Koh Samui Press Trip Part 2
Michael Taylor and several other Hong Kong based journalists are flown on Bangkok Airways to Koh Samui, where hotel staff greet them with signature cocktails and a welcome feast.
I got an email asking if I would be free the following week. The next thing I knew I was riding in a taxi to Hong Kong International Airport to board a Bangkok Airways flight to Southern Thailand.
This would be my 4th trip to Koh Samui in 5 years! Why does this island in Southern Thailand keep calling me back?
Based on my previous 3 trips to Koh Samui, I knew that I was in for a good time. But would I get to see or do anything new? Surely most of the bases had already been covered.
While I waited for the flight to depart, I reviewed the itinerary that had been prepared for us.
We would be visiting a ceramics factory, Nathon Old Town, a place called ‘Mojito Island’, Koh Samui Viewpoint, a beachfront coffee house popular with local hotel employees, and a factory that makes candy from coconut.
Some of our meals would be consumed at the hotel and others at local restaurants. We would even get to try coconut ice cream!
Friday evening would be spent exploring Fisherman’s Village, the only spot in Koh Samui I had been to on a previous trip.
But I hadn’t been Fisherman’s Village on a Friday night, when a massive street market is set up. So even this would be a new experience!
In-Flight Service
Bangkok Airways flight PG874 left Hong Kong at 4.15 pm. The flight to Koh Samui would take about 3 and 1/2 hours, and we would arrrive at 6.35 local time. There is a one hour time difference between Hong Kong and Thailand.
Bangkok Airways is a full service airline, and the in flight service was superb.
We were served a yummy dinner – with complimentary wine. I’ve flown on Bangkok Airways before, and I’d have to say that the in-flight meals – even in Economy Class – are well above average as airline food goes. I particularly enjoyed the salad.
Fortunately, I hit it off with my seat-mate so the time quite literally flew by. Before I knew it, we were admiring the spectacular view of Koh Samui from the air – an emerald island anchored in an azure sea.
We were met at the airport by representatives of the Ozo Group, who drove us to the Ozo Chaweng Samui, which is located on the beach in the heart of Koh Samui’s most popular tourism zone.
The hotel had opened about 6 months earlier.
Signature Cocktails and Welcome Feast
We were taken straight to the Roof Top, where bartenders prepared signature cocktails for us. Then we sat down and consumed a very yummy East Meets West feast.
Here is the set dinner that followed …
APPETIZER
- Baked flat bread with Spicy Chorizo, Spanish manchego, roasted tomato, and olive herb pesto;
- Thai style crab cakes with sriracha aioli;
- Spicy pomelo salad.
MAIN COURSE
- Australian beef cheek in Massaman curry braise with coconut-corriander crushed baby potatoes;
- Oven roasted Alaskan Coho salmon with sweet pepper remouldade and traditional ratatouille;
- Red duck curry with lychee, pineapple, and steamed jasmine rice.
DESSERT
- Crispy sesame finger bananas with coconut custard.
- Fresh tropical fruit skewers.
Dinner was served family style so we got to sample everything and take seconds or even thirds if we liked something. I liked the red duck curry with lychee, pineapple, and steamed jasmine rice so much that I asked for the recipe, which I will publish in a future post.
Where
Ozo Chaweng Samui, Chaweng Beach, Bophut, Koh Samui, Surathani, Thailand. Telephone: +66 (0) 7733 4300. Website: Ozo Chaweng Samui
The hotel is located on Chaweng Beach. It is a 15 minute drive from Samui International Airport.
There are numerous other hotels, food and beverage outlets, day spas, souvenir shops, and boutiques within walking distance of the hotel. A couple of convenience stores are located right across the street.