Thursday, December 18, 2008

Unspoiled ‘nook’ high up on Samui’s mountain

IF you are looking for a place on Samui to relax, close to nature, Paradise Park Farm should be your destination. It is on Samui’s highest mountain, Khao Pom, within a tropical rainforest.

Paradise Park Farm, in Tailing Ngam subdistrict, sits on a beautifully preserved verdant forest. Developed over four years, originally as a bird zoo with hundreds of bird species including parrots, love birds, parakeets and macaws, Paradise Park Farm is home to Molly and Mommaem, two parrots that can talk to visitors in both Thai and English.

They are popular especially to children, who love to have their pictures taken with these colorful characters. Because the Paradise Park Farm covers a very large and unspoiled area measuring 50 rai (20 acres), animals enjoy a comfortable life in a natural and spacious habitat.

They all live in different zones around the site, connected by pleasant walking trails with resting areas to sit and enjoy nature’s beauty and the spectacular views of Koh Samui and the surrounding islands. The staffs at Paradise Park Farm all live on site and are up every morning to feed the animals and clean their enclosures.

A veterinarian comes weekly, and officials from the forest department visit occasionally, to check on the health and well-being of the animals. The friendly tour guides in the park are pleased to give you information and fill you in on the habits and unique characteristics of the animals.

During the day the animals are let out, and you can pet or feed them if you like. Of course, the Paradise Park Farm does not forget to feed its guests, too. There is a nice restaurant in the park serving tasty Thai and European dishes, which you can relish while being awed by the magnificent mountain views.

While Koh Samui can be very hot, at Khao Pom the temperature in the Paradise Park Farm is cool. You can spend the entire day relaxing. For just Bt300 you can spend the night in a tent in the wilds, feeling secure with the park’s 24-hour security.



There is an infinity swimming pool overlooking the area from which you can take in the panoramic view of Koh Samui and its sister island Koh Phangan, set in the blue waters of the Gulf of Thailand. As the sun sets and the stars come out, there is no better place on the island to gaze at the night sky through the clean, crisp air of Khao Pom. Before leaving Paradise Park Farm, you may drop by the souvenir shop near the restaurant and the orchid farm.

It sells a range of exotic plants and flowers. Paradise Park Farm accepts visitors from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Shuttle service is provided at a fair price. Entrance fee is Bt300 per adult, Bt100 per child over 4 years old.

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