And the rubbish is piling up. Here we - the visitors - must take much of the blame. We throw our rubbish down even on the very beaches we have come to enjoy. This sign ask us not to litter, but even around the base of the sign is a sprawl of ice cream wrappers, drink and film containers and worse. And a short walk into the undergrowth behind the beaches reveals stinking piles of rubbish.
Park regulations state that wild life is not to be disturbed and ask you to keep from 'yelling or using your voice to make load noises'. Very admirable, but then why does the park allow jetski operators to operate on Diamond Beach? You need to make a loud voice to make yourself heard above the noise of these machines. And the pollution from their engines cannot be good for wildlife or the coral. Please - do not rent a jetski on Samet. They are there only because enough tourists pay them. Wait till you are in Pattaya, if you must. That paradise of thirty years ago is already spoiled.

Here I am in Koh Samet in 2000, watching the ferry come in. There are more updates coming for this site, but I am off on the plane again tomorrow so they will have to wait till my return. Let me know if you agree with me, or am I getting miserable in my old age?

• Introduction
• Arriving at the airport
• Travelling to Koh Samet
• Where to stay
• Legend of Koh Samet'slost gold
• Beaches
• Food and drink
• Did you know?
• Links