Nandita Raja,
fashion designer

My favourite holiday till date is the one we took during the last Puja vacation. We had visited Thailand and ventured some 700 km away from Bangkok to stay on a small island called Koh Samui. Situated in the southern part of Thailand, Koh Samui is exquisitely beautiful. I totally lost my heart to it! Right from the little railway carriage that carried passengers to the terminal from the aircraft to the restaurants, people, the hospitality and above all, the sheer beauty, I loved it all. It is still to be discovered in a big way by Indian tourists and has a very cosmopolitan feel to it, thanks to the travellers it gets from across the world. Indeed it was very enriching to meet people from all corners of the world. Yet it has managed to retain the authentic Thai feel, unlike a lot of other places, which have become too commercialised.

Food and fashion also held me captive in Thailand. Thai cuisine needs no paean from me — it’s appreciated by one and all. And being a designer, I was especially enthralled by the local handicrafts and the Thai silks. Vibrant colours, bold designs and exquisite textures make them really stand out.

I was so taken with the place, that we’ve already started planning our next trip there.