Koh Samet เกาะเสม็ด

The school year is coming up to midterms now. The periods just before exams are the busiest and most stressful parts of the year, so the start of Khao Phansa, the Rains Retreat or "Buddhist Lent", couldn't come soon enough. I needed a vacation, and we got a five-day holiday. After several weeks in the city, Bangkok starts to wear on me. I try to leave at least once a month for my mental health - but I'd been in town since May. It was time to get out of town and relax.

I went to Koh Samet.

Sai Kaew Beach

Koh Samet is an island which sits just off Rayong, on the eastern coast of the Thai gulf. Rayong is three hours from Bangkok by minibus, and then it's another hour by ferry from the mainland to the island. Samet, one of Thailand's most popular islands, is part of the Khao Laem Ya Koh Samet National Park, an archipelago of tropical islands in the gulf.

morning out at the beach

From Victory Monument, you can take a minibus for 120 baht directly to the pier in Rayong. From there it's a 50 baht ferry ride to the pier in Samet. You also have to pay a 200 baht one-time entry fee to the national park. There are a decent number of lodgings on the island, from five-star resorts, to small guesthouses and cheap beachfront bungalows with basic amenities. I stayed at one of the latter.

a beautiful beach in the national park

The people of Koh Samet are very proud of the part their island plays in Phra Aphai Mani, a Thai epic about an ogre, a mermaid, and a flute-playing prince. As your ferry arrives at the pier, you'll be greeted by a huge bronze statue of the ogre, and there are statues of pipers and mermaids looking out over the sea to be found across the island.

I spent three nights on Koh Samet. Just a short holiday, but long enough to enjoy a sunset cruise, and a nighttime trip out on a squid fishing boat. Mostly, though, I enjoyed spending hours relaxing, reading, and exploring the beautiful island. Koh Samet is a real paradise, with blue skies, clear water, and white sandy beaches. The island has its own micro-climate, and is the driest island in the country, unaffected by the monsoons that are sweeping the rest of Thailand during the rainy season.



Koh Samet

There's a word in Thai that describes how I feel now, "sabaai"... relaxed. It's amazing how much better a vacation can make you feel!


sabaai