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Koh Samui : Suratthani
. . Koh Samui is an island in Suratthani,a seaside province of the gulf of Thailand .ITis the third largest island after Phuket and Koh Chang of Trat province.Sometime called the coconut island,Koh Samui is one of the most famous and popular  destinations.The Thai resort island Koh Samui is the second largest island in Thailand after the famous James Bond island of Phuket. The island is roughly circular in shape and is located just off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus which is near the mainland town of Surat Thani and it is also one of the most popular tourist attraction in the Kingdom of Thailand. Koh Samui has a land mass of almost 230 sq km ( about 90 sq mile) with a population of about 50,000 people (2007). The main island is surrounded by about 60 other smaller islands. The central part of Koh Samui is almost uninhabited and is dominated by a mountain jungle with Mount Khao Pom as its highest peak at 635m (about 2100ft). The island 's lowland areas are inter-connected together with just one single road that weaves the circumference of the island. Historians estimated that the island started to see its first inhabitants in about 1500 years ago. The early settlers were probably fishermen from Malaysia and Southern China. The island even appears on the Chinese Ming Dynasty maps way back in 1687. No one knows for sure how Koh Samui got its name. Some speculated that it was derived from a native Mui tree while others think that it is a hybrid of the Chinese word "saboey", which means "safe haven". Situated on the southwestern coast of the island is Nathon, the ancient capital of Koh Samui. This area is a still major fishing port and also an inter-island transportation hub today. Koh Samui was an isolated self-sufficient community until as late as the 20th century as it had little contact with mainland Thailand back then. The island did not even have a road until one was built in the early 1970s. Today, the island of Koh Samui is one of the most popular tourist attraction in Thailand and it even have its own international airport, called Samui Airport. Bangkok Airways have flights to and from Samui every day. Samui Airport also receives flights from Bangkok and other major cities in South East Asia. Koh Samui –Koh Phangan : Suratthani  Suratthani province is located approximates xml:namespace prefix = st1 />644 km  from Bangkok .Koh Samui ,one of its famous island ,is around 738km away from capital city ,and around 59km from Suratthani town As for Koh Phangan (that have Fullmoon Party ),it is located in the north of KohSamui  approximately 54km northeastwardof Don Sak Ferry Port .Between the two islands ,there are boat services travelling to and for everyday. By car:From Bangkok,take highway 35(Thonburi-paktor),then continue with highway 4(Petchkasem Road)pass Phetburi,Prachuabkhirikhan,and Chumphon .Then  take highway 41 straight to Suratthani .From Suratthani town ,you can get to Don Sak Ferry Port by take highway 401 untill you reach Ban Nai junction .After that ,turn left into highway4142 and go straight to the port ,which is around 59km away. By bus: From Southern Bus Station and Terminal ,there are various kinds of buses going to Surattani everyday.The journey takes around 10 hours.After you got there ,you need to board another bus or hire a taxi to Don Sak Ferry Port . Sounthern Bus Terminal tel:024345588, 024351200 Transport company :024355605,  024351195, 024347192 By train:you can alsocatch a train to Suratthani from Hualampong or Bangkok Railway Station everyday.Get off the train at Phunpin Station and simply hire a taxi or minibus to the Ferry Port In Don Sak Port. Contact at Thailand Railway Tel:1690,022230341 ,022204567 ,022204334  or www.railway.co.thxml:namespace prefix = o /> By air:From Bangkok International  Airport ,Thai Airways and Bangkok Airway operatesdaily flights to Suratthani .For more detail ,contact  Thai AirwaysTel:1566, 026282000  or www.thaiairways.com Bangkok Airways: 022655555  or www.bangkokair.com