Ko Samui - Relaxing and Island Tour (Thailand Part 14)

After traveling through eight different countries, our time on the road is coming to an end. Before heading back home after seven months, we wanted to relax a little and enjoy the warm weather.

For that, we flew to Ko Samui, an island in Thailand known for its beautiful beaches. We have one week here and didn't plan to do too much.

Nevertheless, we booked a half-day tour to see the main attractions of the island. Together with a friendly English gentleman, we were driven around the island by a Thai lady who has been living here for 30 years.

First, we went to the "Big Buddha", a 12-meter-high Buddha statue in Wat Phra Yai. It is located on a small island that can be reached via a causeway.

After that, we visited another temple, Wat Plai Laem, whose construction was initiated by the same monk as the "Big Buddha".

He seemed to have a preference for giant statues. However, here Guanyin, the goddess of mercy, attracts attention.

We made a brief stop at a viewpoint where we could see Chaweng Beach.

Our next stop along the coast was Hin Ta and Hin Yai, which translates to Grandfather and Grandmother. The name comes from a story about two lovers who drowned in the sea and their private parts turned into stone, which now protrude from the sea. However, why the man was supposedly so excited at his drowning remains a mystery to me.

The sight at our next stop was also bizarre: in Wat Khunaram, we saw a mummified monk whose remains are displayed in a glass case in the temple.

Afterwards, we enjoyed some nature at Namuang Waterfall. Contrary to our guide's claim, it was not dried up during this season, although it certainly flows more strongly during the rainy season.

After a short visit to the island's capital, Nathon, we headed back to the hotel to recover from the heat.