Koh Samui is coconut-land, situated in the south of Thailand, about 30 km offshore in the Gulf of Siam. Samui produces about two million coconuts per month - that is more than you can eat. Nearby Suratthani, the province capital, is a monkey training center, where monkeys are taught to pick coconuts, since climbing coconut palms is not as easy as it might appear. (better never try!) Coconut trees are very useful. The young coconut is filled with juice, which is delicious to drink. As long as the fruit appears green, the inside flesh is soft, that makes it a perfect fb-combination. Once brown on the outside, the meat is hard, the juice turns slightly bitter. The hard meat can be eaten, but is mainly used to make oil or coconut milk. You'll find coconut milk in many thai dishes. The leaves of the tree are used to make roofs and the trunk, finally, is cut and found in simple huts. The wood is hard, but not very durable. There is no official report, whether people were killed by dropping coconuts or if so - how many.

For about 20 years now, the residents (and by today more and more aliens) built bungalows, hotels and resorts, restaurants, bars and discotheques under these palms. That made coconut-land altering into tourist-land.

What turns coconuts into tourists? 10 years back a domestic airport was built. Roads were increased by number and some were increased in width. Electricity was plugged into every building (it's not always available but most of the time) and phone lines (slow!) were installed. Computers were brought in. Here we go... Book now!

Koh Samui is developing fast. You can live in zero star huts for almost no money or five star residences or resorts for lots of money. You find tranquil places, all surrounded by nature as well as nightlife strips for dining, clubbing and parties through the night. You can look at art, listen to live music, check out a MK47 at the shooting range or just get stoned. It's this great variety which attracts many people to visit or live on Samui island.