A choice of craft from windsurfers to Hobie cats are offered for watersport fans
while the Quadtours and Jungle Safari folks will have you exploring the Samui
highlands. Rock climbing is the most recent addition to the island activity
options and you'll catch sight of a rope-laden cliff face when you travel
between Lamai and Chaweng - just look inland to the big rock, now there's a
challenge strictly not for the faint-hearted.
Samui Sailing Following the success of the Samui Regatta
currently in its second year, the
island's sailing scene has come on
in leaps and bounds. The surrounding islands in the Ang Thong
National Park make an ideal sailing playground and good
all-year-round breezes and challenging westerly winds between May
and November
make great sailing conditions
Several boat companies operate charters
Elephant Trekking Several companies around the island run elephant ride operations
and many can be
booked through travel agents, often in combination
with all day tours of the
interior. Over fifty elephants call
Samui home and all work in the tourist
industry. A typical 'trek'
lasts between 15 minutes and half an hour and is an
excellent way
to see the island's jungle clad interior.
Some companies
take
visitors
up into the hills for magnificent views over the island, others go
through waterfalls, where riders run the risk of receiving
a cooling shower
Samui Quad Bikes and 3D Paintball Children of all ages can play war at 3D Paintball's huge
sculpted terrain in
the hills above Maenam. The same location
is also used for bouncing around on
quad bikes,
though they are strictly for adults only. Alternatively, for a full
day out
the management will organise a variety of adventure games
deep in the
jungle. So if you like the sound of
'transferring the president'
, 'capturing the flag', 'village attack'
or 'smugglers vs. police' this could be an ideal day out.
Standard paintball guns are free customers only pay for pellets.
Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) Thailand's beloved national sport Muay Thai,
is taken very seriously
throughout
the country and Koh Samui is no exception!
Although Thai boxing is regarded as
the worlds most dangerous
martial art it is surprisingly graceful to watch.
Chaweng stadium near the Reggae Pub is the biggest on Samui
and hosts all the
major fights on the island. Fights are usually held
twice a week on Monday and
Friday nights but during peak season
an additional Sunday night fight is often
held. Fights start at 9pm
and the evening normally lasts around three hours,
with as many as
ten smaller
bouts before the main fight. If you only want to
catch
the main event then drop in for an hour around 10/10.30pm
The atmosphere
in Chaweng Stadium is excellent with a live commentator and traditional Thai
music - although some find the noise a bit overpowering! Both Thai and foreign
fighters compete in the ring
most are professionals,
all are pretty
entertaining.
Chaweng Stadium charges an entry fee and you can chose
between a
ringside table or a seat in the surrounding stands.
Tattoo There are many tattooists on Samui offering work of varying quality
Although most tend to offer reasonable standards of health
and hygiene, its worthwhile making a thorough (sober)
assessment of the studio before going under the needle
Thailand's infamous monks tattoos, which supposedly give
the recipient
magical powers, are available occasionally
at Big Buddha temple - though recent reports suggest that
they are a number of health risks associated with this practice
so extreme caution should be exercised
