Samui's Magic Garden

A garden of stone statues lies deep in Kohspecial garden, where he rests next to his wife
Samui's south, which can be found at the top ofYai Daeng. Looking down from here you can see
Kao Yai, the island's highest peak, offering theacross the river that runs through the middle of
most spectacular views over the whole of Kohthe garden over to the other side, where many
Samui's mountains towards the sea. Findingmore discoveries await the curious mind.
Tarnim's Magic Garden, is in itself a fun challenge,Overlooking the whole garden from this height,
driving south towards Taling Ngam on the mainyou can understand why Tarnim chose this
ring road, one must fi rst fi nd Baan Saket andparticular spot to construct his tomb upon.
the road to the Air Force Camp. On the rightCrossing the small river running through the
hand side after the Namuang waterfalls, followinggarden over stepping stones you reach the other
the Land Offi ce and a Police Station, just afterside of the garden valley where you're met by a
the main intersection, you will see the right turninggroup of statues including a monk who seems to
and from hereon one follows the signs forbe sat behind a lady in meditation whilst a wild dog
Tarnim's Magic Garden. Passing through the Airstands slightly behind him andtwo dragons on
force Camp barrier, you have another 5either side - the one to his right in the grass and
kilometres climbing up Koh Samui's highest peak,to his left up on a rock.
Kao Yai, before reaching the entrance to Tarnim'sAs you carry on walking along this side you come
Garden on your right hand side.across two larger caves, which are naturally
Built over a period of more than twenty-fi vedraped by beautiful purple and pink hanging fl
years, this garden is a unique creation of a, a localowers and present a cool haven on a hot day.
gardener and farmer by trade. Once parked inJust behind these caves you will come across a
the car park you will fi rst notice a beautifulsmaller, hand made looking cave with the statue
sculpture on a large rock, which is entangled withof a man sitting inside. This is of course Tarnim
the roots of a large, old tree and stands like ahimself, a place where he could sit and view the
protector of the garden. The sculpture was handgarden with the eye of a guardian. Judging by the
made by Khun Lung Chai, in memory of his fathersize of the fi gure, he was also a small man,
Khun Nim Thongsuk. The engraving simply states:making this an even more miraculous
Khun Paw Nim Thongsuk, which is adjacent to aachievement, when considering the amount of
sculpture of his father and stands as a constanttime, effort and love this one man put into his
reminder of the garden's history. At the top offavourite place. A little further to the right and
what has become known as the Magic Gardenyou will fi nd a similar second cave, wherein lies a
you're then faced by a tree-lined stone stairway,statuette of his own father, as it can be noticed
winding its way slowly down to the beautifulthat these are made of a whiter stone, making
garden below. Almost mimicking a stairway tothem appear more human. And you will discover a
heaven, upon reaching the bottom there is asmall incense holder in front of them both, where
house, which is over-grown with mosses andyou can light an insence stick in the Thai traditional
tropical vegetation. These houses, of which theremanner to pay your respects to the dead. The
are a few, were built in order to house travellingjourney of mystical discovery is seemingly
or wandering monks who needed a place to sleependless here as the more time you spend, the
for the night. Khun Nim initially started visiting themore groups of statues you discover amongst
site on Kao Yai from Namuang where he lived, tothe garden's landscape, which if accompanied by
farm durian fruit and coffee plantations and oversomeone who can tell you the stories behind the
the years fell more and more in love with thegroups of statues is a fascinating story to listen
place. And it's easy to see why, there's beautifulto as you slowly but surely begin to understand
tropical jungle and vegetation with fl owering treesthe amount of deep thought and consideration
all over the place give way to natural waterthat Tarnim has put into each and every single
springs, rivers and waterfalls it's an extraordinarilypiece.
peaceful and harmonizing location. As hisKhun Lung Chai himself is the garden guardian he
attachment to this special placegrew so did hisis Tarnim's youngest child. Having been specifi cally
dream of constructing a beautiful heaven gardeninstructed not to make any changes or add
for his fi nal resting place upon passing away, as aanything new, he maintains and repairs the garden
reflection of the heaven he believed he would befor tourists and interested people to come and
going to.enjoy its mystery. Continuing the family tradition,
Built purely for his own use, as tourism was notKhun Lung Chai has started construction on his
yet established on Koh Samui, he set about theown garden, which he is building in honour of
huge task of bringing concrete up the mountain inhismother Yai Daeng, which is located a mere
order to be able to make the statue garden. Astone's throw away. This will contain many more
very kind-hearted and considerate man, one ofstatues as with Tarnim's Magic Garden and he
the fi rst things you come across to your left,plans to have a multi-tiered waterfall which will fl
after the first monk house, comfortably laid outow into a large pool at the base of the garden.
by the river, are two sculptures of aThe second garden will most likely take a long
grandmother and grandfather from the paternaltime to construct. However, with modern
side, as Tarnim felt the island had already paidamenities to hand perhaps not the same
respect to the grandparents of the maternal sidetwenty-fi ve years it took Tarnim to construct
with Hinta Hinya in Hua Thanon, he felt inclined tohis garden. The area will defi nitely become more
also honour the paternal grandparents. An intricateand more popular as Khun Lung Chai is also
belief system in Thai means the paternalconstructing uniquely detailed restaurant near the
grandparents are called Bu, the grandfather, andsecond garden, which boasts absolutely amazing
Ya, the grandmother, whereas for the maternalsea views across as far as the fi ve islands and
side the grandfather is called Ta and thebeyond, it is a truly breathtaking view. Upon
grandmother Yai. The word for stone or rock iscompleting the journey of discovery within
Hin, hence the name HinTa and HinYai. SlowlyTarnim's Magic Garden I felt I had truly
making your way through this incredible garden isexperienced a mini adventure and tour through his
like taking a wonderful journey of discovery aseyes and thoughts, which brought about the
you notice more and moreimages revealingconcept of immortality to mind.
themselves from out of the foliage. Amid theTarnim's Magic Garden is a constant reminder of a
sometimes dense tropical foliage, turtles and frogsvery special man with a vision to create heaven
are some of the animal statues that are to beupon earth, and through this the memory and
found in this completely natural haven.story of him will stay alive and be retold and
Tarnim's Magic Garden opens up in the centre toretold for generations to come. How completely
various groups of statues, to your right lots ofinspiring such a creation can be, not only to
angels stand by, protecting the tombs above. Allourselves but his family and son who continue the
statues have at least one hand in the air in apassion for creating such natural wonders. And
welcoming gesture, while to their right a group ofevery August hosts the anniversary of his death
angels sit playing music for everyone's enjoymentwhen the family will gather at his tomb at the top
and entertainment. Hidden behind the largestof the garden to make offerings and remember
group of angels on the hill to the far right istheir inspiring grandfather. An absolute must see
another stone stairway, which leads the way tofor all tourists and visitors to the island, rent a
Tarnim's fi nal resting place. Here you can sit atjeep and pyou will be perfectly equipped to find
his tomb, light an incense and thank him for hisyour own way there.