SilkAir will offer three flights a week from Singapore to Koh Samui under a code share with Bangkok Airways. The regional wing of Singapore Airlines will begin offering three flights a week from the city-state to Koh Samui on Sept 27, using Airbus A319s that feature both business and economy class cabins.

Already serving Phuket and Chiang Mai from its Changi airport hub, SilkAir is moving to tap new traffic opportunities on Thailand’s second-largest island, which is especially popular among Westerners. SilkAir will cooperate with Bangkok Airways, the privately owned airline that dominates traffic Koh Samui’s air traffic, by establishing a code-share partnership on SilkAir-operated flights. The arrangement will include Bangkok Airways’ existing daily flights between Koh Samui and Singapore.

Bangkok Airways also code shares on SilkAir’s Singapore-Chiang Mai and Singapore-Phuket routes. As well, SilkAir will code share on Bangkok Airways’ Bangkok-Koh Samui, Koh Samui-Phuket and Chiang Mai-Koh Samui corridors.

Peter Wiesner, Bangkok Airways’ senior vice-president for network management, said the arrangement for the Singapore-Koh Samui route would allow it to drive more traffic. “We plan to capture traffic from Singapore as well as through traffic from long-haul routes connecting from major aviation hubs such as Singapore’s Changi airport.,” he said.

SilkAir is Bangkok Airways’ latest code-share partner after Thai Airways International, EVA Air, Etihad, Air Berlin, Air France and KLM.

(Source Bangkok Post)

Well done, Charlie!  Wish I could be like that.  Despite travelling back to the UK, and to other countries, several times during the course of a normal year, I never pack my case the same way twice, and I never seem to get it right!

Some trips I come back home having taken out of the case just about a third of what I took: I didn’t after all need the hair dryer, the straighteners, the factor 50 sunscreen, the extra special hair conditioner, the three pashminas, the cocktail dress, the new strappy sandals, the cargo shorts, or – surprise surprise!! – the four different kinds of phone charger / plug adaptor, my Swiss Army penknife (assuming it was in my case and NOT my hand luggage and therefore made it to our destination), or even my GPS …

Some holidays I am immediately off on a search for a long, short sleeved and baggy tee-shirt, because absolutely no one is wearing a slinky see-through and very short cover-up on the beach …   Or factor 50, because this year I packed factor 30 thinking that would do for everyone, but boy, is the sun strong, and the kids are fair skinned …  Or a good pair of walking sandals, because suddenly Himself wants to walk everywhere to find his morning espresso and high-heeled strappy sandals just don’t do hills with cobblestones …

So, here are some questions for you – to which I would appreciate answers!

1.    Should suitcases be shared – or does everyone get their own?
2.    Is it good to start the packing process early?  Should you lay everything out on a spare bed – assuming you have one – about a week in advance of the final, final closure of the zip and padlock?
3.    Or should it all be done in one fell swoop: an hour of constant buzz and flurry ‘twixt wardrobe and dressing table and suitcase?
4.    Do you roll or fold?
5.    Do you take your favourite piece of jewellery, even when you don’t know if where you are staying has a personal safe?  Do you take any jewellery?
6.    Do you take your laptop, and all the paraphernalia that that entails?
7.    Ditto mobile phones?  Do you all take them?  Or just the man-of-the-house?
8.    Do you pack more than one book …  in case the one you’ve just started turns out to be great and gets finished within two days?
9.    Do you take your iPod, plug yourself in, and remain aloof and distant and therefore miss out on the conversations going on around you, plus (thank goodness) the constant blare of the kids’ music?
10.    Just how many toys, books and gadgets do you allow each of your kids to bring?  Do they make the choices?  Or do you, knowing as you do just which ones are more likely to survive the two weeks of Ko Samui’s beaches, pools, restaurants and taxis rides?

I’m glad that the chair’s in the shade!   But how about a hat too, and you still need sun cream even in the shade, and even on Ko Samui.   Did you know that 1% of our wrinkles are due to ageing: 99% are from how we live our life – and that includes too much sun.  Our skin is damaged by both UVA and UVB rays: both can cause skin damage and that means at the very least, wrinkles and dryness.    UVB is the main culprit for sunburn, but UVA does its stuff quietly: this is the one that does the most damage to your skin.

