Our day in Koh Samui was what I would call a full-contact tropical excursion – beautiful, fascinating, culturally rich… and approximately 97% humidity with a side of “why are we voluntarily outside right now?”
It was a long day from start to finish, with substantial bus rides to and from the port, but we packed in a lot – temples, beaches, lunch, sightseeing, and eventually, a hard-earned return to the ship.
Our first stop was Plai Laem Temple, and it was a spectacular introduction to the island. Set beside a lake teeming with fish, the temple complex is a dazzling mix of Thai and Chinese design, with bright colors, ornate details, and enough visual drama to keep your camera busy. There were mural paintings telling stories from Buddhist mythology, a strikingly cheerful smiling Buddha, and the remarkable 18-armed Goddess of Mercy, standing above it all. It was serene, intricate, and absolutely worth wandering through — even while slowly dissolving in the heat.
Next came the Big Buddha Temple, one of Koh Samui’s best-known landmarks and an important meditation site for both locals and visitors. The giant seated golden Buddha – standing 39 feet tall – is hard to miss, and somehow manages to look perfectly calm while everyone around it climbs stairs in tropical weather with the expression of people reconsidering their cardio choices. From the viewing platform, we were rewarded with sweeping views of the northern coastline, and at that point, a breeze – any breeze – felt like a spiritual experience.
With my eye situation, I felt the need for a blessing and went into a small temple to have a Buddhist monk bless me with a chant, tie a red string bracelet around my wrist, and fling some blessed water over my head. I was quite comforted by this ritual.
After the temples, we made our way to Chaweng Beach for a short break. This is one of the island’s livelier and more scenic spots, with a long stretch of beach, local stalls, lots of massages on offer, and plenty of little shops lining the main street. It was a nice chance to walk around, browse, and absorb the local vibe – or at the very least, pretend we were walking casually and not actively searching for shade. One of the more interesting things we saw was the Ronald McDonald statue in front of McDonald’s here. You’ll notice his hands together in a traditional prayerful greeting.
Then came one of the most important cultural landmarks of the day – lunch.
We stopped at a beach resort hotel for an international buffet, and honestly, the timing could not have been better – it was exactly the kind of place where you want to sit, cool down, and remain indefinitely. The setting was lovely, the food was welcome, and the air-conditioned reprieve was possibly the most moving part of the entire tour.
Refreshed and reassembled, we continued on to the Guan Yu Shrine, where the enormous statue of Guan Yu rises 52 feet and makes quite the impression. The shrine honors the famed military general, warlord, and founder associated with the Shu Han Kingdom, and his image is revered in Taoist, Confucian, and Buddhist traditions. It’s one of those stops that makes you pause – partly because of its cultural significance, and partly because after a full day in the heat, standing still briefly feels like excellent planning.
By then, we had officially entered the “we’ve seen a lot, we’ve sweated a lot, and we are ready to be horizontal again” phase of the day.
And then came the long journey back to port.
Unfortunately, we arrived late, and apparently so did everyone else. The line for the tenders back to the ship was enormous – a slow-moving sea of weary, overheated passengers all trying to get back onboard at once. Thankfully, the bus operators were incredibly kind and sensible. Rather than unloading us immediately into the chaos, they kept us on the buses in the glorious air conditioning until the line shrank enough that we could at least stand under the shade of the awnings instead of melting in direct sun.
While we waited, we suddenly heard one of the most recognizable and uplifting sounds on earth:
The jingle of an ice cream truck.
Only this was Thailand, so naturally the “truck” was actually an enterprising woman with a bicycle cart and a freezer full of ice cream. She instantly became a legend.
A woman standing behind us in line mentioned that she would kill for an ice cream, but didn’t have any Thai baht. I told her I’d get her one, and off we went in search of frozen happiness. The cost? About 50 baht, or roughly $1.50 US – a tiny price for what felt like emotional survival.
Alan, meanwhile – who is usually the ice cream fanatic in this family – had previously declared he didn’t want anything.
Until.
Big Zee, one of the ship’s tour coordinators, was walking around checking on everyone and making sure things were going smoothly. Knowing what a foodie he is, I waved him over and offered to buy him an ice cream. He was delighted.
At which point Alan, in a shocking late development, decided he would also like one after all.
Naturally.
So despite the heat, the long bus rides, the delayed return, and the tender line that felt like it might become a permanent residence, the day ended on a surprisingly cheerful note: sticky, tired, templed-out, and holding ice cream.
Honestly? That feels like a pretty accurate summary of travel.