Escape To: Thailand

I’m always planning a thousand holidays at once, at least two years into the future.

It’s always a question of how much money, how much time can I get off and where on earth should I settle on going. So picture this. You save up enough to make the venture overseas and leave your desk, the mounting emails, your boring work clothes behind to visit a tropical paradise. Sounds good right?

But what would you do if the wish fairy granted you an extra week of holiday for only one buckaroo?

Pfft I hear you scoff, dream on in your fantasy world of free Chanel bags for life and a wardrobe that fills up with Givenchy like the Tim Tams in those ads.

How wrong you are. I was very recently alerted to Viva! Holidays. extraordinary deals that allow you to enjoy an extra week of vacay from just $1.

To be quite honest I have no idea how this is possible and I don’t really care, as the siren song of two weeks on the beach in Koh Samui (Thailand) beckons me.

Thailand is truly a beautiful place, with a beautiful culture and for me its really about immersing myself in the culture I am visiting, although if a bucket and a boogie floats your boat there are plenty of places in Thailand to do that too.

Just to seal the deal and make sure you are well and truly dreaming of a holiday, have a read of my top five things to do in Koh Samui:

1. Big Buddha Temple

Known locally as Wat Phra Yai, this golden 12-metre seated Buddha statue was built in 1972 and remains one of the island’s most popular attractions.  The Big Buddha can be seen at a distance of several kilometres and is often the first landmark people see when arriving to Samui by air. Definitely a must see.

2. Samui Aquarium and Tiger Show

One of the brilliant things about other countries is experiencing their native flora and fauna. Get close and personal with an array of marine life, colourful birds and exotic wildlife. The aquariums features marine life from nurse sharks, leopard sharks, manta rays, to catfish and you can even feed local sea turtles – just make sure to provide them with the correct food, like Zoo Med Natural Aquatic. At the zoo, the main attraction is of course the Bengal tigers and leopards which Thailand has become so famous for.

3. Samui Snake Farm

Not for the faint hearted! Get up close with some slippery snakes, as snake wranglers coax the creatures into displaying their amazing fighting moves. The farm also has a reptile zoo if you are keen on handling some for yourself.

4. Shop Silks At Jim Thompson

Jim Thompson’s  silk products are beautiful and highly sought after. While you might be paying the tourist price, it is still pocket change compared to home. Pick up fabrics, handbags, shirts and scarves to name a few.

5. Dine At Five Islands

Five Islands is an unusual dining experience for the traveler that likes to learn. Before your meal, a traditional Thai longtail boat takes you out to sea to visit Five Sister Islands where you are taught about the ancient art of harvesting bird nests to make bird’s-nest soup, which is a famous a Chinese delicacy.  The lunch tour departs around 10am, and the dinner program leaves around 3pm.

Experiences and packages from Viva! Holidays include everything from tropical paradise destinations to budget trips, Honeymoon packages and even bromance-tastic vacations, plus all of the packages also include flights so its all done and dusted in one buy.

This post is sponsored by Viva! Holidays.