Do you know what the SPF number on your sunscreen actually means?   The higher the number, the more protection and the longer you can stay in the sun.  You must know your skin type, and how long it takes until you burn.  Once you know that, then your ’burn time’ x the SPF No of your cream = the maximum time you can stay in the sun safely.

If you have a fair skin, then you need higher protection than someone with a dark complexion.   Now you can find sunscreens up to SPF 70, but that doesn’t give you carte blanche (no joke intended) to slap it on and bake for hours.  As with most things, little and often is better than one huge dollop.

We’ve thought for years that a good tan looks wonderfully healthy and attractive, but now that we know just what the sun can do to our skins, thank goodness the times they are a-changing, and the look now is tending towards the pale and cool.   Which doesn’t help those of us with built-in freckles, age spots and other blemishes!   Not all of us have a beautiful smooth alabaster complexion, and, frankly, not all of us would be totally happy with that, especially after a couple of weeks on Ko Samui: a little smattering of freckles on honey-coloured skin is still a good way to say ‘Hey!  I had a great holiday!’

Here’s a few of the well-known Do’s and Don’ts, just as a reminder: we want your Ko Samui holiday to be one of the best you’ve ever had, and if your skin hurts, you have a headache or a fever, then you are not going to be able to enjoy yourself to the utmost:

•    Don’t sunbathe in full sun between 11 am and 3 pm
•    Don’t ignore the sunscreen if you are swimming in the sea or your private pool, or are spending the day on a boat.   You will need it more as the sun will be reflecting off the sea, and there may be a strong breeze to increase the drying effect
•    Don’t try to speed up your tanning by using anything other than a proper sunscreen
•    Don’t drink strong alcohol – this will dehydrate you.  But some say that a beer’s OK!  Save it for those sundowners in your Ko Samui villa sala …
•    Don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours
•    Don’t forget your sunglasses to protect your eyes
•    Don’t forget that your lips will burn faster than the rest of you.
•    Apply your sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside
•    Do make sure you use the right SPF factor sunscreen for your skin type
•    Do use proper sunscreens that you’ve used before – not one you’ve made, put together in your kitchen earlier …
•    Drink plenty of water: both sun and wind will dehydrate you
•    Make sure the kids are well covered up with sun protection tee-shirts, hats and proper children’s sunscreen.

If this if your first holiday in the sun this year, then take it easy too: just a couple of hours out there for the first few days should break you and your skin in to the idea of a daily dose of those rays.  Children should be out there for less time.

If you do get a sunburn –

•    Don’t sunbathe any more that day!  Your mild sunburn may turn to 2nd degree burns, and require medical attention
•    Have a cool shower or bath
•    Gently rub in some aloe vera cream or gel, or the juice from a fresh leaf.   It might be an idea to get some aloe vera gel or cream before you go on holiday, just in case
•    Moisturise with a good moisturiser, like a cocoa butter cream
•    If necessary, take some pain relief.

If you don’t have any cooling aloe vera, then here are some household remedies you might want to try to cool your skin if there is nothing else to hand:

•    mash up some tomatoes, add them to crushed ice, place on the burnt skin
•    slices of cucumber or apple will have a similar cooling effect
•    ditto plain yoghurt, vinegar, tomato ketchup.

If the symptoms are far more severe and include fever, headache, and confusion, then the sufferer may have sunstroke.   This happens when the body has become overheated, and cannot reduce its temperature quickly enough by sweating.  You must lower the person’s body heat immediately by giving cold water to drink, and a cool soak in the bath.  Don’t wrap the person in cold, wet towels or other cloths as this traps the heat in.  If you are at all worried, then please seek medical help.

When you’re on holiday you may not want to spend each and every day lazing round the pool reading, or paddling with the children on the beach: you might want to get out and about for a day or two, see a few different towns, temples, sights – and let’s not forget the shops.

You can walk, hire a car or bike, catch a taxi, bus, train, plane or ferry.  Ko Samui may be a small island, but it has good communication and transport facilities, even if some of the roads might be a bit rough, especially after the rains!

Walking is probably my favourite way of seeing around the island: you are not cut off by glass windows; you can stop when you want to; you will know exactly (one hopes!) where you are going; and you can time your outward journey so that your homebound one gets you back in good time for a shower before the all-important sundowners and supper.

It does get hot though!  So make sure you have a map, take water, sunscreen, a hat, and wear good walking shoes.  Take a mobile phone with you, and contact numbers just in case of an emergency.   If you’d rather not do it alone, then this website gives good advice, and contact information so that you can join them on their various hikes into the hills:   http://walksamui.blogspot.com/2011/01/walk-and-live-in-koh-samui.html .

