Last Day on Koh Samui

Our last day in Koh Samui gave us an opportunity to hike to a lookout over the eastern side of the island.  We found a driver who took us over the mountain road and through the jungle to get to the pathway to a view of Lipa beach.  We also walked to the Na Mueang waterfalls but due to lack of rain they ran pretty dry.  They were still beautiful.

After an afternoon nap we went to the Friday Night Market and Bazaar at Fisherman’s Village Bophut, not far from where we are staying.

We had amazing food from local vendors. Pad Thai, Fried Spring Rolls, Chicken and Pork Satay.  It is beautiful here and people are friendly and welcoming.  

We haven’t found many tourists from the US, but there are a lot of travelers from Germany, Australia, and China.

We also got our feet wet with little fish that massaged our feet and removed callouses.  Ticklish is the most friendly sensation to describe the experience.

Have I mentioned that the food is incredible? Because it is!

Tomorrow we head to Vietnam and Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City.

The fish eating your feet tickle just a bit

It's called, "Fish Spa"

Happy travelers

The mountain road

Na Mueang waterfalls 

Looking East

Livers and hearts were the specialty at this stall at the night market

For the record, we passed on the bugs

Vendor stalls

The best Pad Thai in the world comes from a Wok in an alley near the Night MArket!

So good

We love original art - oil on canvas by Bom

Add caption

Just one more snack before we go home, please???

The Elephants

“Mr. Frodo, look! It’s an Oliphant, no one at home would believe this…” – Samwise Gamgee, LOTR, FOTR, JRR Tolkein

Today was amazing and surprisingly emotional (not me (yeah, right)) as we spent our morning at Samui Elephant Sanctuary. 

From their website:

We are excited to bring Samui Elephant Sanctuary (SES), the first elephant sanctuary of it's kind, to Koh Samui in Southern Thailand. 

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Our concept of elephant care and welfare is inspired and supported by Lek Chailert, world renowned elephant conservationist, the founder of Save Elephant Foundation and world famous Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai.  Lek is at the forefront of ethical elephant tourism both in Thailand and throughout Asia, which is seeing a growing demand for elephant camps to transition from a trekking to sanctuary model under the Save Elephant Foundation's 'Saddle Off' program.

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We offer tours that educate about the importance of these phenomenal, majestic giants, with a unique opportunity to feed, walk with, and observe our elephants as they forage, socialize, and play in their fabulous purpose built pool.

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The elephants in our care have previously endured a hard life working long hours for the tourism entertainment or logging industries; a striking contrast to the happy and peaceful lives they are now living, with the dignity and respect they deserve.

https://www.samuielephantsanctuary.org/about - check it out!

Walking through the sanctuary with a keeper and a guide we learned about the abuse and torture of the elephants in their previous lives in logging and tourist amusement.  When not providing rides for tourists 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, they were in chains.  Their tusks had been harvested with electric saws for the ivory, which trade has now been banned by the Thai government, unfortunately making it more valuable on the black market.  Think root canal without anesthesia and nitrous.   If the elephants refused to work in their previous lives, they were tortured with gaffing hooks. We saw many scars on their bodies. 

It was an incredible experience to walk with these elephants and feed them and to support the mission of this sanctuary.

Not a selfie, an "elphie"

Hello, Emily

Bananaholic

Elphie with our guide, Boi

Awesome Ladies

On our way to Thailand & Arrival in Koh Samui

After 27 hours in airplanes and airports, we arrived in Thailand on the Island of Koh Samui.  This wasn’t the original plan for the beginning of our trip to SE Asia, but Alaska Airlines had other plans for us. 

Ko Samui, Thailand’s second largest island, lies in the Gulf of Thailand off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus. It's known for its palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves and dense, mountainous rainforest, plus luxury resorts and posh spas.   (We are living semi bougie, not at the Waldorf, but we love our little Paradise Beach)

Our first destination was to the landmark 12m-tall golden Big Buddha statue at Wat Phra Yai Temple, located on a tiny island connected to Ko Samui by a causeway.  (Pictures below).  The Big Buddha statue depicts Buddha in a state of calm and purity and resolve, having overcome temptation and fear sent at him by Mara, Lord of Illusion. Known as the Mara posture, the left-hand rests palm open and up in the statue's lap, the right hand facing down over the right knee, almost to the ground.  We were amazed at the ornateness of Big Buddha and the many smaller Buddha’s at the Wat Phra Yai Temple. 

After paying our respects we managed to make our way (via a longer walk thanks to yours truly thinking, “I’m sure it’s this way”) to Wat Plai Laem, a Buddhist temple compound on Samui's north-east coast of Samui.  Here we saw a giant 18-arm statue of Guanyin, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy and Compassion. Wat Plai Laem offers visitors a view into Chinese-Thai beliefs as well as some elaborate Buddhist-themed art and architecture. Wat Plai Laem is a living and active temple, where devotees come daily to pay homage to Guanyin and the Buddha, who is also depicted in a number of statues and murals around the temple. There is also a neighboring elementary school (I’m guessing by the children’s ages.) This is a relatively new temple but the art techniques used in its creation are centuries-old and based on ancient beliefs. Adding to its feel of tranquility, the temple is surrounded by a lake, which is teeming with huge koi and some turtles.

Exhausted from our flight halfway around the world, we relaxed on the beach, swam in the warm Pacific Ocean, ate amazing Thai food, and crashed.  Next post, the Elephants.

Smiles before a 27 hour travel day

All the tools for sleeping on a plane

Layover at Shanghai Airport

Tired from travel, but we made it

Big Buddha

Kathy and Emily before climbing the steps to Big Buddha

Guanyin

Inside the Wat Plai Laem temple

Rad Nae (and below) Wok fried noodles with seafood - spicy hot, but absolutely incredible!

Advanced warning - there will be many food pictures on this trip.