Finally...the day arrived...for us to go to for our retreat at
Koh Samui.Caught the 8pm flight and we arrived koh Samui shortly at the airport..hmm...it looks more like a safari! haha..but it was a great experience. The driver took us to our resort @ Central Samui Village which has a breathtaking view of the sea and i must say, a cosy and gorgeous room.
Unpack our stuff...gotten a map from the reception and started to plan our entire trip. Decided that we should rent a car for 2 days, and the third day will be spent snorkling at Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan. It was truly happy to be able to spend time together...really it was. Nothing can describe how i felt...and nothing can take it away...and i will exchange the entire world just for this moment.
We took a little walk around the resort which pretty much gives each "hut" their privacy, and soon we reach the restuarant in the resort - the Reef Cafe. We ordered a bottle of wine to our room as the restaurant was closed at 1030pm. We had shower, and then had some wine while planning for our little adventure tomorow morning.
This was what we had in mind:
Sunday:
- Buddha Footprint
- Mummified Monk
- The Namuang Waterfalls
- Drive along the rest of western Coast of the island
- Some shopping i hope @ Nathon?? Anyways....i wont be worried...coz he loves to
shop more than me
Monday:- Hin Tai Hin Ya - Grandfather's and Grandmother's Stone (which look like..hmm..
you know..genitals..)
- Traditional Thai Massage @ Spa Village (which was soooooo serene!!!
Massage done overlooking the hill)
- The Big Buddha
- The most happening place - Chaweng Beach - where you prolly find the entire
ang mo population here.
- Shopping!!!!
- Driving along the east coast and north shoreline of Samui
Tuesday:- Its snorkling day!! Gotta take boat to Koh Tao and then transfer another to Koh Nangyuan.
Heard its really nice.
- Should be half life gone........haha...so din plan for anyting after Snorkling
- Gotta return car by 8pm..hmm..dinner how ah?
Wednesday:- Use the complimentary massage at our resort's spa and perhaps add another few more
massages...hehehe. Relax right? =)
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After these plannings, it was more wine and Discovery Channel...and we were sleepy....so turned in early coz tml i will have to check out the spa appointment while he has to rent the car from Hertz
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Sunday - 11 Dec 05Yippppie! The first day of adventure =) and yeah...guess whats my first adventure? I double locked the door...and i was locked out of our room..hehe.... So to save time, i stayed put at our room while he went to get someone from the reception to help me, and then he will go to hertz across the road to get the car first. Oh well...as usual..i always caused blunder...he always there to solve..haaa..Anywayz...the thai took like one decade to process the rented car, and after waiting for 20 minutes, i decided to walk to hertz to find him. FINALLY got the car...and hmm..quite cool ne, its a honda Jazz...and we started our first journey to find the Buddha's Footprint. Aiyoh....cannot find, and the map was not even updated. no choice, we gave up, and headed towards Kunaram Temple to see the mummified monk.
Hmm..impressive huh."The body of Samui's most famous mummified monk, Loung Pordaeng, is on display here in a specially constructed building. When he died more than 20 years ago, he was sitting in a meditation position. He is still in that same position and his body shows few signs of any major decay." - http://www.samui.org/temples/After being blessed by a monk there who keeps reciting "good luck to yew good luck to yew" and murmured some prayers in thai, and kinda used this lalang looking thing to sprinkle water on us, he thai this white thread around our left hand. Then we proceeded to the next destination which was just 3 minutes drive away - the Namuang Waterfalls.Apparently, there are like 2 of them, we just went to only one to have a look. And to see this waterfall, you actually need to be a full-gold-medalist for physical test..............First, you gotta park the car at this 10baht carpark, then walk down a very very steep slope. Whats more, was that, this is actually the foot of the waterfall and you need to climb very steep slope to see whats on top. And mind you, its seriously STEEEEEP up. and we have to cross this "bridge" so tiny, i had to let him walk first then me. It was wobbly and seems that its gonna give way soon..pluck up my courage, i walked over. Then we had to climb up. Finally got to the top, and had a good bird's eye view of the vinicity. on the way up, there are some interesting flowers around, and some of them i realised are a bit toxic...but took photos with it anyway..hehe.Goodness..i was all sweaty like a NS recruit..grosss.....After that we proceeded to drive to some scenic lookout and they were really great...but the journey wasnt easy...the jazz was not meant to drive on muddy, rocky road..and we had so many bumps we were so worried that the car will be KO....we gave up looking for the magic buddha garden which was listed on the map (supposed to be located on top of this mountain and only 4-wheel drive can make it up - yes, we verified this)On our way to Nathon, we passed by more waterfalls where we bought some soap carvings souvenier and visited this white buddha in this temple. We pay respect and walked around. There are some elephant trekking paths too! hehe..exciting..but he said perhaps we don need to waste money (not cheap) on that lo.
