A Blog about the Daily Life on the Tropical Island of Koh Samui
Elephants and Waterfalls
Text and Photography by Nike - Friday, September 16, 2011
One of the main tourist attractions / activities on the island are unmistakably the waterfalls and elephant trekking. On the Ring road from Lamai towards Nathon you will find signboards on the right hand side of the road for Namuang Waterfall 1 and 2. Here you can spend your day hiking up to the waterfalls, trekking through the forest by elephant back or even have your photo taken with a tiger. Once you follow the winding road to the top you will have the option to do all of the above mentioned activities and explore the true tropical jungle of the island! There's a restaurant and small shop where you can buy refreshments or have a light lunch while soaking up the magnificent surroundings. You can also pre-book a jungle safari at any local travel agent and have a safari truck pick you up from your accommodation and take you on a day outing to the mountain. Although I have never attempted it myself, elephant trekking promises to be absolutely amazing. The elephants are well trained and looked after.
"Purity and simplicity are two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature." - Thomas Kempis
The waterfalls are not as big or high as many people would have imagined but it is really worth a visit nonetheless. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and take your swimming costume along. Some of the jungle trails are rather steep and thin, and there are also some fresh mountain pools you can swim in. This is the perfect opportunity for some lovely photos. You can also watch a few animal shows, interact with tigers or buy some souvenirs to take home.
Hiking up to the waterfalls are free, but entry to see the animals or have your photo taken with the tigers are not. Tickets can be bought at the entrance and costs between 200 and 300 THB. It's a great way to experience the fauna and flora of the island and get some exercise!
Pharmacies on the Island
Text and Photography by Nike - Monday, September 12, 2011
I recently fell ill and had to make a trip to a pharmacy here on Koh Samui. Pharmacies can be found everywhere on the island. Every few shops you will see a sign that reads: Pharmacy, or boasts a medical cross sign. Here in Thailand you will find that many medicines you usually need a prescription for in your home country can be bought over the counter. Medical services and personnel are generally very friendly, helpful and professional. At a pharmacy on Koh Samui you can find everything form sunscreen to Boxing Liniment, medicine, and toiletries. If the staff has difficulty understanding you or there is a language barrier, they will most likely hand you a file with all the medicine titles written in English with a Thai translation next to it. You can then simply point to the product you want to purchase and they can read the Thai translation of what you are pointing at and give you what you need. It's a clever way to make sure everyone can be helped.
"In time of sickness the soul collects itself anew." - Latin Proverb
Since living on the island I haven't really been sick much, but I do get the occasional cough or flu from excessive air con usage. The air con tends to dry out your sinus channels and often leads to nasal blockage and coughing. When this happens I simply pop into the nearest pharmacy, explain my symptoms and usually get prescribed some antibiotics. If you live here for a while you will notice that antibiotics are prescribed for almost everything. This might not be such a good thing, seeing that antibiotics are fairly damaging, apart from its' healing qualities. Be sure to research the medicine online or take a probiotic supplement together with your antibiotics to prevent any damage to your body or immune system. Antibiotic or not, it sure cures all island ailments!
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