Koh Samui, 2024
Our first villa
An initial morning view from our villa in Bang Por, Koh Samui. We arrived at midnight, having landed in Koh Samui and been told that my luggage was still in London! The airline told us my luggage should arrive today and will be delivered here (it did, but one case was damaged beyond repair). Our villa has a wooden deck and a small pool. Beyond the deck is the beach, just a few metres from the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand.
Our second villa
After a month in Bang Por, we moved south to a villa in Bang Kao, near the beach but not on the beach. The villa is beautiful, but a bit faded over time in places. It is hotter in the south of Samui, but we are getting used to the warmer, more humid air. Instead of the sound of waves breaking on a sandy beach, we have a chorus of cockerels and wild birds during the day and crickets and frogs after the sun has set.
While we were there, a storm came through so Mrs F and I went down to the beach to enjoy watching the waves crashing against the shore, while standing in torrential rain
Wat Khunaram
On display in an upright glass casket and surrounded by flowers, candles, incense sticks, and fruit offerings is the body of Koh Samui’s most famous monk, Loung Pordaeng.
For many Westerners, this might be an uncomfortable or even disturbing sight; for Thai people, the body of the monk is there to be worshipped, and death is seen as an opportunity to be reborn in the next and better life. The mummified body of Loung Pordaeng is kept in a glass casket in a temple building in Wat Khunaram temple, which was specially built for this purpose.
Red Stone Coffee
One of the best coffee shops on the island. Watching Pum Pum make a cappuccino is like watching an artist at work.
Cool Bar Samui
The best secluded bar on the shores of southern samui, hosted by the coolest couple on samui “Doungnapa & Un”
Wat Teepangkorn
Wat Teepangkorn is located at the highest viewpoint on the island- 605m. A large golden Buddha ‘Pra Buddha Dipankara’ stands at the center of the sight. From here there is a panoramic 360-degree view of the island overlooking Lamai beach and the coconut groves below. Access is by some very steep roads, some of which are in poor condition.
Bang Por
Located on the northwest corner of KohSamui, Bang Por beach lies between Nathon and Maenam. The beach itself is sandy, with calm waters that are ideal for year-round swimming. The area enjoys a genuine feeling of community, with upscale restaurants, spas and yoga studios catering to familiar locals and recurring visitors.
There is no annoying night-time revelry in the immediate area to disturb the beach’s rare tranquillity. While Bang Por Beach enjoys a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere, the busier Bophut Beach and main tourist enclave of Chaweng Beach and its shops and nightlife are a comfortable 10-20 minute drive away.
Ban Tai beach
Ban Tai is a small beach, that is seldom marked on maps. But those in the know call it a secret paradise corner of Koh Samui. However, it is not so difficult to find this miracle, as connoisseurs promise. Ban Tai is situated in the north if the island, between extensive beaches Maenam and Bang Po. A turn to Ban Tai from the ring road is marked with a blue sign, on which it is written with big letters ‘This way to the public beach’. It is also possible to orient yourself by a white sign of the hotel ‘Mimosa’ and another for the ‘Cape Away Bar’, which adorns a target turn.
Wat Phra Yai – Big Buddha
Wat Phra Yai, known in English as the Big Buddha Temple, is a Buddhist temple on Ko Phan (also spelled Koh Fan or Koh Faan), a small island offshore from the northeastern area of Ko Samui, Thailand, connected to that island by a short causeway 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) north of Samui International Airport. As its name indicates, it is home to a giant, 12-metre-high (39-foot) gold-painted Buddha statue. Since being built in 1972, it has become one of Ko Samui’s main tourist attractions and a major landmark.
Wat Plai Laem
Wat Plai Laem is a wat on the island of Ko Samui, Thailand. Like the nearby Wat Phra Yai or “Big Buddha Temple”, it is a modern Buddhist temple. The temple’s design incorporates elements of Chinese and Thai traditions and was in part designed by distinguished Thai artist Jarit Phumdonming. Its main statue, which is in Chinese style, is not of Gautama Buddha. It is a form of the bodhisattva of compassion and mercy, Avalokiteśvara, called Cundi. This form of the deity is known in Chinese as “Guanyin with eighteen arms”.
In addition to the main statue, there is also a white statue of Budai and smaller shrines dedicated to Ganesha, Vishnu, Shiva and Sakka.
Mae Nam Night market
A food market used by Thais to go shopping. The food stalls offer with snacks and main courses found first and including tempura prawns, barbecued squid, curried meat dishes with rice, samosas and pizza slices. Following is the dessert section with its delicious ice creams, pancakes with fresh fruit syrup, mangoes and many other varieties of fruit. Or you can buy fresh produce – meat, vegatables and fish.
