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Big Buddha, Ko Samui
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Big Buddha, Ko Samui

Wat Plai Laem - The Buddha Image - Ko Samui
Wat Plai Laem - The Buddha Image
by volopolo
Big Buddha tips and photos posted by real travelers and Ko Samui locals.
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Big Buddha: Beautiful Buddha
  • Tip Rating:
  • JessH
  • Updated By JessH on July 11, 2007
  • Ko Samui Page by JessH
  • I'm so proud of this picture! Ko Samui, Buddha - Ko Samui
    I'm so proud of this picture!
    Ko Samui, Buddha
    by JessH, 1 more photos
    The area around the Big Buddha is a crowded tourist-attraction, and I hate nothing more than being in a bus full of people, loaded and unloaded at certain stops to take pictures, buy souveniers and then rush to the next sight.

    Nevertheless, the Big Buddha should not be missed. The other statues around the site are equally magnificent, and you can easily spend a few hours relaxing in the tranquil surroundings.

    NOTE: When visiting the Big Buddha or other Buddhist sites, please be considerate and show respect by wearing decent clothing, in other words: cover your shoulders and knees. Nobody would ever say something to you, but you may get some disapproving looks.
    There are also some stalls and small stores selling souvenirs; everything from crystals to hand-woven shawls, to wooden carvings to - obviously - buddhas. Refreshments are also available.

    TIP: The monks are collecting donations to build new walls, buildings, etc.
    You can "Sponsor-a-Brick" (I know it sounds strange!)
    You pay as much as you wish, take a brick and write your name, personal message, or whatever you like on the brick and place it on the evergrowing pile. A lovely thought: becoming a piece in their next building :-)
    And while you're there, read the messages on some of the thousands of bricks other travellers have left... a great pasttime!

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  • Address: Ban Bangrak Village, near Bophut
  • Directions: Situated on the Northeast coast of Samui Island, 15 mins by road from the night life center of Chaweng, and 25 mins from the capital, Nathon.
  • Website: http://www.buddhabeach.com/
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    Big Buddha: Huge Buddha
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  • clouds111
  • Updated By clouds111 on September 4, 2007
  • Ko Samui Page by clouds111
  • Big Buddha - Ko Samui
    by clouds111,
    1 more photos
    Visit Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai Temple), 12 meter high gold Buddha and it is probably Samui's most visited tourist attraction. There are a number of stalls and shops selling souveniers. You can pay 200 bahts to sponsor a brick, write a little message on it and add it to the huge collection which will go towards building a new temple, a nice way to leave your mark on the island. We were also blessed by a Buddhist Monk when we were there and I still wear the orange string around my wrist as a reminder.

    Remember this isn't just a tourist site, many Thai's come here to worship so you should wear the appropriate clothing and you must take shoes off before climbing the stairs, no matter how hot the ground is!!

    Can be a little crowded but it is a must and will probably one of the last sites you'll see when flying out of the island.

  • Directions: Not too far from Chaweng, maybe 20 minutes drive north along the main beach road, you can't miss it.
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    Big Buddha: TRIP TO SEE THE BIG BUDDHA
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  • mamasan69
  • Updated By mamasan69 on October 3, 2005
  • Ko Samui Page by mamasan69
  • A WILD FOUNTAIN AT BIG BUDDHA- Koh Samui. - Ko Samui
    A WILD FOUNTAIN AT BIG BUDDHA-
    Koh Samui.
    by mamasan69, 1 more photos
    I went to the Big Buddha with my brother and cousin by taxi (60bht) from Chaweng beach, and spent the day looking at this wonderful monument.
    After leaving the taxi we walked toward this huge structure with all of the surrounding statues, temples, and shops. I took pictures along the way (see more photos in my travelogues), and couldn't believe all of the time and effort it must have took to create all of it.
    We climbed to the top of the long staircase to the base of the Big Buddha. From here the view is amazing, you can see all around the site for miles in every direction. You have an excellent view of the fishing boats and ocean to the green countryside, all very visible from the top. The Buddha itself is huge and is surrounded by statues, candles, shops, as well as incense and people praying and sight seeing.
    We went back down and each signed a brick, with a small donation, which is to be placed with thousands of others at the base of the Buddha. After this we explored the shops and picked up a few things to take back with us.
    This is a great experience that you have to see to believe.
    A note to visitors, you must wear proper clothing when visiting at the Big Buddha..

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  • Address: Near the Phra Yai beach, northeast Koh Samui.
  • Directions: Notheast tip of the island, near the pier and Big Buddha Beach.
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    Big Buddha: Big Buddha temple Part 2 (2005)
  • Tip Rating:
  • austarman
  • Updated By austarman on January 30, 2007
  • Ko Samui Page by austarman
  • The stairway to Buddha - Ko Samui
    The stairway to Buddha
    by austarman,
    4 more photos
    While you are here you can participate in burning incense ,applying gold leaf onto the image or offering flowers to the Buddha.
    There are also a series of small Bells around the statue that can be tapped with a coin to bring you good luck..
    Even if you do not want to participate it is nevertheless interesting to see how the Thai's worship him.
    A good dose of culture that is worth experiencing.
    The Thai girl in the photo below is trying to throw a 1 Baht piece up onto the lap of the big Buddha because if you make a wish and the money stays on his lap then it is supposed to be good luck.

