Koh Samui and the island of mysteries
Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui
Koh Samui and the island of mysteries.
Author: Roberto Matteucci
Photo credit: popcinema.org
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Koh Samui is a paradise. Thai director Pen-Ek Ratanaruang thought the same thing in the film Samui Song, presented at the 74th Venice Film Festival:
“Samui is like heaven for the main female character. It’s the only place where she can be free and happy.” (1)
A woman, the protagonist of the film, has just one solution to escape from a dangerous husband. She has to hide on a fabulous Thai island. It is located in southern Thailand, in the Gulf of Siam.
It is a green area with hills and picturesque beaches.
Ark Bar Ko Samui
It is a youthful oasis, with many young people from all over the world. They have fun on the sand during the day. In the evening, they drink and dance at the Ark Bar on Chaweng Beach. Chaweng Beach has a special naturalness; it is not vast but full of enthusiasm and joy in life. Energy, exuberance, and strength erupt from the parallel street. Restaurants, bars and discos represent an exaggerated overdoing of tourism that is necessary, but not silent.
For these reasons, travellers adore it. Every year, there is a record of visitors:
“The number of tourist arrivals at Samui airport in 2023 reached 2.2 million people, marking a 66,65% increase from the year before.” (2)
However, Koh Samui is not exclusively sea and distraction.
There are also cultures and traditions like Bangrak. It is a Big Buddha built in 1972 “...but it is not beautiful.” This is how the Feltrinelli guide defines it. It is not true. The Bangrak Buddha is beautiful. Every Buddha is beautiful. It was constructed in a great location with a wonderful view of the nearby shorelines. The Buddha has the usual gold colour, surrounded by intense tonalities and human vitality.
Other smaller islands are in the Koh Samui archipelago. They are fascinating, refined and unique.
One is an iconic place. It is famous for its magnificence, water purity, isolation from confusion, peace and relaxation. It is the island of Koh Tao. It is small, only twenty-one square kilometres, a couple of hours by motorboat from Koh Samui. The boats are gathered. They stop to allow diving, kayaking, sunbathing and enjoying the environment.
There is something ambiguous and engaging about this island. The past happenings are incredible and, above all, it has many mysteries, but that's another story!
Koh Samui is paradise.
It is a green area with hills and picturesque beaches.
It is a youthful oasis, with many young people from all over the world. They have fun on the sand during the day. In the evening, they drink and dance at the Ark Bar on Chaweng Beach.