Fah Thai Magazine July/August 2017

SAMUI
Crystal clear waters lap at the whitest sand beaches
of Samui set against year-round sunshine and blue
skies. Nearby are 42 islands of Ang Thong Marine
National Park and part of the largely uninhabited
islands of Chumphon Archipelago: Koh Samui is set in a
spectacular landscape that simply inspires. And there is
something otherworldly and ethereal about Thailand’s
third largest island that reverberates with the very core of
your inner being, with places echoing the heart and soul of
Buddhist spiritualism and Thai culture.
Top Right
Na Muang Waterfall
where a serpent-like
tree stands
Middle
A private park, the
Magic Garden is
full of stone
sculptures depicting
human, animals
and deities aimed to
teach people about
the afterlife.
Bottom Right
A striking landmark
in Samui is that
of the legendary
Chinese warrior,
Guan Yu, who is
revered as a
god of war
and protection.
One such place is the Magic Garden
that takes you off the beaten path
and into a hillside jungle. Hidden
away, this private oasis of incredible
stone sculptures was apparently
inspired by the owner of the land,
a durian farmer, who founded
a waterfall at the beauty spot.
In his 70s at the time, some 40
years ago, he decided to spend
15 years creating a mystical
garden to teach people about the
afterlife. The human, animal and
deity depictions of classic Thai
folk stories are mesmerising and
wonderfully soulful.
Elsewhere on the island, trees
where spirits are also believed to
reside are protected with colourful
ribbons. Silk outfits are left hanging
from spirit tree branches as a gift
to the female guardian tree spirits,
Nang Mai and Nang Takian. At
Na Muang Waterfall, one part of
a spirit tree resembles a serpent
(naga), a symbolically important
animal in Thai folklore and Buddhist
teachings, and has been honoured
with ornate decorations. It is
believed a cobra sheltered Buddha
from a storm as he meditated
and Thai legend tells of a snake
requesting to change into a man to
enter the monkhood.
Grandparents on their way
to ask the parents of their
grandson’s paramour for her
hand in marriage are caught in
a storm, another Samui legend
relates. Shipwrecked, they perish
and turn into stones, Hin Ta and
Hin Yai (Grandfather Rock and
Grandmother Rock) as a continuing
pledge to their mission. The rocks
resemble the intimate regions of a
man and woman and the story adds
some folklore charm to the visually
interesting rocky scene.
Whether elaborate make-believe
or not, the tale demonstrates how
animism underpins Buddhist beliefs
in Thailand: that stones, rivers and
trees have souls.
Local superstition is that young
couples who visit the area soon
break up should they get close to the
stones. Cars honk their horns as a
sign of respect to the spirits looking
over motorists as they pass
Photo: Thewin Chanyawong
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