Do you want Thai for dinner? Yep. So let's go to Thailand.

[Pushka]

It was about 8pm by now and we were lining up for crepe Suzette's. We suddenly heard a lot of bangs and lights and realised the fire show had started. No time had been given. Got back to our front row seats and saw the vantage point I had had been taken by someone deciding to sit on the deck and block me. Swapped with MrP. The trio were spectacular. Just a few shots. It was very hot where we were sitting from the fire so for them must have been super hot.

 

[Pushka]

Listened to the band once it had finished then back to get the crepe Suzette's.

 

[Pushka]

This morning at breakfast after that climb we had a lighter meal. Saw this guy walking around with a couple of dirty plates but not with the same sense of urgency as the staff and dressed a bit less casually. He stopped and chatted. He was the General Manager which we'd already sussed and MrP said as he approached us that he had excellent staff. Assumption much . But correct. He reminded us about the wedding. Maybe he was there to quell any tension.

Anyways just sitting by the pool now sorting out if it's another kayak day. Weather has changed a little but we have the cookery school tomorrow so that will chop off the day.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looks like a lovely trip!

Just on Bangkok Airways… every passenger, including economy with no status, has lounge access!

They operate two lounges however. With a slightly upgraded one for business class and status.

But the regular lounge is good nonetheless… cold drinks, tea, coffee and snacks. And good aircon.

They even have a little stand at Koh Samui where you can get drinks and snacks.

What amazes me about the Koh Samui flights is the full hot meal service, with separate tea and coffee service, for a full plane in around 30 mins! (When VA tells us they can’t serve tea and coffee on some MEL-SYD flights because the flying time is too short!!)

 

[kookaburra75]

You had me at the chocolate fountain....

 

[Pushka]

Typical. 3 hours until wedding. The male groomsman and groom are here. Complaining they have to do a pre video and hope it won’t last longer than 30 seconds.

The women on the other hand left hours ago to preen up. Oh. Another round of drinks just ordered.

 

[love_the_life]

Would not have been impressed that interlopers stole your table though.

 

[Pushka]

Been interesting watching the guests arrive. They are walking across the pool deck to get the shuttle up to the top. Girls in heels. Guys in thongs and sandals. Some lovely looking ladies dresses. And some a little bit not so much. Let's say one lass with red hair and wearing a rich maroon long dress with awkward split up to hips is going to shine through in the photos but needing to be rather careful as the night wears on. Just waiting for the bride assuming she is on this level. Maybe not. 12 minutes to wait.

 

[Pushka]

The Bride and her parents.



The Groom. Very well dressed for the very hot day it was. Thirsty work.



At breakfast this morning there were beautiful flowers on both their tables and the GM came over and asked the parents if they enjoyed the wedding. They said it was fabulous. Other than that restaurant being closed they were no bother at all. More just interesting to people watch. Our room was closest to the venue but once we closed the sliders we couldn’t hear a thing.

Today is our organic garden tour and cooking school. Been told by 3 different staff to wear long pants and shirt because of mozzies. We also brought bushman’s spray.

 

[Pushka]

Yesterday we went across to the other bay by kayak taking the water camera. It hasn't been used since Egypt in 2023 and the zoom was a bit flaky but these weren't too bad.





Our kayak is here on the beach. There was a little kid playing around. Mum was doing the classic 24 poses for the camera with dad taking the pix. Little kid just wandered to the kayak, took out the paddles, put my sun cover into the water all the while. Sigh. Eventually they realised and came over and put the oars back leaving my sun cover in the water. Resume photos. Son back at it again as two year olds will do.



Old and new.



Sand over here is powder soft and water calm. Very nice. Very touristy.

 

[Pushka]

Yesterday (Thursday) was the organic garden and cooking class. Turned out we were the only ones so great experience.

Started the trip being collected for a drive to the offsite gardens. Now, this is a pretty big resort and food is plentiful and wonderful. But there's no way this garden supplies the hotel with much produce tbh but we went along with it.






Worm wee.

 

[Pushka]

We were told that all their amentities were eco conscious like the shampoos etc. Awkward, we bring our own plus antibacterial soap bar. Amd our inspect spray is green organic as we spayed ourselves with the bushman's spray we'd brought. Ok. It was very hot amd very buggy. We were given a cute vial of citronella spray which is used as an air refresher and not as we do for insects.

Then it was back to the hotel where the cooking school was set up on the balcony where we have breakfast. We thought it would have been in the kitchens but no, this space worked so well.

There were two work stations of induction cookers plus all their ingredients laid out beautifully.




Joy. The Chef.



Amd the table set up for our meal. Delightful.



First course. Tiger prawns in spring rolls. Did I mention I don't like prawns? Anyways. Onwards. Three each. And they were HUGE.





The booklet we were given each. There were multiple recipes - 5 and we thought we'd just get maybe 3. Nope. Five courses. Gulp.



Slicing then grinding coriander root, garlic, a bit of oil then pepper.



Marinading the prawns for a few minutes.

Then the rolling ready for cooking.



Really hot heater. Must get one of these as it kept the temp to a slow boil by heating up then down again automatically.





Oh my. This dish was superb. All gone.

 

[Pushka]

It dawned on us there were four more courses.

Next up. Pork in green curry. I would have preferred chicken but still. The green paste jad been prepared earlier.








This too was delicious.

 

[Pushka]

Next up was coconut soup with chicken.

Not a fan of this one but then too hunger had disappeared.



Carlo who helped.




The only finished picture.

 

[Pushka]

We were flagging badly by now but revived when we were told we could keep cooking but the meals would be sent by room service for our dinner. Phew.

Next meal was prawn Pad Thai. So many ingredients but they came together well.

 

[Pushka]

The last course was coconut with sweet potato, pumpkin and taro. These had been parboiled prior plus some coconut flesh.

And coconut milk. All up they'd provided 1.5 litres of fresh coconut milk for these dishes. I just about died when I calculated the fat and calorie content.



While we were cooking we watched the GM prepare the nights activities



This dessert tasted like coconut heaven when we tried some last night. But the calories the calories.

All up it was a fabulous experience but a bit too much food for us. But we do have some good tips now. Definitely the spring rolls but maybe vegetables, the Pad Thai sans prawns for me, the green curry but with chicken, and the desert.

We did absolutely nothing for the rest of the day as we were comatose from coconut explosion.

 

[Pushka]

Today was super super hot with no breeze so we spent most of the time in the water. There are always plenty of lounges in sun and shade and no obvious chair hogs. Took the kayak out across the bay again.

Back to the pool - we skip lunch now, just a drink of coke etc. Many of the wedding guests were leaving during the day and so many stories and farewellls. Remember that picture I posted of them in the pool just before the wedding? They'd been there all day. Well, one of them got so badly sunburnt that that night and the next day he'd been quite ill. He has blisters everywhere and could not walk yesterday. He's walking a bit today but has to fly home. And another of their guests was in a motorcycle accident. He's ok but a very bad case of gravel rash. Shorts and thongs and bikes and rough roads don't mix.

We will finish off one of the 1 litre gin bottles before we leave leaving the one but will pre order three more of Botanist as the 3 for deal is excellent and the explosive one is only available at airports. Two of those for the brother.

We were going to go to Fishmermans village tonight but can't be bothered. Read it was completely crazy and tatty these days so we will pass and have a nice dinner at the beach cafe instead.

Tomorrow is another day.