Loung Pordaeng, the most famous of Koh Samui monks was a well respected member of the local community when he entered the monastery in his early twenties.

Loung Pordaeng passed away as he predicted, while sitting peacefully in meditation. Before his death he requested his students to cremate his body should his remains decay, if his remains were preserved then he wished to be placed on display at the temple to inspire monks of the future to study the teachings of the Buddhist scriptures.

So as requested a special structure was built and the monk was placed in a glass casket for all to view. His remains are pretty well intact after nearly 40 years and the thoughtful monks have given him a cool pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses to wear for those sunny Samui days.

• Ideal for family visit.
• It is a religious place, so try to keep intact the sanctity of the place and make way for the local devotees.
• Since this is a sacred place, polite dress and conduct is a must. Be sure to wear shirts or scarves that cover the shoulders, trousers or long shorts, and avoid wearing beachwear.

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