Last Word on Koh Samui

EXPLORING KOH SAMUI

Yes, Vana Belle is a wonderful resort and it was great to stretch out on a chaise lounger for a few days. Inevitably though, our adventurers needed to check out the rest of the island before returning home. 

Hire a car to see some of the significant natural and cultural sites on the island. Start by checking out the 'Big Buddha' (Wat Phra Yai). This is a 12-meter tall, golden 'sitting buddha'. It is built on its own island that has a paved causeway connecting it to the main island. The statue is up on a dais that can be reached by scaling about three flights of stairs. From the dais one has an excellent view of the Gulf of Thailand to the north of Koh Samui. Gym climbed up to the dais where the big buddha was perched and gonged a few bells. Ringing a bell is supposed to bring blessings. At time of writing, Gym is still waiting for those blessings.

The Big Buddha

Stairs down from the dais to the causeway.

Not far from the Big Buddha, there is a complex of temples that are also well worth visiting. These temples are all close together, built in the middle of an inland lake that is full of giant carp (koi). Cundi, the 18-armed, Goddess of Guanyin graces the main temple. There is also a large Laughing Buddha and several smaller temples dedicated to Ganesha, Vishnu, Shiva and Sakra. The main temples are accessed over ornate bridges from which you can feed the carp. There is no entrance fee to visit this complex but you have to pay for the fish food.

An  ornate bridge crosses the lake to the temple of the
Laughing Buddha

Buy a bag of fish pellets to feed the carp.

Mrs. Gym meets Cundi

Another must-see part of Koh Samui is Fisherman's Village. It is a cool little district of narrow streets that runs parallel to Bophut Beach. It is not far from the chi-chi W Koh Samui Resort. The waterfront street is pedestrian-only and it is lined with nice restaurants and small, boutique hotels. The ocean on this side of the island seems calm and the beach although narrow, is of a very pleasing golden-coloured and fine-grained sand. The backs of the restaurants are open to the beach and Gym and his lovely companion were able to sit at a table on the edge of a terrace, to dine and watch the sun go down into the sea. The restaurant Gusto Italiano, is recommended for its homemade pasta, done perfectly al dente and smothered in some delicious sauces. After dinner, a stroll over to the Night Market was a good way to wear off some of those carbs. The sights, sounds and smells of the booths, lined up perpendicular to the waterfront, are a must to experience. Gym picked up some nice wooden salad servers, at a very acceptable discount to the sticker price. 

Dining on fresh pasta on the terrace of Gusto Italiano
with a view of the calm waters of the Gulf.

The narrow, pedestrian-only streets of Fisherman's Village

Colourful stalls on the night market

So many choices at the night market, if you are hungry

Our indefatigable explorers also hopped in a taxi and traveled south down the coastal highway to visit some interesting rock formations and a pretty spectacular waterfall. At the first stop, they were rewarded by a bonus encounter with a Chinese tourist that knew the difference between the Grandfather and the Grandmother Rocks. Afterwards Gym realized that the Grandfather Rocks had a telltale vertical, phallus-shaped rock that was a pretty obvious clue. Later on that day, the driver was trying to find a parking spot at the Na Muang Waterfalls and a group of tourists mounted on elephants caused a bit of a traffic jam. After a short hike from the parking lot the adventurers were rewarded with the view of some very impressive waterfalls. 

Signs at Grandmother and Grandfather rocks

This must be Grandfather Rocks

Elephants have right-of-way

Na Muang Waterfalls

Hiking back to the parking lot

LEAVING THAILAND

Inevitably, all vacations must come to an end and on March 31, 2023 our adventurers left Koh Samui for the long journey home. It unfortunately turned into a longer return trip than was planned. It started well, when the transfer to Bangkok was executed flawlessly and our duo spent a pleasant night in the Bangkok Airport Novotel Hotel. The next morning the 'fun' began though when the Cathay Pacific flight was delayed 3.5 hours in Bangkok and the connection in Hong Kong was missed. As a result, the vacation was extended by a day and our frustrated travelers spent 24 hours briefly visiting the People's Republic of China. Fortunately, Cathay covered the hotel and a couple of meals and they booked seats on the next day's direct flight to Vancouver, on a Cathay 777. Unfortunately, as our hero’s were supposed to return on Air Canada, they did not get any points for that long trans-ocean flight. At time of writing, Mrs. Gym is still doggedly trying to rectify this transgression. Maybe Gym should not have expected such lavish blessings when he gonged the bells at the Big Buddha.

The quaint little, outdoor air terminal on Koh Sumai

The massive airport terminal in Bangkok

The courtyard pool at the Novotel 

Waiting for a bus at the airport in Hong Kong

A brief visit to the People's Republic

UPCOMING ADVENTURES

Beginning in the Fall, our adventurers have several trips strung together including a three country driving tour of Europe, another road-trip from Calgary to Los Angeles and a return to Africa. Stay tuned!