Driving around Samui, you’ll often see men on scooters steering with one hand and carrying a covered birdcage in the other hand. Inside the cage is a prized possession – a red-whiskered bulbul, used in traditional Thai bird-singing competitions. On Samui, competitions are held every Tuesday and Saturday at 11:00. It’s not advertised, it’s not … read the full post

In 2013, Lunar New Year — Chinese New Year to the Chinese — falls on Sunday, February 10, and ushers in the Year of the Snake. Celebrations can last for about 15 days in areas with large Chinese communities, including Ko Samui, with festivities beginning on the first day of the first month in the … read the full post

As far as New Year’s Eve goes, you won’t have to look far for a party on Thailand’s Ko Samui. As with Christmas, be warned if you’re booking a hotel that many of the resorts have compulsory gala dinners. If you’re footloose and fancy free, anywhere along the beach is a good bet, as resorts … read the full post

If it’s tradition you’re after for Christmas and you’ll be on Thailand’s Ko Samui, the island won’t let you down in the roast-with-gravy-and-all-the-trimmings department. Many of the resorts –and not only the high-end ones — include a compulsory gala dinner for Christmas Eve. If you’re paying for it, you may as well make the most … read the full post

Ko Samui sailors wait in anticipation each year for the annual international regatta held towards the end of May. This is usually the only organised event for sailing enthusiasts, both participants and spectators alike, where sailing vessels from around Asia, including Hong Kong, Phuket and Malaysia, race against local sailors in Samui’s ideal waters. As … read the full post

One might travel for months alone quite happily, but come the festive season and particularly Christmas, homesickness can kick in. So what can the lone traveller do on Christmas Day on Ko Samui to make it a day to remember? Firstly, like it or not, be warned that most resorts charge for a compulsory gala … read the full post