De Gustibus and Joan: Koh Samui, "Our Final Resting Place"

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Koh Samui, "Our Final Resting Place"

Koh Samui (Pronounced "ah..sa..mu..ee"), was simply beautiful if we could overlook the two, 187,000 pound excavators ("track hoes" or "360's" as they are named in the business of heavy earth moving) on the beachfront. While we could appreciate that the resort needed the beach improvements, we weren't expecting to be awakened before dawn the next morning to the sound of heavy machinery. Our beach front villa was in a construction zone!!

Isn't it Ironic?
Open link to view Excavator Slideshow

We composed ourselves before we talked with the general manager, Jeremie de Fombelle . It was a cordial conversation but the obvious problem was huge! Jeremie arranged for us to move down the beach, away from the construction work, into an ocean-front pool residence. We couldn't have been more pleased than when they introduced us to Residence Villa #11. We could hear palm branches rustling in the wind, birds chirping, and in the same moment, swim in a private pool overlooking the Bay of Thailand.

Refuge from the Excavator

Residence Villa #11 had 112 steps...

Sure Feels Like Home
Open link to view 112 Steps Slideshow

and was surrounded by lotus, lily pads, palms, plumeria, ginger flower, bougainvillea, orchid, bird of paradise, protea flowers, hibiscus, giant philodendron, and ferns.

Lotus Flower.

The lotus plays a very important part in Thai

life. It is the country's most common flower and

can be found in ponds, swamps, small canals,

even in jars and on top of pillars in temples.

Open link to view Flora of Our Paradise Slideshow

We ate rambutan, mango, papaya, Kaow Phad Goong ( fried rice) with pork, Phad Thai Goong (Thai fried noodle with Tiger prawns) and enjoyed many sunrise and sunset moments, complimented by a few do-it-yourself sundowners.