Thailand, Ko Samui

“I drove a massive SUV (a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport if we're getting specific) everyday, on the main ring road circling the island, small alleyways, on Chaweng street, up the hilly interior through the jungles to get to waterfalls and here's what that experience was like. Ko Samui has a ring road that circles the island which is smooth, paved, and doesn't get congested in the mornings or much in the evenings. There aren't many traffic lights, I saw about 5 in all my time there [...] Outside of the circular ring road, you'll enter many smaller roads, and the truth is that if you aren't used to driving in Southeast Asia, it might be an unnerving experience and it definitely takes a driver with confidence to get around.”

“We arrived in the middle of an absolutely torrential downpour. So much so they kept everyone on the plane for about 45-minutes and the water was sheeting down the windows. However, despite it being rainy season, this was the only rain we encountered in our four days. It was still about 30˚C (85-90˚F) so after dropping our luggage, we rummaged for swimsuits and had the first of many dips in the pool.”

“My partner and I decided to take the guided tour of Koh Samui’s top attractions, and it was the perfect way to kick off our trip. We were picked up straight from our hotel in an air-conditioned minivan, which made everything super convenient. The first stop was the stunning Wat Plai Laem temple, where we got to appreciate the island’s Chinese heritage. Then we visited Wat Phra Yai, home to the enormous golden Buddha, which was truly awe-inspiring. Afterwards, we headed to the Lad Koh Viewpoint in Chaweng Noi, which had breathtaking views of the coastline. [...] One of the highlights was seeing the mummified monk—it was both fascinating and surreal. We finished the tour with a visit to Na Muang Waterfall, a peaceful and beautiful spot to relax before being dropped off back at our hotel.”