So we drove along and towards the west coast of the island to go to Nathon. Apparently the recept said that there are some shoppings there. on the way there, some roads were flooded since 2 weeks ago, where the heavy rain and flood affected north malaysia and thailand too. Amazing....We reach Nathon with ease and it was a beautiful view of the sea...and actually, it was like a dock for fishing boats and there was a fish market there. Really fresh fish =) We passed by this shop that organised diving, snorkling and other sea adventures. The price is about 500 baht lower than what the hotel offered us, so we signed our snorkling trip to Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuen. Cost about 3150baht. not too bad la. Includes 2 way hotel pick up, the fast craft + boat ride, and lunch. The snorkling equipment are also provided, but he bought us our own in Singapore, so we gonna use our own.After that, we walked around to see whats nice to have for lunch. We found this really beautiful restaurant with great sea view and served authentic thai meals. He had pineapple fried rice while i had Pad thai and we shared a tom yum soup with squid. I had a watermelon shake and he has this very fresh tomato shake..both were absolutely refreshing for 2 sweaty pigs ",)After lunch, it was "exercising" off our lunch....we went SHOPPING! hehee. He bought some gifts for his colleagues and family. We even wanna stop over for massage..but we kinda feel that we are so dirty..and slimy. haha...so we decided to wait till tomorow or perhaps tonite, we will drive to the SPA VILLAGE to book our appointment for the next day. So we continued to shop, and then bought some deep fried nori (highly reccomended by chiuso san) and bought my fav drinks - fruit juice with nata de coco. He bought some back for the kids as well.And i realised, many locals keep dogs and their dogs are gorgeous!! look like labradoodles, poodles..etc..very very adorable! =)We left the place at about 5ish..and continue to drive to Chaweng (east side of the island) for more shoppings and perhaps dinner. on our way back , we passed by SPA Village to book our Traditional Thai Massage - we opt for the 10am appointment and 2 hours massage (wooohooo ...looking forward to it!) After we booked this, we drove to Chaweng. We shop shop shop till we drop..hehe..so fun...so many things to see. We stop by a massage shop and have this 30 minutes thai massage - head, neck , shoulder and back. VERY SHIOK! the pressure was so hard, i think my back was almost breaking.........After massage, continue to shopshopshopshopshop...haa. And we walked to the Thai boxing stadium, but then he felt that it was kinda expensive for the cheapest ticket (about 80sing dollars) so we gave up the idea of watching, and decided to walk back to the main stretch of road to look for dinner. We passed by many dogdy pubs..yee..you know..those that you get special service after that.We went to change our US$ to thai bahts and i bought a dinner bag..hehe..very nice embroidery. He bought some t-shirts too, and we saw this bong with is bob marley shaped..heee..quite cute. Later on, we had dinner at this Greek restaurant which serves BBQ seafood as well....VERY YUMMMY!! we shared a steak (PERFECT!!!), a plate of seafood salad with thai dressing (MORE THAN PERFECT!) and 2 Sinha beers......*burp* (by then, i have bright ripples around my head already) We were so stuffed up...we could juz crawl around. We did a lil more shoping, and we headed back to the resort coz we were so tired......and tml we still have to go to the SPA village. I fell asleep in the car.................(as usual.....)Monday - 12 Dec 05 2nd day of the adventure!! Woke up earlier today as we needa have our breakie earlier so that it has enuff time to digest before our traditional thai massage at the SPA VILLAGE at 10am.After breakie, we drove to the Hin Ta - Hin Ya (which means grandfather's grandmother's rock) WHICH IN FACT looks like genitals......interesting. Some candid photos were taken and posted here: http://chuppachubbs.multiply.com/photos/album/21It was kinda incredible...for a rock to look so real. Is that why they say it is "ROCK HARD" ? hhhaaahaaaAfter being visually wowed, we went to the SPA VILLAGE for our massage. All 2 full hours of it...GOSH..its sooooooooo divine. I actually..yes you are right....FELL ASLEEP again. The lady gotta keep asking me "miss, turn over...turn over" gesturing me to turn hahahaa...and start the bending again. VERY VERY NICE. This SPA Village is shiok, its really heavenly, its a place where you can be so organic, and wake up every morning to do meditation and yoga. Bascially like a retreat and live like as though you are ordained.2 hours passed so quickly, and we were like reborned. hahaha. The massage area is like in a pavilion, open spaced, overlooking a hill and losta greenery..... Besides mossies flying around attacking chiuso, i tink it was really a good place for massage.Moving on feeling relaxed, we drove towards the north of Samui to see the BIG BUDDHA. On the way there, we stop by Lad-Koh which has a very very nice look out point. Steep stairs once again, took some photos again.....where chiuso calls me the bloody tourist. anyways....memories will be faded...hopefully photos are there to regain our memory.We finally reached Bo Phut Beach, where the big Buddha is. It was magnificent. (http://www.samui.org/temples/big_buddha.htm) Actually, today, i was in shorts..haha. I changed to my peddlars IN THE CAR with a towel over me. hahahaha.....Chiuso was amazed i could do that! Yeah...nothing is difficult for me. hahaha. It was raining so heavily, the unbrella cant really hold it, so we walk back to the car and changed to our flip-flops. We cant give up climbing up to pay respect to the buddha. Haha...its like...he is testing your sincerity you noe (watch too much movie..haha) so we braved the wind and rain, and walk to the foot of the steps. AND by the time we went up to the buddha, the rain STOPPED! hehe...then do my prayers and the tourist thing again. *snap snap snap* They are actually still doing up the buddha, i think adding on the ripples of englightenment light behind his head.It was very serene up there, nice view too. Walk around the shops..and stop to play with a few more doggies...and we are driving out of Bo Phut Beach. It started to rain heavily again~~~~ more flooding roads... 
