ko samui

Friday and Saturday on Samui passed in a sun drenched, booze addled haze. Norwich's 5-1 win at Ipswich on Thursday night provided the ultimate backdrop.

If I couldn't actually be at the game, I struggle to think of anywhere else I would rather be than Chaweng Beach to celebrate such a result. I will never forget the feeling when I turned on my phone on Friday morning and saw that incredible scoreline. 5-1. Having updated my Facebook status to say I was going to pour myself a G&T and dive naked into the infinity pool, it would have been disingenuous not to have actually done so. Such behaviour is that much easier when you have a private infinity pool outside your room...

One of the most striking things about my third visit to Samui is how it felt no different to the previous two. By that I mean the severe flooding that engulfed the island last month appeared to have done no last damaging. I noticed the affects on certain parts of the beach, but apart from that you would be forgiven for thinking nothing had happened. Incredible given that taxi drivers told me the waters had been several feet high.

Walking around Chaweng, flashbacks from my visits in 2004 and 2008 would occasionally hot me. Like when I walked past a seedy strip joint with English people queuing to get in, and whilst rolling my eyes realised I had actually been in there myself many years ago. Not my idea, I hasten to add, it was all in the name of irony.

Samui reminded me of Ibiza in many respects. Stunningly beautiful but with a side to it that can repel some people. There are many dodgy bars here - not least those with Thai cover bands banging out 80s rock anthems - but also some of the best places to have a drink I've come across.

I'll be back to fly to Bangkok in just over a week - and then probably again sometime soon...