Let’s face it, it can be hard to meet other expats on Koh Samui.  Nothing against the locals, but the language barrier vastly reduces the possibility of hanging out together for fun.  I found a way to meet expats in a funny place: Samui Disk Golf.

In case you’ve never heard of disk golf, it’s also called frisbee golf, or even frolf.  It’s actually a real sport with tournaments, professionals, sponsors, etc. and is played all over the world.  It works like golf in that you start off on the tee pad and attempt to get your “ball” into the “hole” in as few “strokes” as possible.  The hole in this case is a large metal basket raised off the ground about 3 feet, and the strokes are throws of a frisbee-type disk.  There are even different disks for driving, putting, and turning different directions while in flight.

Anyway, it turns out there’s a disk golf course about 2 miles from our house and it’s run by Nigel, an expat from Venice Beach, CA.  He has leagues for singles and doubles every week, and there’s usually about a dozen regulars who show up.  Here’s some shots from the course:

Monthly, Nigel hosts a tournament followed by an amazing barbeque.  When not running the disk golf course, Nigel is a professional caterer on the island, specializing in BBQ.  A typical BBQ will have his signature melt-in-your-mouth ribs, slow-cooked pork belly, and grilled chicken, along with 4 or 5 sides and salads.  For an expat, this is like manna from heaven.  I love Thai food and all, but Nigels BBQ is an extremely tasty reminder of home.  As an added benefit, since Jennifer and I made up two thirds of the the entire beginner category, we won a medal and gift certificate every month:

On Thanksgiving, Nigel pulls out all the stops and applies his exceptional culinary skills appropriately.  Turkey, ham, two kinds of stuffing, two kinds of potatoes, mac and cheese, green bean casserole, you name it, he’s cooked it.  Here’s a shot of the feast:

It was great to celebrate a familiar holiday with friends and family, despite being eight thousand miles away.  After eating ourselves silly, Nigel’s daughter entertained us by singing a few tunes while playing her ukulele.  It was her first public performance and she was quite charming.  I can’t imagine a better Thanksgiving away from home.