WE Smile Magazine May 2015

TRAVEL
If you step back 1000 years ago, the city
of Chaiya or Surat was a major maritime
superpower in Southeast Asia. It was a
commercial hub and a centre for Buddhism.
This is why you can still find many
ancient buddhist stupas (chedi) in Surat
today, including ‘Chedi Wat Kaeow’, ‘Chedi
Wat Weing’, ‘Chedi Wat Long’, and
‘Chedi Wat Phra Borom That’ which contains
relics of the Buddha. These artefacts
hold great significance for Buddhists in
Thailand and neighbouring countries.
Aside from visiting the historical sites and
remnants of Surat’s prosperous past, it
is popular for local tourists to pay homage
to the religious relics. In fact, there is a
local saying that, “one has not seen
Surat Thani (Surat Province) unless they
have seen the relics.”
However, today Surat Thani does not
only attract cultural tourists, but also
those who are looking for nature. Surat
Thani is known as ‘The Province of a
Hundred Islands’. It has become a paradise
for locals as well as ‘snowbirds’ foreigners
who have escaped the cold wind for sun,
beautiful beaches and crystal blue seas.
Although the province’s official name
might not be known internationally, mention
Koh Phangan or Koh Samui to travellers
and they are sure to recognise it.
Each of the 108 islands have unique
attractions, making island hopping a
favoured activity. You might start by flying
to the city of Surat Thani before
catching a ferry to Koh Samui in order to
rest for a few nights in a nice resort. Keep
a day free and book a package trip to
visit Mu Koh Ang Thong Marine National
Park and see pristine Koh Wua Talap and
Koh Mae Ko with its famous laguna, before
ending your trip with a party on Koh
Phangan. If you’re looking for peace and
quiet, take a boat ride and spend a few
nights at Koh Tan, a small 7.5 square
kilometre island near Koh Samui. With so
much to choose from, the province has
plenty of activities for all ages.
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