THE year was 1993. A college buddy and I made our first trip to Asia. It was also the first time I stepped foot on Koh Samui.

As backpackers, we strove to get by on US$10 a day, including food, board and beer - and we did it. We found a cheap thatched hut on Lamai Beach that at least had running water. Then we crashed out on the beach and took it easy. The number of beers varied.

To visit the island now is quite a shock. As the Bangkok Airways plane heads into the small airport, you can get a glimpse of multi-million-dollar villas climbing up the Bophut Hills. Prime beachfront real estate is now in short supply.

Read the full report in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times, Life!.