Snapshots from Big Buddha

Big Buddha, namesake of Big Buddha Beach on Koh Samui.
Big Buddha is the launch site for Koh Phangan ferries and landing point for commercial airlines.  Last full moon, 30,000 people funneled through here for the Phangan party.  

Big Buddha Beach, lined with beachfront resort bars, dive bars, diving shops, and at either end dive hotels and shops.    

Speedboats, ferry boats, fishing boats, sun boats, longtails, jet skis, all for hire for transport, shipping, diving, fishing, sunning, motoring, puttering, or simple Baht-burning

It's the first whitesand sort of beach I've found in Thailand--the only Andaman beach I've seen was full of off-season junk and creeper vines.  It's also the only place in the world I've had a shoulder-tapping masseuse approach me, followed immediately by a guy peddling pot.  

A longtail rigged with lights for nocturnal fishing.  

A small segment of the Buddha Beach fishing fleet

Over here, family and business intertwine more closely than they do back home.

Where the fish end up: these guys are still squirming

A toy-seller walking past

A minute after this, two elderly farangs walked up and started handing out candy in exchange for cute poses.  The kids came up in screaming flocks, followed by the parents.  I was shamed into tucking my camera away.

Blacktips and overgrown mackerel at a fish stall.  

Just across the aisle from the fish stall, the end result of the fishing fleet: gaang soom--a traditional Southern Thai soup the color of light-beer-laden urine with more heat than a stewed birdseye chili, enough salt to kick your teeth in, and a smell as sour as a puddle of yak left by a dog that's been eating rotting salmon.
And somehow I look forward to gaang soom day: I know I'm in for some good seafood and zero competition.