Wat Khao Hua Jook
Wat Khao Chedi
Chinese temple of Guanyin
Nathon Hainan temple
Wat Phra Chedi Laem So
Debbie’s Wiilys Jeep
Wat Khao Pom
Si Khao night market
Wat Pradoem
This temple may be completely unnoticed, but it is already more than 230 years old, and it is believed that this is the very first Buddhist temple built on Koh Samui. There are almost never any tourists here, and locals visit it en masse only on holidays, so almost certainly if you come here on a weekday, you will be completely alone here.
The temple is a whole complex on which there are several viharns (one of them is wooden and very old, with a massacre), kuti (a room for monks), a drum tower. Unfortunately, not all rooms of the temple are open on weekdays, and the most interesting thing, namely the old wooden viharn, most likely, is not on public view.
Wat Lamai
Wat Ratchathammaram
Wat Ratchathammaram is a Buddhist temple along the Samui Ring Road. It also goes by the name Wat Sila Ngu, which means ‘stone snake’ in English. You can see many stone-carved snakes all around the compound.
This long-established temple has a magnificent building in deep red clay, which adds to the mysterious yet serene atmosphere of the temple. The large room it houses is pretty sombre, with its walls entirely carved with scenes of Buddha’s life. Wat Ratchathammaram’s seaside location affords splendid views of Koh Samui’s east coast.
Guan Yu Shrine
Located on the 4169 ring road is the Guan Yu Shrine Samui. South of Lamai situated in Hua Thanon, it the impressive Guan Yu Chinese Statue. Officially opened in January 2016 the Guan Yu Shrine is 16 meters in height. The Big Buddha Statue in Kao Fan is 12 meters and Guan statue 4 meters taller. The Guan statue stands at the same height as the Big Buddha without the pedestal the statue sits on. The original construction work for the statue and the temple began in 2012 and continues to the present day.
The shrine displays and preserves the traditional Chinese artefacts. Within the Guan Yu Shrine Samui is a Chinese tea room. Behind the statue of Guan are a museum and gift shops. The views of Hua Thanon Harbour are amazing. The traditional long tail boats adorn the harbour on the Hua Thanon Beach. Old photos hang on the walls at the shrine giving an insight to Guan Yu and Chinese Samui heritage. The shrine holds religious festivals and weddings and the funds raised are used for the upkeep of the temple.
I-Beach bar
Just down the road from Bank Kao is a great little beach bar that serves great food (Thai and European) and a wide selec5ion of drinks. The beach is one of the nicest around here and has clear, warm water that is just perfect. The access road gets a little narrow in places and thde parking facilites by the I-Beach Bar are limited. However, the loaction and ambiance make the trip worthwhile.
Wat Samret
The temple is just a little over a century old, so it’s not as historic as many of Koh Samui’s other temples. However, the main attraction is its small statue of Buddha in a seated position, which has been carved out of a single piece of marble. Many believe that the statue is the most ancient of all Buddha statues on the island, while others believe that it was brought to Thailand from Burma. A separate building houses another Buddha statue, which is surrounded by around 80 others. The Reclining Buddha is a distinct feature of the temple, while all others are in the Calling the Earth to Witness position, known as the Subduing Mara in Thai Buddhism.
Ban Bang Kao
Hua Thanon Wet Market
Buddha’s footprint
Wat Sawang Arom
This temple is completely made in white and was built in 2017. The temple is located in a monastery complex in Chaweng.
Wat Bun Tharikaram
A sprawling site not far from the Koh Samui International airport and Central Market. Not on most tourost’s intenry, but worth wth visit to see an unspoilt Buddhist temple with what seems to be many viharns (meeting rooms) and a bell hanging from a tree.
Wat Si Thaweep
A quite Buddist temple just to the north of Nathon. here are no big buildings but it is peaceful. Suitable for practicing Dhamma and personal contemplation. If anyone passes by, stop by to pay respect to Luang Pu Wat and ask for blessings.
Wat Nara Charoen Suk
Wat Nara Charoen Suk today is well-known for its unique building which has a big tower constructed into its facade. My guide was a ten-year-old mute boy. He was in the care of a woman, who was cleaning one of the main halls. The boy also had learning difficulties and was playing with an old blind dog. With the boy’s help, I photographed Buddhist statues and carvings. He also wanted me to photograph all the electric light fittings.
Previous visit in 2023
Our last visit here was in March 2023:
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