Adventure in Thailand: Part 21

February 4th, 2017

🌊 Special Edition: Holiday in Koh Samui 🌊

Yohooo! Finally, the day has come! We went to Koh Samui today! Hahahaha.. Our adventure began at 04.30 am because we need to take shower and put some make up on (you know, girls stuffs) before ready to go! Mr. Batman and campus' van arrived at 6.33, all ready except Putri. She woke up late and still in the shower when he arrived. We all went to the van and took a seat and wait for Putri with nervous feeling. First, because she is late and we all afraid that Mr. Batman will angry to us. Second, because the ferry will leave the port at 07.30 am and it takes maybe 30 - 40 minutes to go there (sorry I gave wrong information on the previous post hehe). But Thank GOD, at 06.45 finally she's ready and we start our journey.

We sat in the back-seat (blurry pic especially Nuriska, sorry girl) 😂

After 38 minutes (approximately), we arrived at the port. Mr. Batman bought us the ticket and we got the passenger ticket. It was a card honestly. It's kinda different from Indonesian Ferry. Because in Indonesia we usually only get paper ticket instead of a card. Hahaha, another culture shock. Mr. Batman said exactly there are two different ferry providers, Seatran and Raja Ferry. According to Mr. Batman and Tripadvisor, Seatran company is better than Raja Ferry because of their service and facilities on board. So that's why many tourist choose Seatran than Raja Ferry. Since we only use Seatran, so I couldn't give my personal opinion about it. Just click the link if you need more information about Seatran or Raja Ferry.

Seatran Passenger Ticket.

At the port terminal, we wait maybe 25 minutes (or more, I forgot) before the departure. The terminal room is quite big with a lot of chairs so the passengers don't have to feel worry to stand all the time haha. 07.30 am the staff was announcing that our ferry was ready and we went to the ferry to board. I amazed with the system. Turned out, we need to insert the card to the automatic gate to board the ferry. Woa, amazing. I never saw something like this before.

Automatic gate to board the ferry

Since at that time so the sun not really burn our skin (yet), we went to the rooftop to snap some  pictures. See, it was like "Father-Daughters" moment, right?

Pre departure wefie!

The ferry took maybe 1 hour before we arrive in Koh Samui. We continued our trip using the same van that took us in the city. Mr. Batman said he will take us to several landmarks in Koh Samui, and our first destination is Lamai Beach. There are two different landmarks in Lamai Beach which are Hin Ta (Grandpa Rock) and  Hin Yai (Grandma Rock). Mr. Batman said we need to use our imagination if we want to get what's exactly the meaning of Grandpa and Grandma rocks.

Tourist map in Lamai Beach

In Thailand, the government always put tourist map everywhere, that will make the tourist get information easier. They put the sign in two language, English and Thai.

Lamai Beach scenery

After walking maybe 2 minutes we arrived at the main landmarks. Remember that Mr. Batman said we need to use our imagination before? Turned out the shape of the rocks imitate something vital for a male and a female. Hahaha.. the rock shaped like (sorry) penis and vagina. Hahaha.. 

Left: Hin Yai Rock , Right: Hin Ta Rock (Courtesy: www.ananashostels.com)

The Hin Ta/Hin Yai legend is a tale of tragedy tinged with hope, as described on a signboard near the rocks: “A folklore of Samui Island tells the story of an old couple by the name of Ta Kreng (Grandpa Kreng) and Yai Riem (Grandma Riem) who lived with their son in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Since their son had come of age, they felt that it was time he got married. “One day they decided to sail to the neighbouring province of Prachuap Khiri Khan to ask for the hand of the daughter of a man named Ta Monglai. During their sea journey, their boat was seized by a storm. The old man and his wife were unable to swim ashore. They died at sea, turning into rocks as proof to the would-be bride's parents of their true intentions. The rocks stand there to this day.”

In Indonesia, there's a trend. What kind of trend? Well, if you're traveling outside your hometown it's like a must to send some greetings to friends and family. It's a simple one. Just write their name and location where we are and snap the pic. Just like the pic below. I know for some people it looks like very unusual, but in Indonesia, it's like an appreciation and a good gesture that you still remember your friends and family during your trip outside. Hahaha..

Salam kekinian (Greetings card for friends) -- trending topic in Indonesia

A trip will never complete without documentations. So, never forget to charge your camera's battery and snap a thousand pictures if it's necessary. Beside take some pictures, you also could go to shop some merchandise in the souvenirs market. Tips: don't forget to bargain so you could get a reasonable price. Sorry I forgot to snap picture from the souvenirs market.

Squad!

Another "father-daughters" moment 😂

3rd batch of SEA-Teacher 2017 - Surat Thani team!

After 1 hour in Lamai Beach, we moved to another landmark. It's like a terrace or something. From this landmark, we could see an ocean (whoa haha). But it was very hot at that time. So we just spent maybe 20 minutes there.

As far as you can see, only ocean

At 12.30 pm, we went to International School of Tourism (ISoT), Suratthani Rajabhat Univeristy (SRU) to had lunch and small talks about seminar and farewell party. So basically, SRU has several campuses. As far as I know, one in Surat Na-San road in Muang Surat Thani and one in Koh Samui.

