Koh Samui Thailand

KOH PHA-NGAN

    Koh Pha-ngan is located north of Koh Samui and has a land area of 192 sq.kms. It can be reached from Donsak and Bandon Pier in Surat Thani daily by a ferry.
    Famous for its monthly full moon party, the island can also be reached by speedboats from Samui's Big Buddha Pier or from Nathon in about 25-40 minutes.
    Hidden in the island's lush forests are waterfalls few have seen. Its beaches are secluded and the waters around them are full of life as exemplified by the presence of coral reefs.

    Although it is the least populated of the nearby islands, accommodation isn't a problem since there are numerous bungalows on Koh Pa-Ngan where rates are very affordable. Those wanting to see more of the island can rent vehicles. Internet cafes also abound.

    Local communities make their living through coconut farming and fishing. The number of daily visitors from Koh Samui alone is estimated at about 400 during the low season. But during full moon parties, the island comes alive as an average happening that lasts the whole day.

KOH TAEN

Koh Taen, off the southern shore, has excellent hiking trails for an easy stroll or a serious all day trek through the jungle. The island is largely uninhabited and has several nature study points maintained by the Koh Taen Conservation Club. Legend has it that dogs cannot survive a night on the island, this is probably due to the high frequency calls omitted by the millions of bats which call Koh Taen home and can be seen clouding the sky ( and heading for Samui ) at dusk. You can arrange long tail boat transport to Koh Taen from Tong Krut Bay on Samui’s southern shore.

KOH TAO

Koh Tao is 45 km to the nort of Koh Pha-ngam. Here nature is unspoiled and the local people live harmoniously with it. A very ideal plane for snorkeling and diving because of the perfect visibility and the rich aquatic life.

Diving Koh Tao
Koh tao has literally become a divers paradise, more open here than anywhere else in Asia, which is an astonishing fact given the size of the island and its remoteness. The reason it has become such a popular destination has something to do with the quality of the instruction and diving and an awful lot to do with the price. Koh Tao is one of the cheapest places anywhere in the world to become a certified diver. When the bath was devalued in 1997, Thailand suddenly became a very cheap place to go diving.

However since then most of the country’s dive operators have shifted their prices into US dollars or increased their bath prices. Koh Tao’s operators, decided-through informal and sometimes contentious agreements-to keep their prices down and fixed at an agreed level. The result of this is, of course, tremendous for anyone looking for cut price diving and fortunately, due to the presence of some well-established and very professional outfits: high teaching and safety standards have been maintained.

The other great thing about diving in Koh Tao is the proximity of the dive sites-all the main sites are within a half hour boat ride so boats have plenty of time to go out for two dives each morning and afternoon, returning for lunch on the island.

The down side of the (for some people) is that diving in Koh Tao is a cheap and cheerful affair. Don’t expect modern fiberglass boats and a towel at the end of the dive, here the them look a little shaky in stormy waters. Ti is not uncommon for engines to fail and for dive boats to be towed home by friendly fishermen.

KOH NAGN YUAN

Koh Nang Yuan is a group of three virgin islands close to the north or Koh Tao, joined together by a three-way stretch of pure white sand beach, offering a scenic view, The sea around it is excellent for diving and snorkeling because of its wide variety of coral formations and a large quantity of marine fauna. Moreover, its clear water provides perfect visibility and its constantly warm water makes it an all-year-round diving location.

ANG THONG ISLANDS MARINE NATIONAL

The group of islands to the west of Samui and Phangan are collectively known as Angthong, which translates as golden bowl, and quite rightly have been declared a national marine park. Comprising of 40 or so lime Stone islands and karsts that rise dramatically hundreds of meters above the ocean capture the imagination of all who visit. The islands are all sorts of shapes and sizes and many are covered with lush tropical forests and have descriptive names like “sleeping cow island” or “ three pillar island”

Covering some 250 square kilometers of which 50 square kilometers is land mass, most of the islands are in close proximity to each other which makes sailing through them an awesome experience. Sheer walls of shining lime stone loom almost 400 meters above the ocean and white sand beaches shine against the deep blue of the sea and the dark green of the islands.

