Koh Samui

We took a ferry to the second island south of Koh Tao.  Koh Samui was a whole lot larger and more populated along with a lot of people and traffic.  The beach was not as clean as we had on Toa but we really loved the guest house, had more choice of restraurants and started getting into our beach routine.  We stayed at the Bill Resort which had a very good breakfast buffet, attractive accommodations, and a good beach for swimming.  Our routine became breakfast then beach chairs under umbrellas reading after a good swim.  Then leaving our stuff on the chairs we would wander into the small local town for lunch and maybe a massage.  Returning to our chairs and books we would swim and read until it was time to go to dinner either at the resort or into town again.  A fresh fruit (mango, pineapple, coconut, banana etc) smoothie was usually consumed sometime in the afternoon which involved another walk -- exercise.

Our little bungalow

View of some of the bungalows.  The landscaping was beautiful  - it was like a well kept jungle.

There were a lot of rocks along the beach.

A local tourist attraction

Some guys practicing guitar and singing in the rocks.  Pretty good music.

From our porch one direction

The other direction.  The A frame past the pool is dining room, then the beach.

Beach Chairs

For a certain tree which was holy because Buddha gained enlightenment while sitting under one of these trees.  

We took an island tour of some temples and shrines.  Most all were Buddhist sites along with Hindu gods included.  Thailand is mostly Buddhist.  So who knows how but it seems to be a mix of the two.  The temples and shrines in Thailand are a whole lot happier and more colorful than Nepal.

This monk is blessing people who make a donation and then placing some colored wrist bands on them for good luck and fortune.