Although Samui caters to every Western whim, Buddhism runs quietly beneath the surface and there are many wats (temples) on the island. These range from a quiet country temple where a mummified monk (in sunglasses) sits in a glass case, to the massive Big Buddha, a 12m-high golden icon that sits on a rocky islet on the northeast coast.
Food stalls and souvenir shops surround the site and, although it's impressive, I preferred nearby Wat Plai Laem, a newish collection of intricately decorated buildings where a fish-filled lake is dominated by a towering statue of the many-armed goddess Guayin and an enormous laughing Buddha. The complex is a bit like Koh Samui itself - an agreeable combination of solemnity and light-heartedness that's peaceful, welcoming and slightly over-the-top.