Lolitas

Lolita Bungalows

I tend to be a repeat visitor. I find a situation that appeals to me; a place, a person, a moment,….. and I will most often try to return to that situation, at least once, hoping to repeat whatever it was I found rewarding the on the first visit.

Most always, it is not the same the second time, as it was the first. I have come to realize that the sense of content of being came with me and does not wait to exactly repeat itself when I return. I never arrive being the same person I was when I left.

However, Lolita’s Bungalows have proven to be an exception to that rule. Located on Maenam Beach, Ko Samui, I first arrived January 2020, my first visit to the island. The songthaew deposited me on the messy street of necessaries which runs parallel to the beach. A small, faded, unlit sign directed me past the parking dog, smoldering palm tree trimmings, and assorted dwellings to Lolita’s. I passed through the rolling gateand entered the ‘queendom’ of Lolita.

Now I don’t pretend this to be a ‘travel recommendation’ site, thus I do not want to fill it full of my personal thoughts on the portion sizes, prices,the quality of the muesli at breakfast, or rate the service of restaurants.  I don’t really care to share thoughts on cleanliness, A/C efficiency, bathroom features….. there are plenty of resources for all that. So, I talk about the feeling. There is something comforting and sensible about the well groomed gardens, the well groomed, organized rows of bungalows, the large elevated center located open airreception and restaurant area.  But it is Lolita that

makes the difference.

Even though Lolita speaks limited English, or so I think🤔, she puts out a personality that I liken to a grandmother, who as a child you never really understood, but you had a fond respect for. I always feel like Lolita is smiling at a secret joke, only she understands.

Lolita lives on the property in a large, well appointed house. There is Art, her nephew, and at least two’ Lolita look a likes’, who are her sisters, an older man who is in charge of raking, and a small army of housekeepers, tree trimmers, weed pullers, grass waterers and such. They seem to come and go, seem to work with no directive, but seem to understand what it is Lolita wishes them to do. The birds visit the porch at half past seven, the butterfly arrives a little later and the beach dog wanders by around nine o’clock.

I was in and out of the property a few times in 2020 and the restaurant and bungalows were always busy with seasonal stay guest and shorter term visitors.  The restaurant was full, the beach in front buzzing with massage ladies and beach vendors.  This visit, January 2022, I was one of two rented bungalows.  The restaurant was open, sort of by request.  The beach never had more then a few dozen people on it.  I stayed one week and Lolita bribed me every morning with a gift of fruit to stay longer. 

View of the empty bungalows 🙁

This visit was limited to one week, prior to going to Ko Phangan. It is doubtful our schedule will return us before leaving the country. The calm, familiar comfort of that feeling when I pass through the gate into Lolita’s will linger until the time I do return, and I always do.