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Thailand
Koh Samui Facts and Information
Some people refer to the second largest island in Thailand
after Phuket
as Ko Samui while others call it Koh Samui. This roughly cricular shaped
island is situated just off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus which is near
the Thai mainland Surat Thani town and is one of Thailand's most popular
tourist attraction.
Koh Samui has a land mass of almost 230 sq km ( 89sq mile) with a
population of about 50,000 people (2007). The main island is surrounded by
about 60 other smaller islands. The central part of Koh Samui is largely
uninhabited and is dominated by a mountain jungle with Khao Pom as its highest
peak at 635m (about 2100ft). The island's lowland areas are inter-connected
together with just one single road that runs the circumference of the island.
It is thought that the island started to be inhabited some 15 centuries
ago. The early settlers were probably fishermen from Malaysia and Southern China.
The island even appears on the Chinese Ming Dynasty maps way back in 1687. No
one knows for certain how Ko Samui got its name. Some speculated that it
derived from a native Mui tree while others think that it is a hybrid of the
Chinese word saboey, which means "safe haven".
The ancient capital of Ko Samui is Nathon which is located on
the southwestern coast of the island.
This area is a still major fishing
port and also an inter-island transportation hub.
Koh Samui was an isolated
self-sufficient community until as late as the 20th century since it had
little contact with mainland Thailand.
The island was even bereft of roads
until one was built in the early 1970s.
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Today, Koh Samui is one of the most visited tourist attraction destination in
Thailand and it even have its own international airport, called Samui Airport. Bangkok
Airways have flights to and from Samui every day. Samui Airport also recieves
flights from Bangkok and other major cities in South East Asia.
Samui island's economy used to be based on subsistence agriculture and
fishing, however, since the 1980s, the tourism industry grew by leaps and
bounds and is now Koh Samui's main player in in its economy.
Tourist Attractions In Ko Samui
Being an island, Koh Samui's main tourist attractions are naturally its white
beautiful beaches and beach
resorts. Tourists can find stretches of beaches and accommodations along
the beaches of Chaweng, Lamai, Maenam, Bophut, Bangrak, Choeng MoN, Ao Tong
Takian and Nathon with Chaweng and Lamai beaches being the most popular but
crowded. For tourists who prefer a quiet beach for relaxation, then check out
Maenam beach.
Another popular attraction in Koh Samui is a 12 metre (35 ft) tall
statue of the Buddha, affectionately called "Big Buddha". This statue is
located at the top of a ceremonial dragon-steps at the temple of Wat Phra Yai.
Koh Samui and is also home to quite a few other impressive temples such as the
Wat Khunaram. Wat Khunaram is where the mummified body of Loung Pordaeng, a
monk who died in a meditating lotus position is on display.
A sightseeing trip to see Papa and Mama rocks at the south of Lamai
beach can be very hilarious due to the rocks' striking resemblances to the
male and female sexual organs.
To the more adventurous tourists, the jungle mountain in the interior of
the island is a good camping ground for jungle trekking. This area is also
home to a number of beautiful gardens, waterfalls at Na Muang and rubber
plantations.
Animal lovers can also visit Koh Samui's numerous animal attractions
such as the crocodile farm, the monkey theatre, take elephant rides, a snake
farm, a marine aquarium and a butterfly garden.
Most tourists to Koh Samui will make a day trip to the awe inspiring Ang
Thong National Marine Park. The best time to visit Koh Samui is in summer
(Feb-Apr) – Koh Samui Tourist Attractions was posted
on 16th Nov 2007.
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