A place close to what might seem like heaven is situated towards the northeast of the island of Samui. It is none other than the temple Wat Plai Laem. With a gigantic statue that is indeed godly, this temple is definitely a place to visit when in Samui.
The Goddess of Mercy
The highlight of the temple is a colossal statue of the Goddess of Mercy, who according to Chinese belief is named Guanyin. In the sculpture, the goddess has 18 hands. Devotees believe that once one dies, it is Guanyin that puts one’s soul in the heart of a lotus and sets one adrift towards the western Pure Lands.
The temple
The temple was built not very long ago, still, the Thais have managed to unravel the ancient art and architectural techniques and use them in the construction of this temple. It is a very active temple where people visit daily to pay reverence to the goddess.
Inside the temple
The story of this form of the Bodhisathva is strongly believed in by the Chinese who have passed it down to the locals in Koh Samui. The murals on the walls inside the temple depict the story of the goddess of mercy as well as other tales from Buddhist mythology.
Location
Just a 14-minute drive from Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort, Wat Plai Laem is situated near the Big Buddha temple. It is 7.5 kilometres away from Chaweng Beach if you happen to be staying at a Samui resort there.
