Putting Your Finger On It
Just what is it about Samui that creates than indefinable atmosphere?
Thursday, May 1, 2008
If you take the time to read any travel brochure, magazine, website or blog about Samui, the chances are you’ll read about it having an indescribable atmosphere. It’s the same if you spend time talking to people that visit regularly or live here full-time. Most will talk about a feeling experienced on the island that separates it from other destinations.
This aura, ambience or atmosphere is something that’s existed ever since the first intrepid backpackers arrived on the shores of the island. And it’s miraculously survived all of the development and progression that has been witnessed since.
Most people, when questioned on the subject, find it difficult to express in words, it has a certain je ne sais quoi, something that you just can’t put your finger on, but it does exist.
When you live here it’s sometimes easy to be side-tracked by other issues and take for granted the lifestyle on the island. However, any length of time then spent away from the island is likely to act as reminder of why you’re here in the first place.
Samui isn’t necessarily going to have the same affect on every visitor; it’s the way of the world that everyone is different in their tastes and it’s a well known proverb that states, “You can’t please all of the people, all of the time.” But it is truly remarkable how many visitors seem to be enchanted by the island’s charms; any hotel owner will be able to give you examples of well-travelled guests who return year after year to experience that feeling again and again.
It’s undeniable that the island has a different atmosphere to other established Thai destinations such as Phuket, Pattaya or Hua Hin. This may be down to the size of the island, or the fact that without a road connection to the mainland it has retained that island feel.
There are many other factors, too, that could contribute towards the atmosphere. Geographically, Samui basically consists of beaches around the coast-line, mountains across the middle and some low-lying plains in the South. The result of this topography is that the traffic is pretty much limited to the one ring-road that circles the island. Maybe that lack of a sophisticated road network adds to the simplistic small island feel.
Another physical feature is the restrictive building regulations and zoning laws that have prevented the construction of high-rise multi-storey buildings. Again, the lack of such buildings not only separates the island aesthetically from other locations, with their row after row of tall hotels and condominium blocks, but it too emphasizes that small, comfortable feeling of being on a tropical island. In fact, the lack of city-like structures and four lanes of traffic in every direction can play a major role is providing this alternative lifestyle; regardless of the length of your stay.
The climate of Samui, which is overall warm and pleasant all year round, also adds to the relaxing ingredients. Samui’s not immune to inclement weather and does experience a season of increased rainfall, usually falling around the October-November time of year. But the island is protected from other extreme conditions, such as monsoons, typhoons or tornados.
It could be argued by other those in other Thai destinations that the Thai people in general are very friendly, warm and welcoming, and therefore that’s a factor shared by all of them. However, the people of Samui have a level of independence and pride that inhabitants of many small islands around the world share, and that can create a unique atmosphere that offers a sense of belonging to those that choose to live here.
Relaxation on an island like Samui comes easily. The ability to escape and totally relax shouldn’t be underestimated. Stress is a modern-day phenomenon made worse by the expectations, pace and demands of the modern lifestyle. Many people find that a stay on Samui takes them away from their everyday issues and allows them an opportunity to experience total relaxation. After all, isn’t that what a holiday is all about and any successful destinations should surely provide that as a basic principal.
Samui has a very comfortable pace of life; it’s possible that this comes in part from the size of the island. There’s seldom a need to rush anywhere, so people tend to arrive as and when they get wherever they’re going. Time doesn’t have the same restraints here. The size of the island possibly plays another important role in creating the ambience, and that’s due to familiarity.
It’s easy to recognise things and feel orientated because you will pass by the same places many times even during a short stay. It also means that when you live here you often bump into people you know or recognise. Continuously seeing people you know makes you feel included and comfortable in your surroundings. Familiarity makes you feel at home, wherever you may be. Even for tourists, it’s quite common for you to see the same people in different locations around the island. In fact, it’s highly likely if you’re travelling around the same tourist attractions. You’ll also share stories about restaurants, beaches and shops that you’ve visited; most people will follow recommendations so it’s not so surprising if you then see them at your favourite restaurant or bar.
Overall, there are so many features of life on Samui that make it stand out from other places. And it’s probably a combination of all of these things, and the way different people perceive them, that creates the indescribable atmosphere. It’s hard to explain and put your finger on what it is exactly, because the ambience of the island and the feeling that continues to attract people is something that’s individual and personal to each person arriving.
The most positive aspect is that it seems to affect so many of those that come here. Even though the island has changed beyond recognition from the early days of tourism, and now Samui is firmly established as a worldwide luxury destination, the fundamental features of the island, which have encouraged and ensured that successful growth, have remained.
A large number of visitors now arriving have no perception of the way things were and therefore are not biased by potentially negative comparisons. They are seeing Samui for what it is now. And they’re falling in love with the new Samui in the same way that others have before them. As long as the island retains this ability to create such an enigmatic quality then the prosperous future of tourism, real-estate and all other industries on the island will never be in doubt.
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