Christmas in Koh Samui: The One That Nearly Didn’t Happen
It all started with what may be one of the most stressful mornings of my life.
Picture it: the two of us (the lesser mentioned ex and me), bleary-eyed and full of pre-holiday optimism, trundling towards the Manchester Airport when the van decided it had had enough of life; right there, in the middle of morning rush-hour traffic.
Cue no luck with the recovery service subscription, a couple of frantic taxi attempts, and that awful creeping realisation that we might actually miss the flight but salvation finally arrived in the form of a local recovery driver, who not only rescued us from the hard shoulder but somehow managed to drop us at the terminal and recover the van afterwards. Total hero.
By the time I finally collapsed into my seat, I was ready to kiss the pilot for just getting us airborne but once I stepped off the plane into that wall of warm air, and the embrace of my uncle, aunt and cousins, all was fabulously well in life again.
Koh Samui Christmas
Winter sun in Thailand was everything.
While the rest of the family slipped into full holiday hibernation mode, pool, beach, repeat, I got itchy feet. I was out sniffing out the local market (fabulous food chaos) and, obviously, the nearest craft beer bar. Because - priorities.
Boxing Day rolled around and while everyone else headed to a cookery class, we ditched the aprons for a boat trip instead. We skimmed across turquoise water, climbed up rivers, waded through jungle trails, the kind of day that leaves you sunburnt, blissed out, and slightly smug. So glad I packed a big, straw sun hat.
North to Chiang Mai
After the family gathering wrapped up in Koh Samui, I wasn’t ready to fly home just yet. We hopped north to Chiang Mai for temples, tuk-tuks and a completely different rhythm. I’d planned to visit one of the elephant rescue sanctuaries I’d read so much about, but the Thai heat and my temperamental diabetes had other plans; dehydrated and struggling a bit, I had to sit that one out and I’m still gutted about it years later.
Even so, Chiang Mai is amazing with street food sizzling on every corner, paper lanterns glowing at dusk, that slightly electric hum of travellers swapping stories over cold beers.
And as midnight neared on New Year’s Eve, the city came alive - all night long, lanterns were being released, thousands of glowing dots rising into the darkness like fireflies. I know now the devastating impact they can have on wildlife and livestock, but in that moment it was pure magic; the sky looked alive.
Sadly, I’ve long since been separated from all the photos and videos from that trip but this YouTube video captures it perfectly. Watching it still gives me goosebumps.
A Bangkok Whirlwind
Before flying home, we squeezed in a mad day in Bangkok with a blur of temples, Buddhas, markets, and manic traffic, it was one of those exhausting, sensory-overload days that you only half-process at the time, but the scale of the Buddhas was mind blowing - have I mentioned how annoyed I am at not having those photos?!
Looking Back
That Christmas in Thailand was hot, hectic, and absolutely unforgettable. I want to go back, see more, do it all again but slower this time. Next time, I’ll swap the chaos for a little more calm… but I’ll still find the nearest craft beer bar.
This post contains affiliate links through which I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions and recommendations are my own.
