Koh Samui Airport

On the small tropical island of Koh Samui off the eastern seaboard of Thailand there exists what has got to be the quaintest little airport on the planet.

Why is that? Well, for starters every building on the airport complex is entirely thatched over with palm leaves and not many airports can claim that can they? In the main public areas the exterior walls have wide-open sides for the ocean breezes to waft through keeping it at a nice cool temperature. The smiling staff who work there are ever-helpful and polite and greet every new-comer as though they have just come from outer space which to those on this remote island is exactly how it must feel to them. Its the opposite when you leave because the islanders really hate to see people depart from their island, they figure: having spent ALL that money to get there why would anyone want to leave? And it makes you wonder who really is nuts - the smiling islanders or the grinning farang!

When they gently direct you to Terminal One with pride in their hearts you really have to chuckle because of course its the only terminal they have! There are no gate numbers to rush to, as all passengers arrive and depart courtesy of a clean and modern air-conditioned shuttle bus, which covers the distance from the plane to the main building or vice-versa in about two minutes flat. There is no carousel except the one going around in your head. There are no loudspeakers and no information screens. Just people cheerfully carrying out their tasks with absolutely no hustle or bustle on their minds. Time has almost stopped still.

There is only one single arrow-straight runway to handle both incoming and outgoing planes, which total no more than about twenty flights per day between 6.30 am when the airport opens for business at sunrise and when it closes at sunset exactly twelve hours later.

Playing the ace green card, Bangkok Airways, who built and own the airport (International Airport Code - USM) have attempted a truly unique experiment and one of which they can be proud. The actual buildings, which were finished in 1984, are not only pleasing to the eye but work hand-in-glove with the islands natural environment. It is, in itself, a compelling advert for greenness in all its forms. The vast Bangkok Airport (BKK) may be the newest and flashiest airport in the world but Ive never seen anyone standing around taking hundreds of photos of it like they do of Samui Airport. This airport almost seems to be smiling at you wanting its photo taken. And for sure no other airport replaces its roof with fresh palm leaves every two or three years like they do here. The fact is, once upon a time, little Samui was the worlds largest exporter of coconuts and palm trees are one commodity they still have plenty of. Its what they have used for centuries on the roofs of their villas and bungalows and the ubiquitous salas that abound everywhere so they figure; why stop there? Why indeed?

As the plane starts its gradual descent approach towards the narrow jutting peninsula on the northeast sector of the island you will now get a fantastic birds eye view of Samui and all the other outlying islands. Youll see the surf breaking on the beaches and trace the wakes of small fishing craft as they criss-cross the incredibly green-blue turquoise sea. Then as you get closer you can make out the coral reefs growing beneath the dappling clear water. And if you look harder still you might even see a pod of dolphins jumping and dodging around the fishing craft waiting for the friendly fishermen to throw them a morsel. Phew, what a sight for sore eyes!

Frankly, the whole experience is just too much for the human soul to contemplate and you really cannot wait to land to check that it really wasnt a figment of your imagination. Maybe the airport workers are not that wrong because it certainly feels like youve just come from outer space - as surely nothing on this planet awaits the visitor more pleasingly than this tropical hideaway located in the balmy Sea of Siam. Jet lag? Well, you cant get jet lag in paradise, but I bet you didnt know that either did you?
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Derek Taylor runs Only In Samui, the premier Koh Samui Villas resource and rentals web site.

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Cancun Is Back And Better Than Ever!

On October 21, 2005, Cancun was struck by Hurricane Wilma, the most intense Atlantic storm on record. However, after little more than a year, Cancun has remerged as an even more enticing destination. With over $1.5 billion committed to the citywide rebuilding effort, resorts have not only repaired their structures, but have improved upon pre-storm conditions. Nearly all of the citys restaurants and bars have reopened, many with sparkling new additions and renovations. However, Cancun isnt finished. Many more improvements will be completed early this season, guaranteeing that this could be the best year ever to visit beautiful Cancun.

Perhaps the best upgrades in Cancun were performed on the world-famous beaches. Known for their wide stretches of white powder sand, Cancuns beaches were reduced to rocks by Wilmas storm surge. Yet, because of eroding beachfronts throughout the world, the technology of beach reclamation has grown by leaps and bounds. Belgian firm, Jan de Nul, used their latest innovations to extract 96 million cubic feet of pristine sand from the waters off the Mexican coast. After the sand was transported by a pair of vessels back to shore, giant pipes succeeded in reforming up to a half mile of beach per week.

Yet, Cancun didnt settle for a copy of the old beaches. According to Cancuns Convention and Visitors Bureau, The white beaches are what Cancun is all about. So we wanted to make sure we were getting that same silky sand that people love and a lot more of it than before. In fact, the new beaches of Cancun average 140 feet in width, double the 70 foot width visitors were accustomed to not long ago. This sizable upgrade means not only will the beaches of Cancun look better than ever before, but visitors will have much more room to play or relax in the sun.

Cancuns finest resorts certainly didnt spare any expense during the reconstruction either. In addition to necessary repairs and upgrades required as a result of the storm, tourists will also recognize a number of notable improvements at their favorite resorts, from new recreational facilities to larger rooms. The streets of the Hotel Zone have even been lined with 6,000 fully-grown palm trees.

Furthermore, most of the major construction and renovation in the Hotel Zone was completed by the end of 2006, so current visitors wont be bothered. Though a few resorts will be remodeling through 2007, very few tourists have been distracted. Through August 2006, Cancun had already returned to 79% hotel room capacity, just below annual averages for the summer off-season. In fact, many of these visitors were unaware of the rebuilding that took place as nearly all of the resorts and businesses were open during the 2006 holiday travel season.

The nearby island of Cozumel, a popular cruise ship port, also underwent extensive renovations. One of the islands primary piers reopened to cruise ships at the end of 2006, while the other will reopen later this year. Inland from Cancun, millions of acres of Mexicos famous jungles remain undamaged. Most importantly, the historic Mayan ruins near Cancun were unharmed and remain open for tours.

If you still had any doubts regarding the success of Cancuns recovery, the leading travel publications have already returned the city to its lofty position. Conde Nast Traveler, Travelocity.com, 10best.com and many others have ranked Cancun as both a top beach destination and a leading choice for quick getaways. Furthermore, the American Express Travel Report, one of the most respected studies of upcoming travel trends, has rated Cancun as the fifth-most popular international destination for the coming year.

These accolades and the growing evidence of a successful rebuilding effort points not only to a miraculous resurgence for this luxurious resort city, but also highlights Cancuns eternal allure.
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By: Justin Burch -

Justin Burch writes articles about travel in Cancun and Mexico tourism for the Marriott Resorts.

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