Car and bike hire – hiring a vehicle or a bike is easy, but you should be warned that the roads can be rough, there may be a slow-moving construction traffic, and the driving of others can be inconsistent and not of a standard with which you are probably familiar.  Plus there are some quirks to the Thai Highway Code which need mentioning.   Usually, if you are driving on a road, you are the one with the right of way.  But in Thailand this is not the case: you must give way to oncoming traffic that moves over into your lane, and also to traffic coming from behind which is moving faster than you.  This is why you will see many people moving over as far to the left as possible to allow others to pass, often making use of the hard shoulder to let this happen.    If you approach close to a slower moving vehicle, then it is polite to give a short hoot of your horn to allow them to know you are there, and wishing to pass.

You will also need to keep your eyes in front of you, to your left and your right side, and behind you at all times!   Not only will you need to watch out for other vehicles, but for debris in the road, animals and children – and you will also need to keep a very respectful and courteous head on your shoulders.

If you intend to hire a moped, bicycle or motorbike, then you must wear a helmet.  Not wearing one and being caught by the police will get you an immediate fine.  Not only that, but wearing one might just save your life should you be unlucky and have an accident.

Still want to hire a car or a moped?  If you book your villa through Samui Island Villas, they can organise car hire for you. You will need your passport, a credit card, an International Driving Licence or your own home country licence.

Do not be tempted to hire a car from a hire company that says you do not need to have a driving licence, as you will not be covered by insurance if you have an accident and if you are pulled over by the police you will be fined at the very least.   If you are staying for longer than three months, then you will need to get a Thai driver’s licence otherwise, again, you will not be covered by insurance.

Given up on that idea?  Why not hire a taxi, and let someone else be all-seeing and ever-careful, while you enjoy the views.   You can hire a taxi from the roadside, or outside the bigger shops.   Be ready to bargain if  you wish to hire a car for a full day.

Ferry, bus, coach, mini-bus -  here’s a good site that will give you their timetables – www.samuiwestcoast.de/samui/samui_transport.htm

Or why not consider using the songthaews, Samui’s public transport system which consists of converted pick-ups with bench seats.  These circle the island on fixed routes all day.  Fares are cheap and are paid at the end of your journey.  If you want to catch one, you just wave it down as there are no set stopping places.   And when you want to get off, ring the bell or bang on the roof!   During the evenings these songthaews often turn into private taxis and you will have to negotiate your price before getting in.

The cabs with meters are yellow, and have a TAXI METER sign on the top.  These are usually air conditioned.  Prices might be high, as most drivers don’t seem to be all that interested in turning on their meters: but if you’re happy with that, try to get some idea of what the journey’s going to cost you before getting in.

You can also get a motorbike taxi, which are very cheap, but you may have some safety concerns about these.  Make sure the driver has a helmet for you, and you may want to line it with a cloth of your own before actually putting it on.

Flying – you possibly flew in from Bangkok International Airport, so you will know that you can fly out again, should you wish to visit Bangkok itself for a few days, or go on to Chiang Mai …  At the moment you can fly between Bangkok and Ko Samui on Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways.

Ooooh … spooky!  But how does he cope when all who have visited Koh Samui start cooking Thai-style as soon as they get home?  Thai cuisine is one of the tastiest in the world, and mastering some of the basics will set you up for quick family suppers or sumptuous dinner party fare.

And here’s a very quick and easy one for a summer lunch or supper:

Thai Waterfall Beef Salad
Ingredients for 2 people:
2-3 steaks – sirloin, or fillet – depending on their size and how much meat you want
Salad greens – rocket, lambs ear, cos, romaine, little gem: whatever you like – torn to bite size
Bean sprouts – one packet
1 cup fresh papaya, cut into small cubes
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
A few leaves of basil

The marinade:
2 Tbs oyster sauce
2 Tbs soy sauce
1 Tbs lime or lemon juice
2 Tbs brown sugar
1 cup fresh coriander, stalks removed, chopped

Dressing:
2 Tbs fish sauce (can be omitted if you can’t find it in your supermarket / Asian store.  It adds some saltiness to the salad)
3 Tbs lime or lemon juice
1.5 Tbs soy sauce
2 Tbs ground peanuts
1 Tsp cayenne pepper
1 Tsp brown sugar

1.     Make the marinade first: mix all the ingredients together making sure the sugar is dissolved.  Then put the marinade and the steaks in a new plastic bag or tight seal container, seal, give it a shake, leave in the fridge.
2.     Then make the dressing: as with the marinade, mix all the ingredients together, making sure the sugar is dissolved, leave in a bowl or clean, small salad-dressing bottle.
3.     Get the salad ready.
4.     Grill or griddle the steaks, turning just once.  The steaks should be well sealed to keep their juices in, but still pink in the middle.
5.     When done, slice very thinly.
6.     Place salad on plates with the steak on top.