Welcome sign in front of the campus

Mr. Batman said that usually they'll held international seminars in Koh Samui campus, so after the seminar, the participants could do some sightseeing around Koh Samui. The architecture in ISoT more modern and have several elevators. They also have hotel inside the campus and it's open to public. For more information just simply click the link >> International School of Tourism

Minimalism

We were starving and alhmadulillah the food was really good! Since we usually only eat preheat food that we bought from 7-11, every time we have chance to eat good food, we never think twice haha. They served fried rice, fried wings, and cucumber. For dessert they served monkey apple or Annona glabra (see the green things in the picture below). TBH, I never saw or ate this kind of apple before. According to Wikipedia, Annona glabra is a tropical fruit tree in the family Annonaceae, in the same genus as the Soursop and Cherimoya.

Delicious foods!

After lunch and pray, we continue our trip to the Big Buddha Temple. Wat Phra Yai or Big Buddha temple is Koh Samui‘s most famous landmark. This temple has a 12 meter (40foot) high Buddha statue located on the north eastern beach of Bang Rak (Big Buddha Beach). The Buddha statue was built in 1972. Big Buddha Temple was built on a small island connected to Koh Samui by a causeway. The Statue is placed on a elevated platform which can be reached by a stairway flanked with Nagas (mythological serpents). The platform provides a great view to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan as well as Bang Rak beach.

The Big Buddha Statue

In the platform, you also can found big bell like the picture below. There's a mythology. I don't even know if it's true or not. They said if you ring the bell while you're thinking of your wishes, it will granted. You can believe it or just leave it haha

Big bell in the platform

Behind the temple, next to the parking lot, we could see some statues. A father, 2 sons, 2 wives (1 human and 1 mermaid), and 1 guru (teacher). Mr. Batman said that was a Thai famous poet. He told me about the story, but fool me, I forgot to write or record his story, so I simply went to the internet and found the whole story. Just read below!

Phra Aphai Mani (พระอภัยมณี) and his brother, Sisuwan (ศรีสุวรรณ), are Thai princes. Their father sent them away to study with the hope that they would gain knowledge to help them rule the country. Sisuwan learned to sword fight and Phra Aphai Mani learned to play a magical flute that could put people to sleep or kill them. When they returned home, their father was angered by what they had learned and drove them away.

One day while Aphai's companions were lulled to sleep by the sound of his pipe, a female ogress named Nang Phisua Samut (นางผีเสื้อสมุทร), came and took Aphai away to her cave. She disguised herself as a beautiful maiden and Aphai fell in love with her. They lived together until she bore a son, Sinsamut (สินสมุทร). When Aphai found out that his wife was really an ogress, he fled with his son. He was assisted by a family of mermaids, a father, mother, and daughter. The father and mother were caught and eaten by the ogress. The mermaid daughter took Aphai and Sinsamut to Kokaew Phitsadan (Wonder Island) where a hermit saved them from the ogress. Aphai married the mermaid daughter and they had a son, named Sutsakhon (สุดสาคร).

One day, a ship, carrying King Silarat (ท้าวสิลราช) and Princess Suwwanmali of Phleuk (สุวรรณมาลี), passed Wonder Island. The princess was engaged to marry Prince Usaren (อุศเรน) of Lanka. Aphai and Sinsamut asked to join the ship, but the ogress saw them and became very angry. Nang Phisua Samut attacked them and killed King Silarat. Aphai escaped to the shore, where he played his magic flute and killed the ogress. Afterwards, he met Prince Usaren, who was looking for his fiancée.

Meanwhile, Sinsamut swam with the princess to an island and met Sisuwan and his daughter, Arun Rasami (อรุณรัศมี). Together, they went in search of Phra Aphai. When they found Phra Aphai and Usaren, Princess Suwwanmali refused to leave with Usaren. The two parties fought and Prince Usaren fled to his homeland of Lanka.

Phra Aphai continued on to Phleuk where the queen asked him to rule the country. Angry at Phra Aphai for daring to give her up to Usaren, Princess Suwwanmali fled to become a nun. But later with the trick of a maid, Nang Wali (นางวาลี), Suwanmali abandoned the nunhood to marry Phra Aphai. She bore him twin daughters named Soisuwan and Chantasuda.

Years later, Usaren and his father returned to attack Phleuk. The father was killed and Usaren died heart-broken. The throne of Lanka fell to his sister, Nang Laweng. The very beautiful Laweng decided to take revenge. She declared to all the princes in neighboring that whoever could kill King Aphai would have her and her kingdom. Nine armies moved to surround Phleuk. Aphai followed Laweng and eventually won her love, but the war continued until a hermit came and helped to stop the war between them.

Just like at the Lamai Beach, in Big Buddha Temple you also can found souvenirs market. I didn't buy souvenirs here because later I will spend 1 day in Bangkok, I will buy some souvenirs there I guess. After 1 hours here, we continue our trip to the last destination. It's like a beach club. It's called The Wharf Samui. A lot of cafe and tourists gather here. The beach is really clean, and tbh, the sand -- literally the whitest sand I've ever seen in my life.

Beach with white sand

I didn't go to swim because I was too lazy to bring a lot of stuff haha, but Muti and Kyla went swimming. I just lay down on the sand and enjoy the view, the vibe, the air. ahhh, refreshing.

Squad! INDO x PHIL

Why everything good must come to an end? After a whole day adventure in Koh Samui, we finally have to go back to the port to catch the ferry that will take us home. I do believe my parents will be happy if I could manage to bring them there, especially my father, he loves beach. Well, just like the sign said. BON VOYAGE KOH SAMUI, I'LL DEFINITELY COME BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE 💕

See you later