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Some Interesting Insight on Koh Samet |
- Once upon a time, Koh Samet was the
residence of the Pirates. There were numerous myths that the
Pirates' gold and booty were hidden somewhere on the island. This
has attracted many adventurers from time to time to hunt for this
treasure.
- In the past, visitors were not allowed
to overnight on the island, but this was long time ago and it is
long forgotten.
- On 1 Oct 1981, the Forestry Department
of Thailand declared Koh Samet and its surrounding to be a national
park. Officially, it is named Khao Laem Ya - Mu Koh Samet National
Park and covers the area of 131 square kilometers of land and sea.
- Admission fee to the national park of
200 Baht is to be imposed to every foreign visitor by the authority
- The peak of the Samed Island (Koh
Samet) is 112 meters high covered by thick jungles. On top of the
hill, there is a big but mysterious hole of 8 meters deep,
surmounted with ruins of a brick wall of over a century old. This
hole is known as "Bor Thong" or Gold Pit. According to the
myth, the pirates dug this hole in order to hide their gold, gotten
from the sunken Chinese vessel. After being surveyed by the Thai
geologists, it was officially announced that this gold pit is merely
the water well. The myth believers then argue that it is hard to
believe that such hold would ever be dug on top of the hill under
the dry stone for a purpose of water well. Up-to-date, treasures
have never been found!
- Nearby this "Bor Thong" sits
a metal casting of 100 footprints of the Lord Buddha, a replica of
the footprints at Wat Phra Phunhabat in Saraburi Province.
- The magical beauty settings of Samed
Island inspired the great Thai poet, named Sunthorn Phu, to write
the great Thai Epic - Phra Apai Manee (a story of princes, saga,
mermaid and giants) over 150 years ago.
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