Its already 3pm and we are getting a lil hungry, so we decided to go to that very nice Italian restaurant at (i think) Paradise Beach Resort. Really nice. It was raining so heavily, we were all soaked despite having an umbrella. The restaurant was actually closed for the afternoon, but the nice wait staff actually sat us down...and offered to serve lunch. So we were happily browsing through, and having a hard time deciding what we wanted...everything is SOOOOO gooood!!! (~~and cheaper than Singapore) So finally here's what we ordered:- as usuals --> Chiuso's tomato shake, my watermelon shake- Pumpkin soup each (my favourite!!!)- Ravioli (beef and vege, my fav tooo!)- This pizza with BBQ beef chunks -- forgot what name it was,
- Foie Gras (It was pan fried to perfection with the insides, SO CREAMY!!)- Before all these, the wait staff was serving us dinner rolls with olive oil & Balsamic vinegarThis meal was divine!! The restaurant is like in a patio, and the view of the sea was magnificent, though it was pouring so heavily, i could imagine a tsunami coming, and im still tucking in happily in my ravioli. Chiuso later met the chef and he was actually from switzerland.We were enjoying the meal so much, we realised almost 2 hours went past, and we have to return the car to Hertz by 8pm. So we drove to Chaweng where we did more shopping, and still, chiuso was the big winner!! He bought so many T-shirts, and a cute Bob Marley Smoking Pipe. really cute!! i didnt buy much as usual. it was still raining heavily, so we were like soaking wet while shopping. But it was fun splashing water around your flip-flops..heeeWe also went to this little village at the end of Chaweng, where there are many brands there - Walt Disney, Lacoste, Esprit, Nike, Adidas..etc.etc... Real stuff, not fakies. AGAIN, chiuso the big winner. Bought i think 3 adidas? After we shopped till 7ish, its time to quickly head back to the resort coz we needa return the car.After returning the car, it was 8pm, and we ordered room service (club sandwich and wine) back to the room. Showered, finished dinner, and decided to have an early night coz tomorow, we are going SNORKLING!!! yippie yeah!!! heeee. We even have our own snorkles coz.......auntie chiuso say its gross to take the rental one, so he bought us our personal ones in Singapore...hmmm... *yawn* Im actually...losing it again......fell asleep in no time~~~Tuesday, 13 Dec 05Waking up at 6:00 am !! *yawn* Coz breakie starts at 6:30 and the shuttle is picking us up at 7am to go to the pier to leave for Koh Tao. Packed some stuff, and went for breakie, din dare to eat too much coz there's a boat ride later on. We ate really quickly, and then okie...i wanna PS you know....so i went back to the room to PS, then we quickly went to the recep where the shuttle has already arrived, waiting for us.In 30 minutes, we reached the jetty near Boh Phut, and we board on the fast craft after registering ourselves. The ferry ride was HORRIBLE!! The sea was so choppy it was no joke!! I was feeling a little scared though, as though something bad is going to happen. And can you believe it! The whole ferry of people are puking their lives away. I was okie, not too bad, coz i was trying to divert attention. That chiuso was still talking and watching tv (which was...no no). The korean couple behind us was puking their life away and gosh, they are LOUD and GROSSS!!! the attendants were than hurrying around giving out puke bags and napkins as well as tiger balm oilment. Soon, chiuso KO too, he was also puking his life away.....goodness, see liao so hard pain. Always act macho...now KO. (hee. okie im so mean) Anyway, was trying to make him feel better. I was still feeling okie, but after helping chiuso clear 5 packets of gallons of puke, i think my mind is losing it.....i feel like puking too..hahahaha. The couple behind me and the rest of the passengers isnt making me feel better. Actually i can still control, but i think if i control, i might feel worse, and cant take care of chiuso. So i forced myself to puke. And that felt great man! and then continue to attend to chiuso. Poor boy, he was sweating and his hands were so cold!!We reached Koh Tao after a 2+ hours of agonizing ride. Chiuso almost gave up going to Koh Nangyuan. But then eventually, he is okie to move on, still feeling weak. from Koh Tao to Nangyuan, it is about 20 minutes boat ride. It was a speed boat with a upper deck, so we went up. Chiuso was lying down trying to rest, the koreans was no better too. So i went down to get the menthol from the person so that Chiuso can sniff it, i also let the koreans and the italian sniff it, so they feel better. Poor chiuso's hands are still so cold.....poor thing...During the journey, i was chatting with this thai who was telling me about the island, and the sea. She was frenly. After a while, we reached Nangyuan, chiuso also felt better, so we got down, rested a while and then we went to sun bath a while (so shiok!!) And yeah, for people who knows me, you will find it wierd that I am actually SUN BASKING!! hahaa. no lah, the weather was very fair, not too much sun, windy and was great!! After that we 
