After three weeks of settling in, learning & finding our way around Bangkok we deserved a break so when the fellow newbies proposed a weekend in Koh Samet we jumped at the opportunity.

They organised the mini bus which was supposed to take 3 hours but actually took 4 as traffic out of the city was bad. Shared between 9 of us it cost £10 each which wasn’t bad. We all piled onto a speedboat for a James Bond-esq super-charged ride to the island (£5 each) and we were on the beach with a drink shortly after 8pm!

We had opted for the luxury end of the market & chosen a superior room which was a real bargain at £60 per night including breakfast and located right on the beach. When you consider that a bog standard Premier Inn can be £69 or more per night… I even had a fresh fruit platter on arrival (the pineapple here is way more delicious that what we get in the UK)

Everyone was highly excited on the drive down discussing what they were going to do. I said to kevin that I didn’t fancy the neon paint party or the bucket of cocktail… but we ended up joining in (ours was a bucket of pina colada) and I felt as though I was living in a Fascinating Aida song (‘getting down with the kids’ – which Jane, Philippa & Honor will recognise).

This island is stunning. We strolled along the white sands, snorkelled among the tropical fish and ate dinner on the beach. It was just the chillax we needed. The sea was the warmest I have ever come across and we have both caught the sun. But we return to the city refreshed and reinvigorated.

We still can’t quite believe that we live here now. We have to keep pinching ourselves. This isn’t just a holiday! If any of you are considering a move then I highly recommend this place. #livingthedream