Hello Everyone,

Today we went on a fun cultural tour around Ko Samui island. It was so nice to drive around the island and see life in action. The roads are narrow and winding - they are also busy bustling places where business is conducted through market stalls or small shops. We saw a lot of people everywhere, there are many tourists - especially in the areas where there are cafes and beaches. For the day out, our family took a car to 5 attractions: the Big Buddha statue, a mix of three religious temples, Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks, Chaweng Beach, and a mummified monk!   

At the Big Buddha site we saw lots of small temples, people burning incense and praying, and a monk. There were lots of people there on the morning we visited. The Big Buddha statue was built in 1972, and has been a main tourist attraction every since. At the parking area there were many shops selling local crafts and textiles everywhere. Then we wandered to the statue which was up a steep set of stairs, so we had a nice breeze, even though it was hot outside. The view from the statue was great, you could see coastline in both directions and the turquoise sea. As we walked the perimeter of the statue you could ring bells that had deep sounds - they were almost like large gongs with wooden wands. 

When we went to the next temple, we were only expecting one. Instead, there were 3! One was a traditional Buddhist temple, the other was a Hindu temple, and the last was a Chinese temple. The temples were "floating" out on the water. On the sides there were big fish that you could feed. The picture we are sharing is of the main statue of Guanyin, with 18 arms. She is the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion. There are elements of Thai and Chinese traditions in the temple design. This temple complex is called, Wat Plai Laem and it is considered a living and active temple where people come daily to pay respects to Guanyin and Buddha. 

Further along the coast are the Grandmother and Grandfather rocks which were a really pretty destination of granite rocks by the ocean. The rocks have a sad tale behind them ... the Grandmother and Grandfather went searching for a wife for their son but on the journey the weather capsized their tiny boat and they ended up on the shore where their bodies were turned to stone. The rocks overlooked the ocean, with other islands in the background. After taking in the view we enjoyed some locally made ice cream.

Our second-last stop was Chaweng Beach. This is definitely a party beach with loud music and a beach bar. We only stayed for about 10 minutes, but we got to dip our toes in the ocean and take in the scene. The sand was definitely nicer than where we stayed but the party vibe was a bit much for my mom and dad! This seems like a place our cousins, Demetria and Christina (or any 20-something person) would have a lot of fun!

Lastly, we visited a mummified monk. It was really cool to see. The monk, Luang Pho Daeng, died in 1973 while meditating. His body has not really decayed, and he is still rocking hair and teeth. At the temple/museum, the monk sits in a glass case. He is still wearing his orange monk robes, and a pair of sunglasses! :) 

Picture from: https://www.limesamui.com/activities/mummified-monk

Love Bella from Thailand xoxo