went to swim and snorkel. Not too much to see coz the corals not as nice - looks creepy. And not too many fishes , i think it must be the changed of monsoon. Moreover, the visibility wasnt that great. It was a bit powdery. i still think that diving in tioman was so far the best. Visibility 100%!Anyway, it was really a small and beautiful island. Goodness, it was another divine afternoon. The host then ask us to go for lunch. I didnt eat much coz gotta swim, and later, gonna take the ferry back... Chiuso also cant eat much, coz his stomach still feel funny.After lunch, we rested awhile and continue to swim around and snorkle...so nice =)Its time to go to another snorkling site, nearer to Koh Tao. So off we go again. The boat stopped about 15 M away from the island, and we gotta jump into the cold water. hehe.. Then again, nothing much to see. Waves coming in too. and i kinda getting a little wierd on the tummy, so i went back to the boat to chill out.Another 40 minutes past, and we went back to Koh Tao where we transferred to the horrible fast craft and we were on our way back to Samui. I was sitting at the upper deck while chiuso wanna be downstairs for the breeze and the waves. And guess what i saw someone who look like chiuso so much, it was like 90%!!! Hey, only one person in the world will resemble you totally. And chiuso is fortunate to have met his korean half. hahahaaWe were exhausted by the time we reached samui, slept through the shuttle journey back to our resort. Took a shower and rest. We wanted to go back to Chaweng for shopping and dinner, but it was too soon to the next shuttle leaving. So in the end, we just had dinner at the coral restaurant. Food wasnt great though. After dinner, we walk around the beach, and just chill out on the hammock, and just enjoy the night, sea and the breeze.Went back to pack up, finish our wine, and rest. Sob, going home tomroow already. Time flies so fast. but tomorow morning, we are going for spa, complimentary from the resort.Aww...don feel like going home. I am happy hereKO~~~Wednesday, 14 Dec 05Our last day together in Samui. Literally, last day.Woke up a little later, and went for our breakie. Yummy, as usual, we shared mushroom-ham-tomato-omellete, toast, cheese, cherry tomatoes, pineaplpy juice.After breakie, we went to walk around the beach, took some fotos, and chiuso went to swim, the water look so welcoming, but i don wanna wet my hair coz we are going for spa soon. And yeah..haaaa..chiuso actually changed behind a treeeeee..hehhee (he's going to kill me that i published here. OH WELL, i admitted that i was changing into my peddlars while you were driving wor....)After chiuso's swim, went back to the room to shower and i just lepak and glued my eyes to Animal Planet. At 11am, we went for the spa. Apart from the complimentary thai massage, we chose another 2 treatment - the thai herbal scrub and the orange juice-honey massage. Yummmy! The massage place is nice, a little pavilion overlooking the sea. But we have to strip naked...so wierd...hee. But of coz we have towels covering us. But donnoe if chiuso is awkward, coz i guess he hasnt been to a spa which needs him to strip. heee. 
2 hours of massage - another divine moment before we head to the airport.After the massage, we nua again in the room, and decided maybe we should have some lunch. Had a pad thai to share and 2 Singha. Yummm. Under the sun, in the shade, drinking beer, appreciating nature. I don wanna leave.Shortly after, we gotta check out, and then the shuttle picks us up to the airport. Before boarding the plane, 2 more beers. hahaa. It was shiok. Our journey has ended......board the plane, reached singapore the next 2 hours.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Some conversation happened, and perhaps i don wanna detail it, so that it wouldnt make me sad again if i read this again.But i must say, this is a very good retreat. Thank you for spending it with me.There might not be a second time, but it stays truly special in my memories =)
