Koh Samui Wet Trip: 04 Koh Samui

 "Truth is like a surgery. It hurts but it heals. A lie is like a painkiller. It gives instant relief but has side effect forever..."

(Lad Koh Viewpoint, Koh Samui)

Day 04: Wednesday, 27 September 2023
Koh Samui Free and Easy
Hotel: Samui Verticolor Chaweng Beach

Had a heavy buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant. Today we planned to visit a few of Koh Samui tourist attractions, most of which we had visited before.

(Halal food served at the hotel restaurant)

(Ready to explore Koh Samui)

The first on our list was the Big Buddha Temple. The temple sits on Koh Phan, a small rocky island off Koh Samui's northeastern corner. Known locally as Wat Phra Yai, its golden 12-metre-tall buddha statue sits in the Mara posture, with the upward-facing palm of the left hand resting on the lap and the right hand facing down. There are many souvenir shops and eateries around the temple to cater for visitors.

(The Wat Phra Yai on Koh San island)

(Steep steps to the top)

(A reclining Buddha at the foot of the hill)

(The rustic predator and Samui map)

(A brief description of the Big Buddha Temple)

From the Big Buddha Temple we drove on highway 4169 to the Lad Koh viewpoint for some photo shots. There is a steep stairs leading to the Tessellated beach. We only took pictures from the top as it would be too strenuous for our knees to climb down to the beach.

(Lad Koh Viewpoint)

(A steep staircase to the rocky beach)

(A more gentle walkway to the beach)

(The tessellated rocky beach from the top)

We passed Lamai Beach and missed visiting the the Hin Ta and Hin Yai famously known as Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks. This is among the most popular attractions on Koh Samui. Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks are just simple granite rock formations. The reason why they are so famous is because the rocks resemble male and female genitalia... ha ha...

(The beautiful white sand Lamai Beach)

(A peaceful picnic area at one corner) 

Next attraction was the Guan Yu Shrine , located at Hua Thanon area nearby Lamai Beach. Here, there is a big impressive statue of Guan Yu in armour suit standing at 16 meters height which is the biggest bronze statue of Guan Yu in Thailand. In the Qing dynasty, Guan Yu was widely regarded as a “Holy Deity”. Nowadays, Guan Yu is still worshiped by many Chinese Buddhists, Confucianists, and Taoists around the world.

(Worshiped by Buddhist,Confucianist and Taoists)

(The imposing statue of Guan Yu)

(Many eateries and souvenir shops)

Our next destination was to Koh Samui Central mosque, also known as Masjid Nurul-Ihsan. This photogenic green and gold, domed mosque, built in 1984 is in Mughal style. The mosque sits in the heart of Ko Samui's historic Muslim village. The main prayer hall is carpeted. There is a wide, pastel green mehrab. Two Corinthian-style pillars and Arabic inscriptions decorate the mehrab where there is a beautiful carved dark wood mimbar. We were invited by the locals to join them in celebrating the Maulidur Rasul tomorrow. Unfortunately we had to board the 11.00 am ferry and had to be at the pier an hour earlier.

(Koh Samui Central Mosque)

(Masjid Nurul-Ihsan)

Today's lunch was again at Faria Halal restaurant. Other halal restaurants in Chaweng were either closed or not as tempting. The afternoon was spent napping and resting in the hotel room. 

(Lunch at Faria Halal Restaurant)

At night we had an hour of therapeutic thai massage to release tensed muscles. After, we had banana cashew nuts crepes and ice-blended smoothies for dinner at one of the boutique bistros along Chaweng main road.

(Fly me to the moon at Chaweng Beach)

(An hour of Thai body massage)

(Crepes and iced blended fruit juice for dinner)

             Koh Samui Wet Trip: 05 Hatyai👉

👈Koh Samui Wet Trip: 03 Koh Samui