After a very relaxing 9 days on the island of Samui, we are saying goodbye and returning to Bangkok. It’s been a fabulous ‘break’ from our wider travels and a wonderful family holiday. We have so enjoyed spending time with Amelia and have witnessed how she has grown up since going off to University and the time we have been overseas.

As our flight wasn’t until late afternoon, we were able to make the most of the day and spent the last few hours doing what we do best, chilling by the pool. It was more of the same, Michelle pushing on to finish reading her last book and Andy & Amelia messing around in the pool, followed by more card games won mainly by Michelle and Amelia!

Amelia has become a regular at Seven Eleven since arriving two weeks ago and was keen to purchase one last smoothie before we left the island and headed to the airport.

With the sun shining, we squeezed every last minute at the pool before we said our farewells to the staff at U Samui and got a Grab to the nearby airport.

Like the rest of Thailand, Samui is embracing Pride month and the airport has even gone and got its sign and flags updated.

Samui airport is pretty modest and is open to the elements with a pond and gardens to sit in before you board. Makes a pleasant change to the larger airports we’ve spent time in over the last 7 months or so. We flew back with Bangkok Airways who are our new favourite carriers providing food and drink even though the flight was barely an hour long.

Having picked up our additional bags from the airport storage, we were back to full capacity and were soon on a courtesy minivan to our nearby airport hotel, Siam Mandarina. We somehow managed to get upgraded to a family suite and for one night only Amelia had a room and lounge to herself and we were in a separate double room with connecting doors. A flash way to finish our family holiday together.

After helping Amelia to pack for her return flight to London, we also successfully organised one last issue with Amelia’s car which should mean she’ll be a lady with wheels. Thanks to our friend Rich McGuire in Oxford for helping with the car issues – we so appreciate it. We owe you lunch on our return!

Well that’s about it for today, tomorrow we head back to the airport to wave Amelia off on her return flight to the UK, then we get our own flight on to Da Nang, Vietnam.