Wat Plai Laem
Plai Laem, Bo Phut, Thailand
Wat Plai Laem brings a different visual language to Samui’s temple circuit. Its white, many-armed Guanyin statue stands beside the water, accompanied by a laughing Buddha and an elaborately decorated Buddhist hall. The combination of sculpture, colour and pond-side setting rewards a slower look at the details. It is a particularly good choice for travellers interested in the island’s Thai-Chinese cultural connections, and a natural companion to the nearby golden Buddha at Wat Phra Yai.