Whilst everyone raves about low out of season rates and fewer tourists, no one mentions the masses of mosquitoes that abound during this time, especially as the rain starts disappearing. On Koh Samui, as with many parts of Thailand, drainage leaves much to be desired and large lakes form on the road side. In some flat areas, the road basically floods. Mosquitoes love this water and wherever there’s trees, that’s where you’ll find them. Thailand’s pharmacies stock mosquito repellents such as incense sticks (200 baht), sprays ( 475 baht), lotions and plug-ins( 145 baht), but we found them to be way more expensive than at home. So if you’re travelling during this time, make sure you stock up on this stuff before coming.
Even scarier than the mosquitoes that eat you during the night, there are daytime ones which we’ve learnt to fear. The black and white striped Aedes mosquito is typically found in tropical places and carries Dengue Fever. In our first week we heard of two English teachers who had been seriously infected with it. We heard that once infected, you are out of commission for at least three weeks. We’re paranoid enough to never leave the house without a thick layer of mosquito repelling sheen all over. Other joys of monsoon season include never having dry feet, getting stung by rain whilst riding on your scooter (If one drop hits you in the eye, you’ll know all about it) and getting drenched by passing cars. Small price to pay for living in paradise I guess.
