Thailand: Be a princess of Secret Buddha's Garden in the hills of Koh Samui

Almost every little girl dreams about becoming a princess. And I was one of them - my favourite fairy tales were Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. Do you remember what fairy tales were your favourites?

(Image 'stolen' from https://www.deseretnews.com/)

'It's a happy talent to know how to play.' Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist, lecturer, and poet

When you are a child, you are having fun playing most of the time. You imagine different worlds and creatures. You create and try different constructs of reality. You create different versions of yourself. Playing like this is essential for a child's psychological, social, and physical development. 

As we are growing up, we are moving further and further from our naive and limitless imagination and dreams. We are focusing on what is important for our future and social status, we are aiming to live a normal life, and there is no time to play anymore. And we don't even feel like we really need it - we have already grown up.

However, I believe that a little child remains in everyone of us until we die. You realize it probably when you get your own kids and play with them, or just watch them playing. But moreover, some places make such a strong impact with their innocence, timeless, magical small details and a fairy-tale setting, that when you enter them, you enter that concealed childhood in yourself. Such a place is Secret Buddha's Garden.

Hidden high in the hills of Samui Island in the Gulf of Thailand

We were planning our day in the bed, after waking up in the late morning, as usual. And we decided to go to the Secret Buddha's Garden. After breakfast we took one scooter for the two of us, as I woke up a little tired to drive again. And it was for good, as we realized later -  this place is not easy to reach for driving newbies, although it is only 12 km away from Lamai Beach, where we were staying.

After driving uphill in the sun, with a little of my screaming at some minimum-dangerous curves, while a beautiful nature was calming me down as a balance, we finally arrived to a place where the sunshine cannot really enter much.

Driving, and especially being driven around the nature of Koh Samui is really enjoyable!

One of the nice views from the hills

The Garden created by a child in an old Samuian farmer

Secret Buddha's Garden (also known as Magic Garden, Secret Garden, or Heaven's Garden) was built by Nim Thongsuk on his family's land, on the top of  the Tar Nim Waterfall. He started creating the first statues and temples at the age of 77, in 1976, and finished at the end of his life, at the age of 91. His grave is located on the top of the garden. Before his retirement, Nim Thongsuk was an innovative fruit farmer, who made Koh Samui well-known for the smelly durian fruit (don't worry - you don't feel its smell in the Garden!).

Nim Thongsuk (Image 'stolen' from https://samui.sawadee.com/)

A peaceful and mystical ambient of the Magic Garden

Stepping into this charming garden felt like entering a different world for me. It feels like a nice, cozy and relaxing place in the Mother Nature, surrounded by tall trees preventing strong sun rays from entering. There is a nice, small and private-feeling waterfall with a stream flowing slowly, producing calming sounds combined with the music of the birds and small jungle animals.

First view on Magic Garden while coming down the stairs

There is no bridge across the stream - if you want to go from one side of the Garden to the other, you need to play a little - so, you take your slippers off and try find the least slimy way over the rocks in the shallow water full of small fish. Sounds adventurous?

And really - such a serene and completely unique place stimulates creative imagination, especially as it is located in the nature, which normally makes you come back to your true self. From the first moments I started feeling like it would be a great place for a child to play and explore. The whole area reminded me of my own childhood, when I was endlessly playing in my grandparents' large backyard with so many silly things interesting only to a kid's constantly curious mind, such as cats, hens, bugs, flowers, leaves, mud (yes, I know...), my grandfather's tools, fence, swing, hazelnuts, logs, shed, etc. After reviving those memories, I already felt maybe 20 years younger (TWENTY years?! damn!).

Lots of mysterious creatures arousing your imagination, as well as several different and labyrinth-like buildings to explore

Below the thick foliage of the treetops around the stream, there are lots of small statues representing Buddhist mythology. Those statues are mostly figures of animals, deities, and humans of different sizes, surrounded by various tropical plants and flowers. Each statue is in a specific position or movement, with a clear facial expression, which is interesting to examine even with ignorant tourist's mind and perception. And each statue has a real story to tell. Here are some of the pictures.

For me it was particularly interesting looking the same figures from different angles and looking for differences! :D Here is an example.

There are several cottages, sheds, or a small-castle-looking buildings around the stream. All of them are empty, giving a nice view on the rest of the garden (they are nice for spending a very short private time if you didn't come alone :D!). There are also some small decorations or furniture around, such as a throne, or a table with chairs around.

Going a little bit too far away with my imagination - unfulfilled childhood ambitions :D

We were already about to leave for another place when it came to my mind to surmount all the obstacles and slimy rocks and reach the throne of the Garden and sit there!

Feeling proud of myself, looking the other tourists bellow who didn't dare to do the same (+ one does not simply climb the stairs bellow the throne, because people are usually not giants) :D

 Listening to the sounds of the nature, releasing serotonine and endorphins, feeling amazing...

Moreover...

... with a view on my castle...

... and sitting next to my bathtub (also not easily reachable - and you must soil your sweet legs on your way to it!)...

... and chilling in it...

... I FELT LIKE A REAL PRINCESS!!! :D

So, if you believe in fairy tales, you should also visit this enchanting place. And maybe create your own inner child's adventure novel! :)