Koh Samui, Thailand

On Christmas day, we (accompanied by Sam's brother Michael) flew to Koh Samui in Thailand for a three-day getaway. Koh Samui is situated in the Gulf of Thailand and it is Thailand's third largest island. We stayed at a nice resort on Bophut beach (northern part of the island) and not only did we swim and enjoy the lovely beaches that Koh Samui has to offer, but we also did some exploring around the island. We got around by foot and also by Songtaews (converted pickup trucks with two long bench seats facing each other that serve as the island's local bus service). We found Koh Samui to be a little less developed than Phuket, but charming in its own way. We had a very relaxing time and were happy to get away from the hustle and bustle of Singapore for a few days.

Chaweng Beach
Situated on the east coast of the Island, Chaweng Beach is the longest beach on Koh Samui and one of the most popular. We visited this beach on a beautiful sunny day and the white sand and crystal clear water was a stunning sight.

The Big Buddha
The Big Buddha is the most famous landmark on Koh Samui and is situated on the northern coast of the island. It stands 17 metres high and is a popular shrine and place where people go to meditate.

Day Trip to Koh Nang Yuan
We took a day trip to Koh Nang Yuan to do some snorkeling. Koh Nang Yuan is situated an hour and a half north by catamaran from Koh Samui. Koh Nang Yuan is a group of three beautiful little islands, joined together by a three-way stretch of beach sand. The waters around these islands are excellent for diving and snorkeling because of the wide variety of coral formations and marine fauna.

After snorkeling around Koh Nang Yuan, we had a good buffet lunch before boarding another boat which took us to Mango Bay, where we could do more snorkeling (in deeper water).

Michael's Visit

Sam's brother Michael arrived before Christmas for a visit and it was great having him here. Although this was Michael's second visit to Singapore, he didn't remember much from his first visit as it was many years ago, so for him this was like visiting and experiencing a new city. During the time Michael was in Singapore, he got to visit most of the tourist attractions and areas like Chinatown, Little India, Sentosa Island, Orchard Road and the Marina Bay area (all of which we have written about before on our blog). Michael is also a foody and enjoys trying different types of foods. That said, Singapore is a gastronomic delight for those who enjoy food (the two Singapore pastimes are eating and shopping) and Michael was in his element. He got to try lots of local dishes like chilli crab, Hainanese chicken rice, satay, laksa and roti prata.

Geylang Serai
There are three main ethnic groups that live in Singapore - the Chinese, the Indians and the Malays. Each of these groups has their own ethnic area in Singapore - the Chinese have Chinatown, the Indians have Little India and the Malays have Geylang Serai. Geylang Serai is the oldest Malay settlement in Singapore and is the cultural centre of the Malay community. Geylang Serai has many beautiful shophouses, some of which are protected from redevelopment. We visited this area during the day and made a stop at the Gelang Serai Market and Food Centre, which recently reopened after undergoing a major three year makeover. We had a delicious lunch here from a stall called "Hajjah Mona Nasi Padang". This family-run stall is well known throughout the community and there are always long queues of people waiting to buy food from this stall. This stall specializes in Nasi Padang - white rice with a wide selection of meat, fish, vegetable and curry dishes.
Geylang Serai takes on a different feel at night when the bars, restaurants, Karaoke lounges and brothels open for business (yes brothels, as this is also Singapore's red light district).

Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam is commonly known as the Muslim quarter and is the centre for Muslim activities in Singapore. Sultan Mosque is the largest mosque in Singapore and is a major landmark in the the Kampong Glam area. In front of Sultan Mosque is Bussorah Mall, a row of beautifully restored shophouses selling traditional clothes, crafts and jewellery.

Underwater World at Sentosa Island
Underwater World is one of the great attractions a Sentosa Island and we spent an enjoyable morning there. Underwater World is an Oceanarium with over 250 species of marine life on display from all over the world. We arrived in time to watch the fish being fed by some of the divers and one dressed as Santa Claus. Underwater World's new Dolphin Lagoon was recently opened and although the pink dolphins have been moved here, they are still getting used to their new surroundings. Hence the dolphin show that is usually a feature at Underwater World, is currently being replaced by a seal show which was entertaining.

Quest for Immortality - The World of Ancient Egypt Exhibit
Sam and Michael attended a wonderful exhibit at the National Museum of Singapore. This exhibit on ancient Egypt gave some interesting insight to the ancient Egyptians' view on life and immortality, and the preparations they made to ensure their transition from earthly existence to the afterlife. There were over 200 artefacts spanning from 4000 BCE to 950 CE on display and many were magnificent.

Singapore at night
Much of Singapore's downtown core and surrounding areas are a beautiful sight at night, when most buildings and landmarks are lit up. During the time that Michael was here, there was a lot going on at night around the Marina Bay area. On one of the evenings when we were there for dinner, there was a great jazz band playing in the small amphitheatre overlooking the bay. We had a great time listening to the music and enjoying the festive atmosphere.

Clarke Quay is an area along the Singapore River that comes alive at night. It is at night when all the bars and restaurants open for business and this area is usually packed with locals and tourists alike. On the night we went to Clarke Quay, we had dinner at Jumbo Seafood Restaurant, one of the many restaurants that serves Singapore's famous chilli crab.

On one evening, Sam and Michael did some shopping at the Pagoda night market in Chinatown and then had dinner at one of the street vendors. Chinatown is a lively area at night with a great atmosphere.

Orchard Road at Christmastime

The Christmas spirit is alive and well in Singapore, and this was very evident with all the beautiful Christmas decorations on Orchard Road. Orchard Road is the main shopping road in the city centre and is popular with both locals and tourists. Now that we live two blocks away from Orchard Road, we really got to enjoy all that Orchard Road has to offer during the festive season. That said on the days leading up to Christmas, Orchard Road was insanely busy and there were people everywhere, so much so that it was even hard to walk freely on the sidewalks.

Christmas lunch
We flew to Koh Samui in Thailand on Christmas evening, so we were home to cook a special Christmas lunch. We opted for lamb over traditional turkey (there was no way the three of us would be able to finish a whole turkey!). David prepared delicious roasted lamb, which we served with a bread stuffing and vegetables.