A Summary of my Time in Koh Samui: Beauty Surrounded and Recovery of the Soul

Koh Samui recap! If I could give any advice when traveling abroad and with such a long flight as one from the USA to Thailand, make your first destination somewhere that is relaxing and a place you could stay put in for at least 5 days. I spent my first three days here in full recovery mood, listening to my body and giving myself grace when I got tired and needed to head back to the hotel to rest. Part of that fatigue was not only from the lack of sleep on the flight, but recovering from food poisoning, so the extra time staying in one place where the main activity is laying at a beach was the key to my fast recovery. Whether or not you are a beach person, there is so much beauty in the destination of a place like Koh Samui or any beach or island vacation. Take the time to enjoy your surroundings and to recoup your energy and headspace.

The first few days on the island were spent beach hopping. The first day I spent all my time on our resort beach which is called Silver Bay, a beautiful cove with the most picturesque rocks, ones that I thought I could only see in the Seychelles, island chain off of southern Africa. To be able to see that beauty here makes me feel as though I am checking two destinations off in one trip. To feel so satisfied that my first place of travel was one with views I have longed to see is so rewarding. I walked on the beach, a morning jaunt with my camera at about 6am when I woke up from the jet lag. I also read at the beach later in the day and relaxed, watching the people and families around me enjoy the same scenery and serene paradise I was in as well. That night Izzy came and we spent all night catching up and sharing stories of our lives the last few weeks.

The second full day in Koh Samui, we kicked the day off with a much needed western breakfast, I had a delicious mango smoothie, toast, and baked beans. Western, as in the UK truly. I was grateful for the protein from the beans, the filling carbs of the bread, and the tasteful treat of the smoothie. It made for the perfect brunch. We then ventured to the closest beach to find ourselves having it to enjoy alone. No one was on these beaches or swimming in the water. Not only did we have the view in peace to enjoy, but the water to swim in and the sand to read. We jammed out to the perfect beach playlist, and took in the moment and the beauty of what our lives are right now. That night was the most delicious Thai meal, a restaurant steps from our resort and rated 5 stars. Izzy and I enjoyed traditional Thai food for under $5 a plate, so incredible. I had green curry and rice, naturally vegan and prepared mildly which was the most ideal setup i could have asked for. We tried to get a movie night going, but as friends played on my phone in our desperate attempt to figure out how to connect the TV to our phones, I settled with the pure joy of knowing I have my comfort show at the tip of my fingers once more. 

Our third day had the best start. We changed our travel plans a bit, we originally were supposed to trek to a new island, Koh tao, and spend a few days there. But, with me still tired from my long travel over here and Izzy gassed from her eventful 4 weeks studying abroad and traveling herself, we decided it would be best to stay put in Koh Samui. We tried to keep our same room but had to move villas to one that was free over our time, but truly it worked out for the best. Packing up was easy because we were just walking it to a nearby place, and we were all packed up and ready to head out for the day when a worker knocked on our door and told us our room was ready. We got a new villa on the hill that overlooked the beautiful beach. Now we get an extra three days at this gorgeous resort, but now with an ocean view and new vibes of the room. We were both so excited and relieved that we have the new room and our stuff safely locked away in there. 

We headed out for the day and our first stop was Vikasa Life Cafe, a restaurant attached to a yoga retreat hotel. To say our food was good would do it no justice. Izzy and I split a savory meal of Tofu Scramble and veggies with the most fresh, sweet, delicious mango passionfruit smoothie bowl. We were in awe and having life revelations as we ate it. We questioned our future jobs (deciding if we should move here and just work at a yoga retreat hotel), get a food account and blog going ourselves, and even Izzy thinking she might go vegan with me the rest of the trip. It was so incredible it truly knocked our socks off and we might even come back for lunch and breakfast again. To find a place with such good food and food that I can eat and enjoy with such pleasure is a treat I thought I wouldn’t get to experience and now I’ve had it three times in a row with our cafes and dinner place. I am really loving traveling with Izzy, her kindness to my vegan diet, and our hunts for the best food on this island. The rest of the third day was spent lounging at the hotel, mainly at our newly discovered pool and lounge chairs accessible to us that we didn’t know about until now! We got in a sunset swim and of course dinner at the silver spoon, trying another new dish by the name and taste of panang curry. We also tried the mango sticky rice there and it was absolutely fantastic. It came with coconut milk that I poured over a bed of warm sticky rice and paired with perfectly sliced mango. Such a wonderful end to a peaceful and rejuvenating day. 

Day four aka boat day! When we first planned our stay at Koh Samui, we had the intent of spending a few nights in koh tao, but ended up ditching that plan to stay at our lovely hotel. In order to still enjoy the nearby paradise, we booked a day tour to see the island. It was mainly a snorkeling tour but the main event, in my eyes, was going to the Koh Nang Yuan for the amazing viewpoint. The start of our day began at 8am when we were picked up from our hotel and taken to the ferry dock. We got free breakfast and refreshments which entailed of cold toast with variants of jam along with instant coffee and a sunny D type orange juice. It was quite the meal but at least it was free.

