Oxus Research   Frontier Level Research

Those religions that are now regarded as ‘pagan’ came before the main organized religions of Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. Hinduism is slightly different as it has evolved over thousands of years and still contains traces of religious beliefs that probably go back to the very dawn of man.

Many of the main religions around the world have interesting regional differences that reveal lot of local culture. For example, Tibetan Buddhism still aspects of the earlier Bon religion. In Japan people don’t see the contradiction of worshiping both Buddha and Shinto gods. In Buddhist temples you can often see statues of Shinto gods, often as ‘guardians’ to the Buddhist temple.

In China there is a strong ‘pagan’ aspect to Taosim. The Tao or way is often equated with a force of nature as well as an ideal to aspire to. Pagan religions tend to pantheistic and to also invest significance to primary apsects of nature such as the sun and the moon. In Chinese symbolism the sun is the male and the moon is the female. The sun is the ying and the moon is the yang.

In other countries literature reveals that the moon is associated with inconsistency. It constantly changes. It fits the rhythm of female menstruation. In Western culture the moon is a force that can incite madness. The word lunacy is a good example of this cultural vestige. The Romantic poets also invested the moon with the association with the much vaunted imagination.

In Thailand spirit worship is mixed in with Buddhism in common forms of worship. They have taken the worship of the moon a new step forward by inventing the Full Moon Party. There are moon parties now all over Thailand where tourists gather. The first and still the biggest is the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan island. It is held on Haad Rin Sunrise Beach and often attracts over 20,000 people who go a bit mad under the full moon. This madness, however, is probably caused by alcohol rather than any lunar influence.

It is likely that moon parties were common in the world pre-history, and it should come as no surprise that they are making a come back. At the same time the ideology of environmentalism is growing in importance. This ideology fits in very well with the reverence that paganism afford to nature.

Further research: the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan

Koh Samui is an island located in the southern part of the Gulf of Thailand. It is one of Thailand’s most visited beach areas. The island has white sand beaches, excellent accommodation, an airport, Western style supermarkets and modern hospitals. It is the developed nature of Koh Samui’s facilities and amenities combined with its beautiful beaches that attracts thousands of tourists every year.

The main tourist beach is Chaweng. It is a long stretch of white sand with a smaller beach just to the north called Chaweng Noi. Along the beach are many resorts and guest houses. Next to the beach is an extensive urban area that has everything a visitor could need including bars of a disreputable nature.

Just south of Chaweng is Lamai. It is smaller and attracts a younger crowd. It has a couple of popular nightclubs, two Muay Thai shows and several ‘beer bar places’. The beach is equally as good as Chaweng and has a few more budget options.

For those seeking something more sophisticated there is Bophut beach and Fisherman’s Village. This is an area that has converted the original Chinese fisherman’s houses into bars, cafes and expensive dining options. Bophut is free of sex workers and has a boutique atmosphere that is largely missing in Chaweng and Lamai.

On the north coast is Maenam. This is a small town with a 4 km long beach with plenty of tree cover. Maenam doesn’t have much of a nightlife but does have some bargain accommodation.

Generally the beaches on the south and west coasts are not as good for swimming. Beaches such as Taling Ngam, Baan Bang Kao and Lipa Noi have a few mid-range and luxury resorts that attract those looking to escape the crowds of Chaweng and Lamai. Prices for accommodation in Koh Samui range from $30 a night for a small air-con bungalow to $1,000 a night for private pool villas at brand resorts like Hilton and Marriot.

There’s diving and snorkeling sites near Koh Samui. It is also possible to rent kayaks and sailing boats. Laem Set offers kite boarding. Other attractions include an aquarium, a tiger show, a snake farm, a butterfly garden, waterfalls and beautiful wats.

Koh Samui is blessed with great beaches and plenty of entertainment. There are things to do both day and night. While not the cheapest place in Thailand, it still offers good value and bargains can still be found.

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