If you eat this in a Thai restaurant, the salad will already be dressed.  I prefer to leave it for people to add themselves.

And why is it called Waterfall Beef Salad?  Because of the noise of the meat juices hitting the hot grill.  Of course, if you do the grilling inside your oven, you may just have to imagine that!

So…to Ko or (not) to Koh? That is the question!  Both small words, but you will probably see them many, many times during your visit to Ko Samui, and some explanation is perhaps timely.

The Thai language is a part of the Tai group of the Tai-Kadai language family. This family of languages seems to have no definite ties to any other group. Some Thai words are borrowed from Sanskrit, Pali (both from India) and Old Khmer (Cambodia).

It is a tonal and analytic language, meaning that how you pronounce a word gives it its meaning (same as the Chinese language) and the analytic description means that most of the language is composed of single morpheme words (this means that the word cannot be divided up any further, and in itself it has meaning).

I knew you’d ask … but as a very quick and brief example, think of the English word dog. Single concept (furry animal), no prefix or suffix. Now think of something like untouchable.  Here we have a word made up of three bits: un – touch – able. Only the bit in the middle has stand-alone meaning; the other two are a prefix and a suffix. If you need more explanation, read some of Stephen Pinker’s excellent books on linguistics.

Today, Standard Thai is spoken by over 20 million people, but there are also over ten other related Tai languages spoken in the country.

And there are several separate ways to speak the language, depending on what you are talking about or to whom you are speaking, from the informal ‘street’ or ‘common Thai’ used between relatives and friends; to ‘elegant’ or ‘formal’ – the official and written style; the ‘rhetorical’ which is used for public speaking; ‘religious’ when addressing monks or discussing Buddhism and lastly, ‘Royal Thai’ when speaking to or about the royal family.

Most Thai people will be able to speak and understand all of these, but the first two will be used for most conversations. The last three are also taught in schools.

Back to our Ko / Koh …Why we have two versions of this word in Latin script is debatable.  At a guess, it may well have started when people transcribing the Thai language wrote it down as they heard it: some possibly thought that the ‘h’ on the end extended the sound of the ‘o’.  It’s a bit like what happened when the first Europeans visited India, and we got Bombay – now Mumbai, and Calcutta – now Kolkata … so how come they got Delhi right then?!

But both Ko and Koh mean the same thing: ‘island’, There are over 1,430 islands making up the country of Thailand, so you will indeed see the Thai script or the words Ko or Koh a lot!

While you are on Ko Samui why not visit its sister islands – Ko Tao, and Ko Phangan (and you may also see Koh Pha Ngan).  These three islands form part of the Surat Thani province of Thailand.

Ko Tao is a small island (approx 21 sq kms) about two and a half hours from Ko Samui.  It is also known as Turtle Island.   Originally named because of its shape, it was however a favourite spot for the Hawksbill and Green turtles to lay their eggs. It remained largely uninhabited and undeveloped for the last few hundred years, but in the late 20th century became a very popular tourist and scuba diving centre.  Development soon encroached on the turtles’ favourite spots, of course, but new programmes are in place to encourage these magnificent creatures to keep coming back.

Ko Phangan is a much larger island to the north of Ko Samui, and covers around 168 sq kms. Home of the famous full moon parties, it is also worthy of a visit because it is a very friendly and family-oriented tourist destination, with some fabulous white sandy beaches to enjoy.

Landlubber or yachtsperson? No matter which, because if you are with us at this minute you won’t be able to escape the fun and thrills of the annual Regatta. It started today, 30th May and ends on 4th June, and it’s taking place right now, off the Chaweng Beach!

Described by some as ‘One of Asia’s top Lifestyle and Sport Events’, all the top yachts, crew and media will be in attendance, and there will be a lot of wonderful ocean racing to see, some terrific photo opportunities, and plenty on land to keep you all amused.

