01/28/2023 Chaweng Beach and Fire Show in Koh Samui, Thailand

We grabbed some Turkish omelettes for breakfast at our hotels cafe, then ventured to the beach we so craved after a fast paced week in Bangkok. Here, we found a resort beachside bar with stable internet connection and good drinks to post up for the next few hours to work. Despite this being the middle of winter in Thailand, we enjoyed the day’s breezy overcast staying at low 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Observed in Bangkok and especially here on Koh Samui are an abundance of massage parlors, both on the streets and directly on the beach. We treated ourselves to our first Thai massages of the trip in a beachside hut. Thai massages have a reputation that is known all over the world, and this one certainly did not disappoint. 60 minutes for 300 baht (~$9USD) is incredibly affordable relative to massage prices back in the states.

After a relaxing and physically rejuvenating hour, we walked 20 feet to Your Place Bar with swing bar seats and enjoyed a few drinks. As we left to peruse the beach for a good dinner spot, we were told to return later that night for a fire show. We chose a restaurant right on the beach located in the Amari Koh Samui hotel, where we treated our palates to delicious Thai food, mango sticky rice, and passionfruit cheesecake.

We returned to Your Place Bar right in time for the fire show. Having been to a few music festivals and parties where there is fire poi and dragon staff spinning, I had an expectation of a certain level of showmanship and entertainment. Wow was I wrong. For about an hour, two fire spinners went through several pieces of fire equipment, twirling staffs, hurling fire poi back and forth to each other 25 meters away, holding/spinning fireworks, and spinning fire poi standing on a table in the middle of the Gulf of Thailand water. This show was accompanied with tasteful electronic music and blew our minds. After the show, we gave our compliments and a generous tip to the performers, who then pressured us into eating fried grasshoppers with them. I had turned down every opportunity to eat bugs from street vendors in Bangkok, but how could I refuse these incredible performers who were also eating the unconventional snacks.

Morgan and Joseph were ready to call it a night, however I was ready to explore the area a bit on our first real night on the island. We chose to stay near Chaweng Beach, the area of Koh Samui known for the “fun” beach and most active nightlife. I wandered the streets, following my ears, which lead me to Divas Cabaret Show where there were several extravagant lip syncing and dancing performances. The performers recommended a bar after the set, so I wandered that way. Upon my arrival, I noticed immediately next to the crowded recommended bar was an empty bar with the owner sitting inside. He agreed to play a game of pool with me if I bought a beer. I spent the next few hours playing pool here with several locals, enjoying beverages, and taking over aux playing the ..Fred Again Boilerroom set, Clozee, Deadmau5, and even one of my own SoundCloud mixes. After hopping around place to place, I eventually walked my way back to the Air BnB around 3:30AM, stopping in multiple 7/11s to buy food to feed the stray dogs. I’m not used to seeing so many stray dogs and cats around, and being an animal lover I couldn’t help but buy food to feed them.