It was only the early 1970s that the first backpackers traveling on a coconut boat arrived on Ko Samui. For years after that the island just had a few bungalows and a trickle of travelers. In the early 1990s , boats full of tourists started arriving, and since then the island has soared in popularity. Samui is now the second most popular island destination in Thailand, after Phuket. Ko Samui is an oasis of natural beauty, with its white sandy beaches, dazzling coral, luscious lagoons, picturesque waterfalls, swaying coconut trees and crystal clear water. Tourism is now ahead of coconuts as the island main industry.
Development on Ko Samui is starting to take its toll, and the beaches of Chaweng and Lamai are as overcrowded as anywhere on the Costa-del-Sol. However , many quieter beaches still exist.
Popular Culture
Ko Samui was mentioned as a honeymoon destination in the 2000 movie Meet The Parents starring Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller.
Ko Samui is also where the protagonists in the movie The Beach pass through in order to rech their destination , a secret island/paradise.
Ko Samui is also mentioned in Michel Houellebecq's Platform.
Ko Samui is featured in the video game Burnout 3 although not mentioned by name. The Big Budda Statue on the island is prominently featured in the game.
Ko Samui is among 67 global locales listed in Lemon Jelly's song Ramblin'Man.
Lifesytle
Although Ko Samui is in southern Thailand, where Islam has a strong influence, the original inhabitants of the island, known as 'Chao Samui' , are predominantly Buddhist. In the past, most of the locals made their living in the coconut farming business. Nowadays , However, most work in jobs related to tourism.
Many locals have become wealthy from selling off land they have owned for decades. As a result of the extensive development of the island, many Thai-Chinese have come to Samui from the capital of Bangkok (Khung-Thep). Most of the manual labor needed to keep up with the island's growth has been provided by people native to the country's poorer north-eastern region. As a rusult, there is a wide cross section of economic classes on the island.
The south of Thailand is a melting pot of Buddhists, Thai Chinese, Muslims and traditional sea-faring gypsies. Ko Samui not seem to suffer from the religious tensions in communities along the southern border of Malaysia and Thailand, and in general the locals live in harmony. Outside of the tourist areas , the Thai language is spoken with a thick Southern dialect which is even difficult for northern Thais to understand.
With the broad mixture of cultures, Ko Samui is always celebrating some tradition or another, including western.
Event and Festival
- Buffalo Fighting Festival
- Ten Stars Samui Art Party
- Bowling Championship
- Avis Samui Tennis Open
- The Fisherman's Village Festival
- Triathlon Event
- Samui Regatta
- Full Moon Party (Ko Phangan)
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