A day in Nathon

A day in Nathon

As the title of this post already mentioned, we spent some time in Nathon today. This is where the Municipality is located and all other important government offices, including Immigration.

It's also the town on Samui that reminds me the most of mainland Thailand, since it's the least touristic town, compared to Chaweng and Lamai, to name the other two bigger towns. Interestingly enough, it hasn't changed that much since 10 years ago when I arrived on Samui. Sure, there's a new Seatran pier and a small Tesco Lotus, but the main structure and infrastructure hasn't changed that much at all.
Interestingly enough, the only supermarket or what you could call a supermarket was Samui Market, located on the main road. It had the only moving stairs on the island and 29 days out of 30 they seemed not to work! On a quick visit today they were holding to tradition and we had to walk them up rather than being moved up!

Nathon has 3 roads, the main road you enter Nathon in, coming from Maenam, a seaside road and a road in between these two bigger roads. This inbetween road and the seaside road I like best, since it they have a lot of small restaurants and shops that give some interesting views. Above is one of the original Hainan style build houses of which Nathon has plenty. Some shops that are located between the main road or seaside road and the in between road have doors facing each road and in between the whole family life seems to be displayed. I've seen shops that have a restaurant at one side that kind of leads into a living area and an assembly of all kinds of things towards the other side (towards the in between road).

This part of Nathon has a whole stretch of old style Hainan style houses, fairly unique on Samui nowadays although Hua Thanon also hosts a few. Some of these houses are not very well maintained and some of the wood on the second floors looks fairly rotten and not in very good shape. I like seeing these houses since they represent Samui's history and I most certainly hope that these houses can be maintained.

A view inside one of these Hainan style houses, what we would call a living room, with the obligatory pictures of the Mom and Dad and some other relatives that can be found in almost all Samui houses.

Here's a sample of a very well maintained and beautifully shining Hainan style house on the in between road. In typical fashion, some kind of food is sold outside the house or sometimes straight from the living room.

Here's also another side of Nathon, the one where progress can't keep up with quality and demand (did I hear the word corruption??). The quality of this seaside mini pier to launch boats into the water or get them out isn't up to standards.

It seems that the new local government (the Tessabaan) is actually putting a lot of effort into Samui's infrastructure, a lot more and seemingly more serious and with better quality than any previous Tessabaan, but that's a completely different story for a another time.

Hope you enjoy this little mini trip through Nathon, I can easily walk around here for a few hours and get some great pictures! Enjoy your stay at Nathon in case you make it here.

Camille