Koh Samui, Living Pool and the Jungle Club

Rolling down the ramp and onto Koh Samui at dusk, we quickly realised that the majority of the infrastructure was on the other side of the island. The arrivals from Don Sak are mostly freight and local traffic, with the island's tourist centre serviced by the international airport. Koh Samui is less than 100km in circumference, so we set off along the ring road with spectacular mountains on the right, and spotless beaches dotted with fishermen throwing nets on the left.

High season means many hotels operate at near capacity, so it took a few enquiries before we were able to secure lodgings at the new Living Pool Villa. The hotel is not actually 'open' - or even 'complete' - however the owners decided to open anyway to take advantage of the high season. Despite some villas being under construction, the complex is finished to a sensational standard, and each villa is equipped with a living room and its own swimming pool that would not be out of place in high-end Seminyak.

After settling in, we joined the two women who own and run the hotel along with their families for poolside drinks. Bow wow (great name) poured the whiskey with a heavy hand, and we all went to bed considerably merrier and anticipating a mule kick hangover in the morning.