2011 is the competition’s 10th year, during which time it has grown and grown, and now many of the island’s top hotels, restaurants and resorts all vie to take part in organising special evenings and entertainment for the spectators and participants.  This year the landlubbery events include a golf tournament, a watch exhibition, a car show and two huge dinner events – Premiership Soccer Legends, and a Fashion Evening – as well as hoards of other attractions all around Ko Samui.

If you get bored just watching the possibly somewhat distant competitors from the golden sands of Chaweng, you could always get on one of the select spectator boats that will be cruising the seas for a closer view.   You can choose from a ‘chasing speed boat’ or the Regatta Spectator Boat.  Essential to book, of course, and the place to get your boat is Bangrak pier, at 9 am every race day.  Tickets cost 1,500 TB which includes a lunch and soft drink.  Or you can email apikard@gmail.com or phone to reserve on 086 503 9558.

Are you suggesting that coconuts migrate?

Well, silly Monty Python, of course they do. Using the oceans to spread their huge coconut seeds (each fully grown one weighs approximately 4.4 kgs / 3.2lbs) the coconut palm has populated vast areas of the topics.  Some seeds have even been found off the Norwegian coast.

The palm – cocos nucifera – needs high temperatures (above 12 degrees every day of the year), lots of sunshine, regular rainfall and humidity in order to survive, and nothing growing above it – that’s why we don’t see it in Europe as a growing species, and why it first flourished along empty coastlines. It loves sandy soils, and can obviously tolerate high salinity. It can grow as high as 30 metres and produces between 30 and 75 fruits a year, and when very carefully cultivated, sometimes more.

Defying gravity at times, it seems to be able to continue growing even when leaning at 45 degrees or more, despite relying on a fibrous root system, with no big tap root or root hairs.

And of course, as soon as man realised how beneficial this plant is he intervened to give it a helping hand in establishing itself, and seafarers of long ago would transport the nuts for cultivation. Over 80 countries now grow coconut palms, not only for their beauty and decorative value but because almost every part of the tree and its seeds can be used.  Its various names in local languages hint at this: kalpa vriksha (Sanskrit) means ‘the tree which gives the necessities of life’; pokok seribu guna (Malay) ‘the tree of a thousand uses’; and in the Philippines it is ‘the tree of life’.

Coconut timber and the huge leaves from the palm can be used for building and furniture making. The timber is water resistant, and produces good, straight timber.
Coconut water – the sweet juice from the nut – is a refreshing drink, and is growing in popularity as an isotonic sport drink because of the natural ingredients, including protein, anti-oxidants, minerals and vitamins.
Coconut flesh – the white flesh or meat from the nut can be used fresh or dried, made into flour or chips, and is widely used in both savoury and sweet dishes.
Copra – is the dried meat of the seed, and from this comes coconut oil and coconut meal.
Coir – the fibre from the coconut husk, has a myriad of uses: ropes, brushes, sacks, mats and stuffing for various household furniture and furnishings.
Coconut milk and cream – produced by infusing the coconut flesh (either fresh or dried) in hot water or milk.
Coconut toddy, nectar, palm wine, palm sugar – all drinks, fresh or fermented, produced from the palm flower sap.
Coconut vinegar – produced from the coconut water.
Heart of palm – a rare delicacy, as using the young buds kills the parent palm.
Coconut sprout – from newly germinated seeds, which produce an edible substance of a fluffy consistency, a bit like marshmallows.
Coconut root – can be used to produce a mouthwash, medicine for dysentery and diarrhoea, and a dye. You can also use a frayed piece as a toothbrush!

What a plant!

Thailand is the 6th largest producer of coconuts in the world.  In 2009 it produced 1.7million tonnes.
In some places in Thailand, coconuts are harvested by trained monkeys (pig-tailed macaques) called ling gaeng.  The monkeys climb the trees, pick the coconuts and throw them down to their handler.  These monkeys are trained in special schools, and the best will take part in competitions each year to find the quickest harvester.

Coconuts can be harvested every 40 – 90 days, depending on how good their growing soil is and how quickly that particular tree is producing fruit, so with luck, when you visit Koh Samui, several farmers will be gathering in their produce. It’s great fun watching the men run up the trees and cut down the seeds – just be careful to stand well back! And if you’re lucky and find a farmer who uses the monkeys, you will have a great photo opportunity.