Samui for foodies

If you too enjoy the taste of chillies, garlic, shallot, turmeric, shrimp paste, fish sauce and tamarind juice, you’re heading to the right place.
Q: We’re coming from New York and will be staying at the Muang Kulaypan Hotel on Chaweng Beach in Samui. Where should we go for authentic and not-too-expensive Thai food?  Amy
A: I love food and food questions, and Samui is one of my favourite food places, especially for really spicy southern-style seafood. If you too enjoy the taste of chillies, garlic, shallot, turmeric, shrimp paste, fish sauce and tamarind juice, you’re heading to the right place.
Unfortunately, though, there aren’t many choices around Chaweng for authentic Thai food. So hire a car or motorbikes to get around " and I can guarantee you that your search will be more than fulfilled.
Sabiang Lae in Hin Ta Hin Yai in Lamai, a restaurant formerly known as Ao Thai, is famous for its fresh-seafood dishes, including oysters in a very Thai dip " with fried shallots " and tom yam in clear soup.
I also recommend Jitr Pochana near Nathon, Bang Por Seafood in Bang Por village, Tamrub Mui on the Chaweng-Lamai road, Big Jiew Seafood and Wan Tok in Bang Makham, Go Cheng in Mae Nam market and Tha Rua at the Chaweng viewpoint.
And for specific dishes, look for the fried fish with turmeric called pla tod kamin, the squid with shrimp paste known as muek PAD kati, and tamarind curry, or kaeng som.
For a lively street food, head to Nathon Pier and the night market, where food stalls sell everything from noodle soup to PAD thai and fried rice from 4pm to 10pm.
A truly authentic Samui lunch requires kanon jeen, the rice spaghetti topped with your choice of curry sauce and lots of fresh vegetables. There are stalls selling it all over the island.
Among the famous sources are Pa Maitri in Mae Nam Soi 4, Pa Ian (Ching) opposite the AomSin Bank in Na Thon Market, and Pi Kiew in Bang Por. They open at 7am, but certainly make sure you get there before noon, or they’ll be sold out.
Q: I want to buy lenses for my Nikon D90 when I’m in Thailand. Since the lenses are made there, can I expect the prices to be cheaper than in Britain? " Dave
A: You’re think anything made in Thailand would be cheaper here, but often this isn’t  the case, especially with costly electronic goods. Nike shoes are made here, and they’re not always cheaper than in the West.
Also, the relative strength of the baht to many currencies is working against you. Many Thais who can afford to travel look for cheaper prices in the US.
I just checked the British prices of camera equipment on both Amazon.co.uk and Jessops.com, and they’re not much different than here.
Meanwhile, a Nikon AF 180 f/2.8 ED costs around Bt30,000 in a shop here, while local photography retailer www.Fotofile.net has it for Bt32,500.
Two more things to consider:
Count on the VAT refund receipt from the stores, which will get you a 7-per-cent refund at the airport.
And finally, buying overseas doesn’t give you the legal protection you enjoy at home. Buying at home gives you that peace of mind, plus the support of your local supplier.
Soure : nationmultimedia.com