures hover in the 80s so we head to the main pool to take full advantage of the poolside drink and food service. Cold drinks overflow the sides of our hollowed-out coconuts and we eagerly sit back to enjoy the pleasures of a good book after a year of wedding planning!
At the front desk, the staff helps us arrange a few excursions. As honeymooners we have every reason to lounge, but when in paradise...We take an elephant ride through the jungle. Imagine Thailand from the back of a rumbling elephant! We join a snorkeling excursion to Koh Pha Ngan island. A 90-minute boat trip takes us to a coral reef where uncountable fish create underwater rainbows. An underwater camera is a must!
Back at the room, exhausted from a day of swimming in the ocean, we are greeted by the familiar face of "Siam." A small monkey figure carved out of coconut, Siam not only stands guard on our porch but also serves as our "Do Not Disturb" sign. He's just another one of the ways we know the Langham is taking care of us.
As we near the end of our stay, we decide to venture beyond our cocooned existence. Whizzing down Koh Samui's crowded streets are the ubiquitous "songtaos." These trucks with the covered back offer the easiest way to traverse the island. We head to Big Buddha Beach, where the towering Big Buddha sits in contemplation. Our next stop is Chaweng, one of Koh Samui's most lively areas. Despite the recent construction boom, Koh Samui remains in her soul a remote tropical island. We find the perfect hole-in-the-wall for lunch. Spicy Thai soup and cold Singha beer fill our stomachs! Later we stroll the streets, exploring the little shops and taking in the sights and smells. The locals are friendly, and quick to offer a warm smile.
In the evening, we return to dine at Cha, the Langham's signature restaurant. The tables are scattered across a wide dining area that has three different levels. There are other diners, but in this romantic atmosphere we feel that we're the only ones. The menu at Cha is a tempting blend of cuisines, and we try as many dishes as time allows. We gaze across the main hotel pool to the gently moving ocean beyond. An impossibly long pier, lined with lanterns, stretches into the sea from the Langham's beach.
After dinner, we stroll out to the end of the pier where a magnificent view of Koh Samui's nighttime coastline awaits us. My wife spots a light floating in the sky. It's a sky lantern! The traditional Thai lanterns are made of paper, with a small candle inside that heats the air and sends the lantern skyward. Releasing these floating lights into the sky is considered good luck in Thailand. Much like the island of Koh Samui, the sky lanterns carry all worries away.
More information:
Langham Place Samui at Lamai Beach
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