Koh Tao: January 2006

Our roving beach reporter, I. Candy, gives us an insight into what is "hot" on the beaches in Thailand and what Nikki and Ray have been up to whilst spending time on the Islands.

If you thought that beaches were purely for sunbathing, then think again!

On the Islands in the Gulf of Thailand, the beaches are at the centre of the social scene, with the famous "Full Moon" parties on Koh Phangan attracting over 8,000 ravers every month.  Sairee Beach is the hot spot in Koh Tao whilst Koh Samui's beach capital is Chaweng, with it's golden sand and numerous hotel resorts.

Apart from four days in November when Ray arrived, beach life had been pretty non existent for our intrepid travellers whilst they were on Koh Samui, due to the wet season being in full swing, bringing non-stop rain for five weeks.  However, there were one or two exceptional days when the sun did come out for a few hours, enabling Ray and Nikki to catch their first beach sunset together, on the southern coast of Koh Samui, at Baan (beach) Taling Ngam (below)

Same beach sunset, half an hour later (below)

Once they had left Koh Samui for Koh Phangan on December 21st, they only had to wait a couple of days before the sun finally decided to shine for prolonged periods, allowing them to explore some spectacular beaches along Koh Pangan's west coast.

Haad Salad beach on Koh Pangan's west coast (above)

They finally decided to spend the whole of Christmas Day on a nearby beach at Haad Yao in scorching temperatures - a surreal but lovely experience. 

"We both purchased these really awful Father Christmas hats in Samui to use as Christmas stockings and we each filled them with little gifts so that we could really feel part of the Christmas spirit" said Ray when I spoke to him last week.

Ray and Nikki, sporting their Christmas hats and opening pressies!

"We bought a Pomello (a local fruit, like a grapefruit) and other exotic fruits including mangoes and pineapple, and took our food and stockings filled with pressies on to the beach. It was completely different from my usual traditional Christmas dinner that my sister, Sara prepares on her Aga. Although I missed my family and friends, Ray and I had a perfect day and I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas present than to be with him in this paradise setting" said Nikki.

Nikki wearing festive earrings!

Ray wearing his new T shirt - a gift from Nikki

Above: Nikki showing her Christmas pressie from Ray (her festive ring) and Ray opening another pressie (below)

The pleasure of the day was further enhanced by the arrival of Ray's long time school friend, Dave Cox, who happened to be taking a five week break in the region in between projects in Spain, where he now lives (see Island Hopping in Southern Thailand)

Nikki, Ray and Dave travelled to Koh Tao on 31^st December to join in the New Years Eve celebrations on Sairee Beach (below)

After a delightful barbecue supper on the beach, they all joined the party at the "Dry Bar" to dance, talk and watch the fire dancers in action. 

Fire dancing has become very popular on the beaches and involves the swinging of flaming torches to music - it takes lots of practise (see above and below)

After a few Tequila slammers and Ray demonstrating his latest hip-hop moves, all that was left to do was watch the fireworks and celebrate the arrival of the New Year.

Ray and David celebrate the arrival of 2006, seven hours ahead of the UK!

Ray and Nikki celebrate the New Year together and wonder what the coming year will bring for them and all of their family and friends - hopefully a magical year for all of us!

Editor's Note: We would love to hear from any of our readers that have made New Year resolutions.  Tell us what they are and we will publish the best one's in one of our forthcoming articles in The Daily Lama - you can send us pictures too if you like.    MOZZIE BYTE

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