Koh Samui Thailand

For this Thai island, we opted for a tour that highlighted the key export for the island-coconuts. Starting with a brief overview of the importance and multiple uses of the crop, we went on to learn about the short-tailed macaque monkeys trained to pick the fruit.  Training takes about 6 months, with the monkeys responding only to the voice of their owner/trainer.  During their attendance at monkey university, they are taught to climb the trees, jump to other trees, select the perfectly ripe coconut, and then twist it until it drops.  Each monkey harvests about 350 a day at 5 baht apiece, contributing to the island's export of one million coconuts per month.   Local unskilled labor earns the equivalent of $7-10 USD/day.  In an 8-9 hour workday, with breaks every 15 minutes, the monkey produces about $55 USD income per day.  The monkeys are treated like family, and eat, sleep, play, and even watch tv with their owners. 

After our visit with the monkeys, we walked through the nearby traditional fishing village of Baanttua Tanon, which ended at a seafood and produce market offering a fabulous variety of local fresh foods.  The perfect growing climate, hot and wet, combined with the ability to grow on flatlands or in the mountains, results in a great diversity of crops, such as 20 different eggplants.  Street food was offered along our walk but cleanliness made any of the food suspect for our consumption and even the locals drink only bottled water.  Markets open around 4AM, cooks wanting to purchase the best and freshest ingredients arrive long before daybreak.  

We saw a large number of western travelers and ex-pats during our trip, drawn by cheap prices, white-sand beaches, and diving and snorkeling opportunities.  Our guide tried to impress upon us the dangers of foreigners driving on the island.  "Green means go, yellow means go faster, red light means go faster still."  Anyone slowing for a yellow light will surely be rear-ended and would be at fault for the accident.  Generally, westerns are at fault for any accident regardless of what has transpired.  Also, the government has instituted seat belt regulations which requires use by passengers in any vehicle.  Non-use will result in a 5000 Thai baht fine ($158 USD) but if the said vehicle doesn't have seat belts the passenger is at fault, not the driver providing the vehicle!  Quite a racket for local police, who are paid on the spot for infractions.  

We continued our visit by traveling to Wat Phra Yai, a 49-foot tall seated Buddha, built in 1972 and perched atop a rocky islet on the N/E coast.   Nearby shops allowed us to easily spend the remainder of our Thai money.  We also had the opportunity to use our first Asian-style toilets here, the squat over a hole variety, which is an experience I can pass on again unless absolutely necessary.  This small island, of 250 square miles, was easily circumnavigated during our 4-hour tour.  

Pictures follow in the next blog.

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