Samui Profile
The following is an extract of an interview between Steven Willeboordse of Samui Explorer and Khun Siriwong, one of the owners of Blue Samui Bar and Restaurant in Bophut.
Samui Explorer:
Can you first tell us a little bit about your background?
Khun Siriwong:
I was born and raised in the Kanjanadit district, which is about 20 kilometers away from Suratthani town. My parents grew fruit for a living and my father was also a taxi driver between Suratthani and Nakhon Si Thammarat. I come from a big family, I have 2 brothers and 5 sisters. After high school I went to Bangkok and did a study for technician at the Technical College.
Samui Explorer:
What did you do after finishing your study?
Khun Siriwong:
I came to Samui to visit some friends and I liked it so much so I decided to stay here. To be able to live here I started working in a resort as a waiter, which I did for 3 years. After this, about 12 years ago, me and 5 friends opened our own restaurant, the first Blue Samui Restaurant. Imagine Chaweng at that time was half the size of what it is now and we were located almost in the centre, close to where Captain Kirk Restaurant is now. In these days there were not many restaurants and certainly our second year we started to get really busy with guests from hotels and resort in the neighbourhood. Our menu consisted of Thai food, sea food and some European dishes. We run the restaurant for eight years and then decided to separate as partners to go our own way.
Samui Explorer:
What happened after that?
Khun Siriwong:
Me and one of my partners continued Blue Samui Restaurant for another two years, however on a different location. We moved to South Chaweng and rented the place where now The Fishy Wine Story and African Winery are located. After the lease contract finished and the price went up we decided to relocate to Bophut, cheaper and less restaurants then in Chaweng. We found a good and empty spot along the ring road and started to make our plans. Our very good friend Khun Joy made the design for our new Blue Samui Restaurant. After almost a year of building we opened our doors in March 2006.
Samui Explorer:
And how is Blue Samui doing after a year?
Khun Siriwong:
We are doing quite well, there are a couple of big resorts close by so we get a lot of guests from them who come for dinner with us. Apart from that we also get locals and people we personally know, many of them come to us for takeaway. We are open seven days a week from 2 pm until 11 pm, we serve Thai food, seafood which we get every day fresh from the seafood market at Big Buddha and we have also European dishes.
Samui Explorer:
What is it you like about Samui?
Khun Siriwong:
Meeting international people and experience all kinds of cultures from around the world. The way Samui develops is also good for the business, I only hope that it will not overdevelop and looses its tropical island feel.
Samui Explorer:
What do you like to do in your free time?
Khun Siriwong:
I don't have that much free time, but if I have I like to play football, go to see friends in other restaurants or go to Tong Krut with my girlfriend to eat local food and enjoy a relaxing time.
Samui Explorer:
Do you never have the plan to move to another place?
Khun Siriwong:
No, after such a long time on the island and having many friends here I rather stay here and I really like Samui that much and do business here.
Samui Explorer:
Have you been to other places?
Khun Siriwong:
Yes I have, but not so many. With a restaurant there is not a lot of time to travel. Sometimes I visit my parents in my hometown, my sister in Bangkok and Koh Phangan to have a party.
Samui Explorer:
Any plans for the future?
Khun Siriwong:
First of all continue the restaurant and improve where we can. If we have a solid ongoing business we will try to find another good location on the island to open another restaurant, not necessarily under the same name. Me and my partner Khun Naksiri have been working together such a long time in this business and we both have our heart in it, so expanding is the most logical thing if everything runs well.
Samui Explorer:
Well Khun Siriwong, thank you very much for your time and we wish you the best of luck for future business and plans.
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