From Sweden to Samui - My Story
I first visited Thailand and Koh Samui in 1990, when I was still a teenager. From the moment I set foot on the island, I was captivated. I remember thinking, "This is where I want to live." Over the next few years, I returned several times, and in 1999, I launched a website dedicated to the island. By 2003, the site’s income had grown to a level where moving to Thailand became a real possibility.
A few years earlier, I had met Rawadee (nickname: Aom) online, and we first met in Thailand in 2001. In 2003, she moved to Sweden to live with me in Nynäshamn, just south of Stockholm. But in 2004, we took the leap and made the permanent move to Thailand—specifically, Koh Samui.
Once we arrived, we got married and settled in the IT Complex, then one of the largest buildings on the island. Rawadee opened her own computer shop, selling computers and accessories, while we lived in a small room behind the shop, making it a true family business. I worked from my office in the same building, managing Kohsamui.org and a few similar websites.
Kohsamui.org had started in 1999 as a small project fueled by our love for the island. Over time, it grew into a trusted resource for travelers, featuring hotel bookings and advertisements, which became our main source of income. For more than ten years, we were proud to rank number one on Google worldwide for "Koh Samui," and for several years, we also led the results for "Koh Samui hotels." Each month, around 15,000 visitors explored the island through our eyes, discovering the beaches, island news, places to stay, and the hidden gems that make Koh Samui special. From 2006 to 2017, we rented a small but cozy house in the same area.
Around 2013, we closed the computer shop, and income from Kohsamui.org and our other travel websites began to decline. Rawadee became a licensed tourist guide and also worked as a real estate agent, while we relied on savings from the more prosperous years. In 2018, we built our own two-story home in north Lamai, where we’ve always lived and worked—and where we are still very happy today.
Now, we run Oasis Samui Company Limited, with our office located opposite the IT Complex. We help others start businesses and provide assistance with visas and work permits, guiding people to navigate life and work on the island as smoothly as possible.