Many of the islands have caves with fascinating rock formations such as Tham Bua Bok or waving lotus cave, named after spectacular stalactites and stalagmites which time has carved into the rock. One of the main highlights of a visit to the park is Kho Mae Koh where and emerald seawater lake sits in the middle of the island surrounded on all sides by limestone cliffs an under ground tunnel connects with the sea outside. It takes about 40-minutes to climb from the shore to the rim of the lake and you get a great view across the whole park as well as this unique spectacle.

Most tours also go to Koh Wua Talap-or sleeping cow island-where the park head-quarters are located and basic bungalow accommodation is available. There is a steep 430-meter climb (it takes about an hour up and down) from the park office to a viewpoint near the island’s peak which offers an unrivaled panorama of the entire archipelago and the mainland. The views are especially fine at sunrise and sunset if you can arrange to be there. There is another walk from the offices that is worth the effort, which is a tough 200-meter climb (40-minutes up and down) to Tham Bua Bok, the waving lotus cave.

SURATTHANI

KHAO SOK NATIONAL PARK

Just two hours drive from Suratthani, heading west along highway 401 towards Phuket, is Khao Sok National Park. A 646-square-kilometer expanse of land blanketed with tropical and evergreen rainforest and dominated by towering limestone mountains and spectacular karsts. Few tourists make the effort to get to the park, most preferring to lie on the beaches of Samui or Phuket, However those that do are rarely disappointed and find it quite incredible that one of Thailand’s last remaining rainforests and a true wilderness is so close to these major tourist centers yet relatively unknown.

Sights of Khao Sok

Within the far-flung boundaries are numerous waterfalls, enormous bat caves, the immense Chieo Lan Reservoir, and the Sok River, Which winds through thick jungle and past huge limestone cliffs that resemble a misty vision of another world.

In dense regions of the park a few tigers and leopards still prowl, although they are hardly ever seen. Elephant, gaur, serow, banteng, Malay sun-beat, tapir, and can be seen if you have the time and patience to go on a real safari. Wild gibbons, langur monkey and Macaque are more likely to be sported and are often heard, especially the distinctive whooping of the gibbon.

There are over 180 species of bird living in the park, including 5 species of hornbill and birdwatchers from all over the world come to catalogue rare species, especially Guerney’s Pita, which is one of the rarest species on the planet and lives only in Khao Sok. Another species endemic to the park is a flower: Bua Phut or “wild lotus” which is the largest flower in the world.

Reaching a diameter of 80-centremeters and once a year it produces huge buds that emit a foul stench attracting the insects it uses for pollination.

PHUMRIANG VILLAGE

Phumriang Village and Laem Pho Located 7 km from town, the village is famous for a local product called Phumriang silk woven with golden and silver tinsel. Two kilometers further is situated Laem Pho which is a beautiful beach.

WAT PHRATHAT CHAIYA

Wat Phrathat Chaiya, situated 54 km from town, is an important monastery of the province which houses relics of the Lord Buddha in a small pagoda assumed to be built in the Srivichai period (1,200 years ago)

WAT SUAN MOKKHAPHALARAM

      This is the compound of the forest temple founded by ajan Buddhadasa. It has now become a tribute to his teachings and has a museum and library. Visitors can stay in guest quarters on site.

Ajan Buddhadasa Bhikku 1906-1993
      Ajan Buddhadasa Bhikku was born in Chaiya in 1906. He studied scriptures before retiring to the forest fox six years solitary meditation. He became a highly esteemed forest monk by practicing a mixture of strict intellectual discipline, unorthodox interpretation of Buddhist thought and practice(including ideas from Zen Buddhism and Taoism as well as secular, modern reformist ideas about the practice of Thai Buddhism), withdrawal and meditation. He combined his radical thinking and practices with a very effective use of the printed medium (in both Thai and English) and became the most celebrated Thai Buddhist thinker amongst western adepts.
      His form of Buddhism was very pure and austere and a shift away from the magical and supernatural qualities of popular Buddhism. He was branded a communist for writing against capitalist theory, which he perceived as promoting greed, and was treated with suspicion and disdain by the Sangha (Buddhism governing council) for speaking out against the blessing of amulets and for attempting to demythologize Buddhism.

He was seen in the west and by Thai intellectuals as a radical reformer but was worshipped by the Thai people as a living saint and a powerful magical figure. He died in 1993 and wanted the simplest of funerals, yet his death was an internationally reported event and sparked national mourning.