Thailand - Day 9, Ko Samui

 

The previous evening (forgot to put it in the last post) Karen, John and I took a Tuk-tuk to the restaurant that we were all meeting at for dinner. This was because Karen had twisted her ankle and I took advantage of their offer of a share.

We were upstairs in a private room of the restaurant and the food and the laughter flowed.

 I haven't mentioned the food much so far. Breakfasts have been provided by the hotels and have been fabulous. I usually have an omelette, croissant, yogurt with meusli and some fruit. Coffee of course. But there are also choices of Thai dishes (stews, curries) and European options (sausages, baked beans, cold meats, cheeses)Sometimes meals were included as part of our itinerary and tended to run to rice, curries, fried chicken, fish and fruit for dessert. Sometimes we all go to a restaurant as a group and I have had some delicious vegetarian curries and soups though there have been times that my "not spicey" seems to have been translated as "spicey". Fresh mangos, watermelon and pineapple are always available for dessert but there has also been ice cream or cheesecake, though the helpings are generous and often there is no room for dessert.

When we went to leave this particular restaurant I inquired of the owner as to where best to flag down a tuk-tuk. When he learned we just wanted to go back to the hotel he went and got his own car and drove us there himself. 

The next morning it was back to Bangkok airport and a flight to Samui island in Southern Thailand. This shot is of the little trolleys that picked us up from the plane.

A drive through the bustling touristy, seaside community and we were served these little desserts and butterfly pea flower tea on arrival. We were frequently served this blue tea either cold or hot and slightly sweetened.

An Chan is an incredibly healthy Thai tea. It is made from Butterfly Pea Flowers and has a whole host of health benefits. It also changes colour magically when you add other ingredients.

Butterfly Pea Flowers are rich in Anthocyanins and rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, manganese and sodium.

Butterfly Pea Tea boasts a long list of health benefits including the following properties; antioxidant, anti glycation, anti inflammatory, prevents fatigue, analgesic, anti diabetic, anti asthmatic and for reducing stress and fatigue.

In Thailand we believe in the anti-ageing properties of An Chan and that consuming one flower everyday keeps the blood thin and prevents clotting. from riversidethaicooking.com

The hotel was beautiful and from the reception at the top of the hill we could see down over the tops of the individual rooms to the sea (The Gulf of Thailand in The China Sea)

Amelia and my room was near the top of the hill

and all the rooms had their own deck.

It was good exercise walking up and down as the pools, restaurant/bar and of course

the beach, were at the bottom.

It didn't take me long to walk the beach, find a lounge chair

and join the others swimming.