Category: Koh Samui

Braving the drizzle, elephant trekking was on the agenda for our final day in Koh Samui.

The adventure was booked through an agency and transportation was provided. Choosing the 1:00pm departure gave us time to walk on the beach and enjoy the sunshine that dared to peek out at us that morning.
A tuk tuk soon arrived to collect us and we were on our way. The route was very familiar as we had been to this area two days prior…Namuang Waterfall is at the same location.
Before climbing on the elephant, I was approached by a photographer to take pictures of me at the end of the trek. He had a professional camera and charged 200 baht ($6) and promised to deliver the pictures to my hotel that evening.
Soon, I was strapped into the seat and ambling off into the jungle. My driver’s name was Dang and he offered me an umbrella to protect me from the steady drizzle that refused to quit until we neared the end of the ride. Our trek was to last for 30 minutes and since my travel companions were on an elephant in front of me, I was able to take pictures of them and they were able to get some of me.

As we neared the end of the pathway, through the river, towards the disembarkment platform, I saw my companions’ driver hop off of their elephant and move them one at a time off of the seat onto the elephant’s head. He proceeded to take many pictures for them with their iphones. My driver asked me if I would like to have pictures and I responded, “Yes.” I am not sure if he misunderstood me, but when we moved to the area where my companions’ pictures had been taken, he prompted our elephant to continue walking. As we walked into the river, I asked him when we were going to take pictures and I was harshly reprimanded that it was too late for him to get off of the elephant. I was taken aback by his rudeness as Thai people are usually quite pleasant. So shocked that I was, I hardly could muster up a smile as the professional photographer approached me for pictures.
Once I was back on land, I was so disappointed that my companions’ experience was so different than mine. I immediately went to the ticket window and asked the women working if all drivers offer to photograph their riders. I explained that I had witnessed many people receiving that courtesy, however, as a customer paying the same amount as them, I should have received it as well. They must have motioned to the manager because he was immediately at my side. He realized how disappointed I was and he quickly ushered me back to the platform and onto another elephant. He spoke to the driver who took me back to the end of the pathway, jumped off and began to take photos for me. The professional photographer spied me and came over to do more photographs as well. I was able to sit on the elephants head and as we were led away, the photographer leaned in to me and said only so I could hear, “These were much better with only you on the elephant. I’m glad you came back.”
Giving the manager a huge hug, I couldn’t express how grateful I was for that act of kindness that he extended to me. It had been a trying day and that event had been the straw that broke the camel’s back. Certainly, I understand that he wanted to keep a customer happy. In this age of Trip Advisor reviews, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and blogs, I am sure that he realizes that a bad experience can travel a long way from the island of Samui. However, it meant more to me than he will ever realize.
And yes, my photographs were delivered as promised…and I looked magnificent…without the driver on my elephant!

Transportation is provided three times a day to the Namuang Waterfall area where the treks are done. The cost is about 700 baht ($20) for 30 minutes and 1000 baht ($30) for 1 hour. We asked for and received a discount since there were three of us booking, 600 baht each ($17) for 30 minutes.

For more pictures, please see my Facebook page, Snapping the Globe.

After breakfast on our third day in Koh Samui, we decided to do some sightseeing on the island.  Although there are tours that provide either 4 or 6 hour itineraries, we opted to not be part of a tour group as we wanted to tailor the trip to our tastes.  No need for a monkey show!  I have seen many primates in my time…some too close for comfort!

Making a deal with a local cabbie was a pretty easy process.  There were many to be found along the main street awaiting customers.  We agreed on a price of 1300 baht ($36.00) for 4 hours of sightseeing, including the Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha), Wat Plai Laem Temple, Hin Ta and Hin Yai, Wat Khunaram (Mummy Monk) and Namuang Waterfall.  Our cab driver did not speak much English, but we weren’t really looking for a tour guide.  He was capable of telling me how far to the next destination and that was fine by me!

First on the itinerary was the Big Buddha.

