AIDA Southeast Asia 2014 · Page 3

Day 3 / 29 degrees / 211 nautical miles / 390 km

After a quiet night we arrived at Koh Samui, Thailand's third-largest island. At 9.30 a.m. the captain dropped anchor, and a short time later the first tender boats reached us to take us to the pier. On the crossing we could admire AIDAaura in all her splendour: blue sky, 29 degrees and crystal-clear water.

At the pier what felt like 1,000 taxi drivers were waiting for us, all of course with the best offer.

We hadn't booked an AIDA excursion here, as we only wanted to go to the beach. We had collected some information about the island and the best beaches in advance, so we knew exactly where we wanted to go.

We quickly changed money at the pier and then set off towards town with Anja and Matthias.

We ignored all the taxis at the harbour and took the first free taxi in town. The price and conditions were quickly negotiated:

Destination: Chaweng Beach hotel complex
Price: 2,000 baht return for all four
Payment: on the way back

30 minutes across the island later, we reached Chaweng, and the taxi driver dropped us right at the Long Beach Lodge hotel. The view of the white sandy beach and the turquoise water was stunning.

Swimming things on, and less than 3 minutes later we were in the 28-degree water.

The beach shelves very gently into the water, and the waves came rolling in.
And here too there are massage offers for little money.

Then the women took the opportunity to go shopping. Meanwhile the men continued to guard the beach.

A nice long massage was a must: one hour of coconut oil massage with manicure and pedicure for the equivalent of 15 euros. The view of the sea was free – simply dreamlike.

Our time at the beach passed far too quickly, and at 3 p.m. we were at the agreed meeting point, where our taxi driver was already waiting.

Safely back at the pier, we paid the agreed 2,000 baht (about 45 euros) and took the little tender boats back to AIDAaura, which lay a few metres off the coast.

At 6 p.m. it was time to weigh anchor and say goodbye to the island. Koh Samui really enchants you and is a paradise on earth.

Our tour continued in the South China Sea, along the coast heading south. The two sea days ahead and the relaxation that came with them were just right. Shortly after departure came the captain's announcement of waves and winds up to force 8 for the next 24 hours. They came as announced, but we still ended up spending the evening in the AIDA Bar. Somehow the AIDA Bar had become our second home on the Aura.