 We waited about a half an hour before boarding the boat and heading out to Koh Tao. We took a speedboat all the way there, taking over an hour. We were with an older crowd that I questioned if they could withstand the bumpy ride as well as Izzy and I. Lots of snoozing and looking out the back at the clear skies and bright blue water. We finally made it to our first snorkeling spot and it was so cool to get some goggles and see why koh tao is the diving spot of the world. The coral was breathtaking. Large, colorful, and little fishies all around I wondered if they would move for me or if I would live out my fear of touching a fish. Thankfully they all parted the way for me to swim past, and the big guys stayed low near the coral. It was such a cool experience to see a quality reef and so many types of fish. I watched a few feed off the coral, make home in it, or just pass by on their way to a new adventure. To witness nature in a pure form was cool and something I feel as though I rarely do. I am not the biggest snorkeler so after about 30 minutes I was content with what I had seen. Our next stop was another coral reef practically next door, and did some more snorkeling, but while my fellow boatmates did that, I opted for a good above water float, taking in the scenery in front of me. A crazy blue water, cliffy land nearby, and the sun making a glitter on the surface of the water. Much more my speed. 

After the second spot, we concluded our snorkeling portion of the tour and headed inland for lunch. We had buffet style food provided by a beachside hotel partnered with our tour. I ate tons of rice and fruit, and it was filling after a big swim session. We didn’t have a long boat ride to our next stop, which is the place I was looking forward to the whole day. 

In just ten minutes, we boated over to an oasis unlike any I’ve seen during my time on earth. It was a small island off of Koh Tao, with two mountain like hills lush with greenery and a thin strip of sand to connect the two. There was a bar along with beach swim areas in between. First thing we did when we landed, besides awing at the shade of the water and the clearness of the water, was head for the hike. It wasn’t physically difficult, just along a bridge bending around the side of the hill, and then up some cement stairs to the top. They didn’t allow water bottles on the island to protect the nature of the national park. It was so beautiful so I was all for this rule until I was quite desperate for a refreshment after sweating my body weight while hiking up the hill. The views were 110% worth the fighting against the elements and made the boat trip for me. Seeing that viewpoint in person was a goal of mine and my reason for traveling to this destination. It was truly breathtaking and so satisfying to live out a dream. We stared at the view for a good amount of time, taking in the beauty and trying to bring ourselves back to earth after witnessing such perfection in nature. 

We hiked down and in the spare time we had before heading back on the boat, we swam. Wow. That is all I can say. We spent most of our time hiking and I wished we gave more time to the beach. Warm, crystal clear water that had the cutest fish swimming around you and minding their own business, sharing the beauty with us. It was one of the most incredible beaches I’ve been to and waters I’ve swam in. I could have stayed in this heaven all day, all week, or even all year. But sadly we only have 2 hours on the beach. I took in every second I possibly could and will have the mental pictures for a lifetime stored safely in mind, filing it under incredible, heaven like experiences. I felt so grateful as I floated in the cleanest blue water, looking up upon the flourishing mountains and rigid rocks around the base of it. A picture perfect place marked a moment in history in the life of Hannah Nietfeld. 

That national park concluded the boat tour, so we headed back to Koh Samui on our long boat ride. We had free water and Izzy and I slammed water after water, recovering from the loss in our profuse sweating during the hike and then on top of that staying ahead of the hydration game. We also snagged a few for the road and to keep at the hotel. We definitely took advantage of the free clean waters in front of us. 

Guess where we ate dinner that night? Correct, same place, silver spoon. Pad Thai night and mango sticky rice to cap the already perfect day. Thank you Thailand. 

Our last full day in Koh Samui, day 5, was our chill day, knowing that we wouldn’t see the beach in a while and instead have some cities ahead in our journey. In sum, our day consisted of the following: Lounging, vegan cafe lunch, walking and shopping, lounging, swimming, and of course silver spoon and a farewell to our girl squad of staff there and eating our favorite meals from the week, mine being the panang curry and Izzy electing the green curry. It was the relaxation day, chill and calm before the store that the cities coming up will likely stir into our travel mix. 

Reflecting on the trip planning. I am grateful to have spent so long in Koh Samui, for me 7 days and 6 nights, although a few of those were spent bedridden in recovery mode post 48 hour travel day. But the island was what I needed to rejuvenate my soul, remind myself why I travel, and to value the beauty around me. I took it slow, realizing that I have to retain as much energy as I can to outlast this trip, and to understand that I might not see everything, but as long as I am present and treasure the beauty and small joys of my journey, that is the most important. I am grateful for every day I spend on this trip, and with that in mind paired with a lack of expectation and an ease in my step, I know it will become a trip of a lifetime and one I will look back so fondly and so proudly of my courage to venture on it in the first place. To put that all in perspective was the beauty of Koh Samui and all it offered and brought to my eye. I am looking forward to continuing on with the adventure but this first stop will for sure hold a special place in my heart as my introduction to Asia and my return to the ocean.