The temple, Wat Phra Yai, sits on a small rocky island, Koh Faan, off of Koh Samui’s northeastern corner.  Build in 1972 and one of the island’s most popular attractions, the Buddha stands almost 40 feet high.  It can be seen several miles away and by arriving flights into Koh Samui airport.

Colorful dragons lead up to the platform area on which the Buddha sits.  There are also two other Buddha images adjacent and many Buddha devotees come daily to make offerings.  Entrance is free and donations are accepted.  Long shorts or trousers should be worn and shoulders should be covered.

At Koh Phra Yai, we encountered a monk who invited us (for a donation) to receive a blessing.  We knelt in front of him and then he allowed us to have a picture taken.  He tied a good luck string on our wrists and blessed us with holy water using reeds dipped in the water and patting our wrists.  Then, we were sprinkled with the holy water while waving the reeds back and forth.  As he was touching our wrists, it sounded as if he were saying, “Good Luck, Good Luck, Good Luck” only it sounded more like, “G’luck, G’luck, G’luck”.  He must have sensed that we needed some luck because he chanted it an awful lot!

Next, we visited the Wat Plai Laem Temple, which is very near to the Big Buddha.  Located on Koh Samui’s northeast coast, the Buddhist temple features an impressive white 18 arm image of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion.  Surrounded by a tranquil lake, Wat Plai Laem is a live and active temple where devotees come daily to pay homage to Guanyin and Buddha, who is also depicted in a number of statues and murals around the temple.  Entrance is free, however donations are accepted.   Conservative dress and behavior is expected.

My friends weren’t really interested in Hin Ta and Hin Yai (Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks) however, I talked them into visiting since it was on the way to the Mummy Monk and the waterfall.  Five minutes, I told them….jump out see it and jump back in the cab.  Well, well, wouldn’t you know who got a kick out of these?  I think they took more photographs than most tourists.  I really don’t need to describe these, check out the photographs and make of it what you will.

Next was the Mummy Monk at Wat Khunaram.  There are many mummy monks throughout Thailand, but Loung Pordang, who died in 1973, is probably one of the most highly revered.

He died in a seated meditative position and has been on display in an upright glass case at the temple ever since.  He was very accepting of death and saw it as an opportunity to be reborn into a better place.  He was said to have told his followers before his death that if his body were to decompose, that he wanted to be cremated.  However, if it did not, he wanted to be put on display as a reminder of Buddha’s teachings.  He has been on display ever since at Wat Khunaram.

Lastly, we visited the Namuang waterfall.  These falls are not extremely high, only descending for a total of 300 feet between the two parts of the waterfall, Namuang 1 and Namuang 2.  Because of the purple shade of the rock faces, these waterfalls were so named, Namtok Na Muang or Purple Waterfalls. There is a small pool at the base and I had previously seen pictures of other tourists taking a dip.  We had not brought our suits or towels, so swimming was not on the agenda.  Admission is free and there are many souvenir and food shops on the premises.

While in town, we always walked by the Starz Cabaret.  Usually, there was music playing through the upstairs open windows and more often than not, an elaborately dressed drag queen standing on the sidewalk handing out flyers for the show.

I had heard about the Kathoey (Lady Boy) shows in Thailand, but had never attended one.  So after returning from our tour, and getting a nice dinner, we decided that tonight was our chance!

We weren’t extremely tired and the location was close to the hotel.  Entry was free with a required drink purchase.  Drinks were not overly expensive…about 250 baht for a beer ($7.00), compared to 50-90 baht ($1.50-$2.50) at most restaurants, so it was as if you were paying a $5 cover charge.

The venue was quite small, so everyone had a pretty good view of the stage.

The performers consisted of four males who were back-up dancers to the 8 main attractions.  Lip syncing was the norm, but I have to say, they were quite entertaining!  Now, there were some that I could see were males, dressed in drag, however, some, I would have never known were not a woman had I encountered them on the street.

A forty five minute show is performed every night at 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 and afterwards, you are invited to take pictures with some of the performers…for a tip…of course!

Check out more pictures on my Facebook page, Snapping the Globe.