On our tour of Koh Samui (Adventure Day!) we lingered in the town of Nathong. It had a busy harbour and market place so I was able to purchase several sarongs quite cheaply.
It was whilst we were making our way down the main high street that we heard the pulsating sound of a drum getting louder as it obviously got closer. A dragonhead made of glossy painted wood, cardboard and papier mache looked, from a distance, as though it was floating down the street. Young men held it high with bamboo sticks and danced to the beat of the drum.
Strings of firecrackers were ignited and these red petal-like missiles burst into the air. The deafening sound of the explosives were no doubt an attempt to banish evil spirits.
What another incredible day of our holiday. The whole of that week was like falling down a rabbit hole and finding yourself in wonderland.

It was towards the end of the week and I finally persuaded Phil to come with me for a romantic massage for two and a major pampering session. I chose a footbath, followed by a green tea bath, a pumpkin wrap for us, and finally an aromatherapy massage for me and a Thai massage for Phil.
Well it was quite obvious that my other half was finding the experience mortifyingly embarrassing. When we were given our robes he turned a shade of grey, he held up a miniscule pair of black mesh thongs and couldn’t believe that he was expected to wear them (mine were a female version). In our matching thongs, which were totally see-through, we had our lovely foot massage and then stepped into the big green tea bath for two. Phil whispered that it was like sitting in pee but I couldn’t comment because I’d never sat in that much pee before! The pumpkin wrap was lovely but very messy. A shower in the garden followed and then on to the massage. I adore an aromatherapy massage so I gave myself up to the experience and was only moderately aware of Phil on the treatment table next to me.
Phil’s initial reticence had been due to all of the stories that we had been told about Thailand and massages. I thought I had done an excellent job in reassuring him that we were in a 5 star deluxe hotel and everything was very proper. So you can imagine when Phil was asked by his therapist ‘how you like pleasure?’ he spluttered and shouted ‘WHAAAT?’ Undeterred she responded with ‘pleasure, how you like it?’ My therapist suddenly understood the confusion, began to giggle and said, ‘no, she mean pressure. How is the pressure?’
Oh, how we laughed.

Maybe too fresh? The food was terrific and mostly from the Gulf of Siam. We ate by the lagoon, on our terrace and (most romantically), on the beach.

The Anantara has a wonderful spa and so I decided a sea-change should take place in my emotional and physical landscape, I would throw myself, body and soul, into the pampering experience.
I went along for my first treatment, an Indian head massage. The spa itself was beautiful, each room having floor to ceiling glass walls and positioned in its own private walled garden with outdoor spa pool, pergola and open shower. As I thought my head was going to be massaged I was more than a little surprised when I was asked to remove all of my clothing and put on a robe. Imagine my fish-eyed response when I was escorted into the garden, seated in a cloud of silk cushions and had my feet placed in a rose petal strewn footbath. Whilst I drank ginger tea (poop!) my feet were massaged, most pleasurably, by a Thai lady therapist.
Next I was taken into the glass room, helped onto the treatment table, robe removed and body covered with a sheet, all in the best possible taste! The therapist asked me to sit up; she climbed onto the table behind me and proceeded to assault my spine with diminutive hands that had the power of a sledge hammer. Well wouldn’t you be wondering when she was going to get to your head? When I plucked up the courage to ask she insisted that I “lelax, lelax!” I forgot to mention that one wall was entirely made from glass mirrors so you can imagine what happened next. I happened to glance in that direction, saw the scene and my jiggly bits and had the uncontrollable urge to laugh.
The head was eventually massaged and whilst not the most soothing of experiences I must say that afterwards I felt totally invigorated. I slept solidly for nine hours that night – I must have finally been “lelaxed!”

I reclined the seat, was tucked up by the steward in a fluffy blanket and slept through the night until we arrived in Bangkok the following morning. The flight to Koh Samui took only 45 minutes in a small Bangkok (boutique) Airways aeroplane.
The airport at Koh Samui was unbelievably quaint. The buildings were wooden thatched structures and the runway was lined with orchids!
On arriving at the Anantara Hotel in Bophut Bay it was obvious we were going to have a wonderful holiday. The hotel was so luxurious and the staff very courteous, nothing was too much trouble.