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  • Address: Bohput Koh Samui
  • Directions: You cant miss it head for the airport and follow the signs it's on the main road 4171
  • Website: http://thailandforvisitors.com/south/samui/bigbuddha/index.html
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    Big Buddha: Phra Yai Temple
  • Tip Rating:
  • pehsan
  • Updated By pehsan on December 8, 2003
  • Ko Samui Page by pehsan
  • Big Buddha - Ko Samui
    by pehsan
    The attraction of this temple is the gigantic sitting buddha named " Phra Buddha Kodom". the width of its lap span is 5 wah 9 inches and its height is 12 metres. on the top of the temple you can find beautiful scenery of Koh Phangan and Bo Pud Beach.

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    Big Buddha: MORE BIG BUDDHA
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  • mamasan69
  • Updated By mamasan69 on May 3, 2005
  • Ko Samui Page by mamasan69
  • BIG BUDDHA-Koh Samui. - Ko Samui
    BIG BUDDHA-Koh Samui.
    by mamasan69
    My brother took a shot of my cousin and I at the foot of the Big Buddha. He had to be quick as people were constantly walking up and down the stairs in front of us.
    It was worth the wait, as the picture gives a good view of how large the monument actually is compared to us.

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  • Directions: Phra Yai beach, northeast Koh Samui, also near Big Buddha Beach.
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    Big Buddha: Big buddha & Grandparents rock
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  • hash09
  • By hash09 on May 16, 2005
  • Ko Samui Page by hash09
  • At grand father rock... it's rock !!   \m/ - Ko Samui
    At grand father rock... it's
    rock !! \m/
    by hash09
    Other than club and shopping place, you also can go and visit the Buddha place, it’s awesome to see a big Buddha. Big Buddha location is just near to the chaweng air port, you can get there by tuk tuk or if you live near there, you also can go by the motocycle. Beside big Buddha you also can go the amazing rock, this is not a climbing rock, but it’s a awesome rock to see and it amazing, the rock that I am talking about is, the grand parents rock, you can see through the picture I took, it’s awesome huh ?. After you visiting the big Buddha and seeing the grand parents rock, you can take a ride, not a bicycle nor a motorbike, but elephant this ride also can be consider as amazing adventure. If you wanted to visit the entire island, maybe you can take a look on their website, it might be easier to plane you vacation, or ask other local where the best place to go is.

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    Big Buddha: Temple of the Big Buddha
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  • ATXtraveler
  • Updated By ATXtraveler on August 19, 2006
  • Ko Samui Page by ATXtraveler
  • Big Buddha - Ko Samui
    by ATXtraveler
    First, rather than call it by its commonly known name, the official name of this temple is Wat Phra Yai. It is also known as Hin Ngu Temple, but most people will see it on the English tour maps as "Big Buddha Temple".

    Wat Phra Yai has a 12 meter tall statue of a sitting pose Buddha, which can easily be viewed by ship or by airplane. It is located on the Northeast tip of Koh Samui, and you can take Chaweng drive if you are headed straight to it from the airport.

    The Buddha statue is in fact just gold paint, and definitely not one of the most wonderful sculptures, but the size and friendly smile definitely welcome you to the temple.

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  • Address: Route 4171 from the Airport
  • Website: http://www.2samui.com/temples/big_buddha.htm
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    Big Buddha: Big Buddha
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  • M.E.R.V
  • Updated By M.E.R.V on March 31, 2003
  • Ko Samui Page by M.E.R.V
  • Big Buddha - Ko Samui
    by M.E.R.V
    The Big Buddha is on an island with a connecting bridge to the mainland. You have to walk up these flights of stairs to get to the buddha and it gets really really tiring especially with the heat. Your reward is a splendid view of the Buddha Beach. There is also a temple where pilgrims come to pay there respects to the Almighty. Apart from the temple itself there are many shops selling jewelery, cloths, food and other souvenirs. Fortune tellers are all around but I cant tell you if there trustworthy!

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    Big Buddha: Big Buddha
  • Tip Rating:
  • phil_uk_net
  • By phil_uk_net on March 9, 2003
  • Ko Samui Page by phil_uk_net
  • Big Buddha - Ko Samui
    Big Buddha
    by phil_uk_net
    12 meters high and located on the north coast of the island, the Big Buddha at Wat Phra Yai is a very spiritual place on Samui.
    You will find here lots of Thais who have come to pray in addition to hordes of tourists.
    The view from here is particularly pleasant at sunset and I hear that the Buddha looks impressive when lit up at night although I haven't seen this.

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  • Directions: North coast of the island.
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