The beach, previously described, which runs from Bophut, through Bang Rak and ends with the newish ferry terminal and the fish & vegetable market at the junction with the airport turnoff are all prefixed with the Big Buddha appellation. Named after Samui’s most obvious landmark, the 15m high golden Buddha statue, which sits atop a similar sized hill on the small island of Koh Farn, is connected to the mainland by a short causeway. Construction of the statue began in April 1972 and took over two years to complete. The causeway to Koh Farn was built during the 80s dramatically raising its popularity and, one assumes, the temple’s income from donations. Recent additions to the statue include a tiered, golden pagoda style umbrella which temporarily increased its height, but due either (or both) to an engineering oversight or shoddy workmanship, the umbrella collapsed in a squall a month after it was completed. The statue currently sports a large wheel-like device, similar to an oversized halo, with spokes, that for now remains intact.
Many genuine pilgrims and tourists visit the statue, making donations over the years sufficient to enable the abbot to build facilities for the monks and a teaching centre for under privileged Thai children. With change left over, the abbot was able to commission a whole menagerie of brightly coloured, giant sized concrete animals and hindu deities, that are erected at the foot of the monument and on the reclaimed land opposite the Buddha monument.
Koh Farn also plays host to a small commercial community of clothes shops, silversmiths and cafes, even a workshop producing robot-type objects from old gearboxes that must weigh a ton. How do tourists get those home? On festival days, notably Loy Krathong and Songkran, the temple draws large crowds of islanders and visitors. In addition to the spiritual content of the occasion, popular celebrations include beauty pageants, live music, comedy acts and a variety of food and drink options sold from cafes and the dozens of makeshift stalls which such events attract.
Big Buddha – Wat Phra Yai
The beach, previously described, which runs from Bophut, through Bang Rak and ends with the newish ferry terminal and the fish & vegetable market at the junction with the airport turnoff are all prefixed with the Big Buddha appellation. Named after Samui’s most obvious landmark, the 15m high golden Buddha statue, which sits atop a similar sized hill on the small island of Koh Farn, is connected to the mainland by a short causeway. Construction of the statue began in April 1972 and took over two years to complete. The causeway to Koh Farn was built during the 80s dramatically raising its popularity and, one assumes, the temple’s income from donations. Recent additions to the statue include a tiered, golden pagoda style umbrella which temporarily increased its height, but due either (or both) to an engineering oversight or shoddy workmanship, the umbrella collapsed in a squall a month after it was completed. The statue currently sports a large wheel-like device, similar to an oversized halo, with spokes, that for now remains intact.
Many genuine pilgrims and tourists visit the statue, making donations over the years sufficient to enable the abbot to build facilities for the monks and a teaching centre for under privileged Thai children. With change left over, the abbot was able to commission a whole menagerie of brightly coloured, giant sized concrete animals and hindu deities, that are erected at the foot of the monument and on the reclaimed land opposite the Buddha monument.
Koh Farn also plays host to a small commercial community of clothes shops, silversmiths and cafes, even a workshop producing robot-type objects from old gearboxes that must weigh a ton. How do tourists get those home? On festival days, notably Loy Krathong and Songkran, the temple draws large crowds of islanders and visitors. In addition to the spiritual content of the occasion, popular celebrations include beauty pageants, live music, comedy acts and a variety of food and drink options sold from cafes and the dozens of makeshift stalls which such events attract.