Fansheet Issue #01
A letter from the General Manager
We’re really excited to bring you the first edition of our new Prana Newsletter. It’s our way of saying thank you for being our loyal supporter.
We want to keep you connected with what’s going on at Prana and around Koh Samui, plus give you exclusive access to special ‘member only’ deals and tips for getting the best out of your stay on the island.
No matter the season, Samui is an amazing place to visit and staying at Prana will transform your holiday into a memorable experience. Trust us – we know, we live here.
A sure thing, for now, travel is no one’s priority due to the effects of the pandemic and, as good citizens, the right thing to do is to follow the advice of specialists and work together the best we can to fight against this high-risk yet invisible enemy. But let us fill that extra time we may have on our hands to discover how to best prepare the vacations of the future. So let’s set course for that “dream now travel later” mood
And when the right time arrives many of you will be extra cautious when it comes to travel. We just wanted to reassure you that at Prana, we are going out of our way to keep our environment safe and our guests happy.
Have a nice read and be safe!
Mr. Mihail A. Chesaru
General Manager
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Prana Cares
Keeping our beaches clean
Giving back to the local Samui community is really important to us. Each day, our team ventures down to our beachfront and does a thorough clean up, to make sure that your beach experience will be beautiful. Last February, our Prana team of dedicated volunteers spent a full day cleaning the entire stretch of Bangrak Beach – some 4kms long.
As beautiful as the beaches of Koh Samui are, we are not immune to plastic pollutants that threaten the ocean and coastline. Thailand, along with China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam are responsible for producing 60% of the world’s plastic waste, according to the Ocean Conservancy, so it is our responsibility to do something about it. Even if the waste doesn’t originate from the island, it can wash up on our shores.
We’d like to think our 2020 Bangrak Beach Clean Up went a long way towards helping protect the precious Samui ecosystem.
We’ve noticed that several of our guests also feel inspired to help in the clean-up and we encourage your participation, but more importantly, we hope that everyone will respect our beaches and help keep them litter-free.
Our annual Bangrak Big Beach Clean-Up is just one of our many Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. We have a 12-month calendar of CSR activities that we take part in, either on our own or as collaborative projects with other hotels and local Samui organisations.
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Samui unplugged
Take a hike to Hin Lad
There’s so much more to Samui than stunning beaches and partying in Chaweng. The island’s lush green interior is waiting to be explored, with an abundance of tropical forests, wildlife and scenic outlooks. Why not set out on a hike to Hin Lad Waterfall and experience the beauty of the island’s hinterland? Hin Lad may not be the tallest falls on the island, but the hike there is stunning.
Start your hike in Nathon. A pretty path runs alongside the river that winds deeper and deeper into the jungle. Along the way, you may get to see monkeys frolicking in the trees, water buffalo in the fields, a variety of bird life and lizards, plus an assortment of colourful, fragrant wildflowers along the track.
As the river level rises – especially during the rainy season – you’ll begin to hear the approaching falls. The waterfall may not be tall, but it is beautiful and an inviting plunge pool awaits where you can cool down after your long walk. It’s about two hours of easy walking each way – 5kms in total – but well worth it.
Hiking tips:
We recommend that you wear good, non-slip walking shoes, and take plenty of bottled water and a snack or picnic to enjoy once you get there. And don’t forget your bathing suit. We can arrange a private car or shuttle to take you to the beginning of the hiking trail – and pick you up afterwards – just give us 24-hours’ notice and book at reception.
What’s hot
Helping the kids with the online learning during the quarantine.
Ran out of things to do with your kids? With schools on lockdown due to coronavirus, we’re seeing how this possible ‘future of teaching’ would only benefit some children. Let us share with you one from the many free online platform that you can use. Called Wide Open School
Wide Open School is a free collection of the best online learning experiences for kids curated by the editors at Common Sense. Wide Open School make learning from home an experience that inspires kids, supports teachers, relieves families, and restores community.
But it’s not just a list of helpful websites. Instead, Wide Open School actually programs a full school day for the child by grade level, to ensure they’re getting a mix of educational material that aligns with what their day would have been when attending school.
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Wanna Know What Else is Hot?
Tom Yum Goong, (a hot and sour soup with shrimp), one of the most popular dish at Prana.
Tom Yum Goong is loved for its sour-and-spicy flavour and the fragrant aroma that comes from the assortment of herbs and spices used in this dish. Are you ready for a taste of Thailand? Here’s our Chef’s Tum recommended recipe uses on our private cooking classes that you can prepare in your kitchen.
| Ingredients | Quantity | Ingredients | Quantity | |
| White prawn | 120g | Fish Stock | 200ml | |
| Straw Mushrooms | 30g | Lemon Juice | 30ml | |
| Fish Sauce | 30mls | Condensed Milk | 20ml | |
| Lemongrass | 10g | Galangal | 7g | |
| Toasted Chili Paste | 8g | White Sugar | 3g | |
| Cherry tomato Small Thai Chilli’s | 30 g. 3g | Kaffir Lime Leaves | 2g |
How to make Tom Yum Goong?
- Put fish stock in the pot, add lemongrass, mushrooms, chili, kaffir lime leaves, toasted chili paste and Galangal
- Seasoning with fish sauce, lemon juice and white sugar and condensed milk
- Put the prawn until cook then put in the bowl on top with coriander leaves
We’d love to hear from you
Got a Samui story to share, questions to ask or an Inst-worthy pic of Prana? Just drop us an email and we’ll get back to you – or maybe include your feedback in our next newsletter. Email us at [email protected]