Samui Shopping

As we join in the mad race around the Ring Road on our quaint island, led by charter bus or taxi, our destinations pre-planned by agencies, or mapped out so we can follow the directions by motorbike and rented car, it is easy to overlook, if not pass right by, the shops that boast some of the Island’s most secret treasures.

If you take the time to slow down, to look carefully, and to even enter some of the awaiting doorways that are seldom passed through, you will find an amazing plethora of treasures that will satisfy your budget and your personal tastes.

Let’s just make a few stops along the way to give you an idea of the versatility of what you will find on your journey.

Our first stop brings us to the Shell Museum located in Bang Makham. Here, with a welcomed 100baht donation towards the fisherman who help to supply the museum with its relics, we see an incredible collection that has taken more than 25 years to obtain. Every piece has been found in the Koh Samui area, from a modest Bronze and ancient clay pottery compilation, to what the proud owner, Mr. William Thomas, boasts as the largest crab collection in South Asia. Everything that you see in this shop is for sale. Some of these artefacts are even highly sought after, such as the Arabic Cowrie, the Golden Lipped Pink Oyster and the Green Sea Urchin, all indigenous to our coastlines. For the avid collector this museum is a must see, and for the lover of the sea there is a plethora of shells spilling out of jars to keep as a fond memory of Koh Samui.

At our next stop we find that the Wave & Dragon/Wave T-Shirt store in Nathon is more than simply meets the eye. Aphicha Sawetsuwan, and his wife, Noi, are the owners and designers of their company name, branded on the tags of each creation. The shirts themselves are handmade in Bangkok by family members and then the designs and silk-screening are produced here in their shop. Unlike many other t-shirt stores on Samui, these are original designs that show off a contemporary and trendy look. Superb quality mixed with creative artwork gives the souvenir hunter a one of a kind; nothing here is ‘Same- Same’.

Hunting and pecking through the myriad of shops clustered together along the entranceway to Hin Ta and Hin Yai takes patience and skill to find anything out of the ordinary. Tucked into the rear of an indiscreet shop, the flare of an acetylene torch, flashing from blue to orange may catch your eye, as a humble native glassblower weaves melting rods of crystal into amazing shapes. The owner who is known as ‘A’, has established himself here for the past 7 years, and entertains tourists with his art of producing see-through images. A family tradition passed along through the generations is evident in the skill this artist exudes. Everything from dragons to divers hunting octopi you will find peering out at you from within their glass confines of the display cases, but the secret lies in asking A to make something of your hearts desire.

Our final destination this month brings us to the Dream Catcher Silver Shop in Lamai. Fiona and Pin, the owners and designers of their unique jewellery, have been incorporating precious Samui Island shells and gems into their silverwork over the past 5 years. As with most of the artists we are finding on Samui, the sky is the limit to having something special made for you and you alone. If you have a vision of a design, and even your own stone or shell you may have found combing our beaches, here they will catch your dream for you, and cast it into a moment you will remember forever.

The main villages of Lamai, Chaweng and Nathon sport an accumulation of shopping facilities that are completely mind-boggling. There is no wanting for choice when it comes to shoes, t-shirts, watches and other jewellery, fashion and Cds, food stalls and world-class dining. The eyeglass shops line the streets almost in a rhythmic order every 30-100 metres down the soi’s. Whatever you’re looking for can not only be found in abundance of shapes, styles and designs, but also in a myriad of price ranges.

Don’t forget that one of the national past-times for the Thai people is haggling, and if you conduct yourself in an appropriate manner, do not haggle for fun but for serious purchases only, you will find a twinkle in the eyes of the vendors you conduct your business with, and most times “If it’s good for you, then it’s good for me” will be your final price.

Don’t be upset with the loss of a good bargain when you find another vendor with the same product a few doors down has a better price, after all, 100Baht is only about $3 US dollars!!

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