Another relaxing start to the day. Post breakfast we found ourselves some beanbags, and Amelia a hammock, and snoozed in the morning’s sunshine.

We were joined by our new ‘family pet’ a local cat who has befriended Amelia and comes each morning to sit on our outdoor patio chair.

As it’s been a little cloudy this morning, we’ve had the pool and the hotel bar to ourselves, and have been able to kick back like the place is our own!

After all this R&R, we eventually decided to leave the hotel and take bikes to explore the local temple and visit Samui’s famous big Buddha.

The hotel very kindly lent us the three bikes and after a little faffing trying to get helmets to fit, and saddles at the right height, we set off on our little adventure.

Fortunately the big Buddha was less than a mile away (!) and in no time we had made it to the base of the temple and could look up in awe at the sight of the golden statue.

Having visited our fair share of Buddhas over the last couple of months, it had been good to have a week off since we were last up close to one….

This Samui Buddha is impressive, sat on a raised platform gave it a greater presence, and the backdrop over the sea and nearby hills only serve to remind you how magnificent and eye catching it is.

The Samui Big Buddha is one of the sights on the island and there was a constant flow of people coming up the steep steps to look in awe at this spectacular structure.

Around the base of the statue are mini Buddhas representing the days of the week. In total there are eight, with Wednesday having two, one for the morning and one for the afternoon.

We witnessed a monk offering blessings to both locals and tourists alike. It’s so pleasing to see how open they are both with their religion and lives. We definitely have much to learn from the Buddhist way of life!

Around the temple there were a number of other monuments/statutes representing Buddhism and what it signifies to the community.

Around the temple site were a series of statues that at low tide sit in splendid isolation in the dry banks, but soon become swallowed up by the sea once the tide comes in.

After wandering around the temple and the surrounding markets we got back on the bikes for the return journey. Such good fun to get around by peddle power and to be able to stop and take in the surroundings.

We definitely appreciate how lucky we are to be here and as a family.

As ever all tours need a guide, so Andy took up the lead and showed us the way back, with a pit stop at a local store where the girls were keen to check out some dresses they’d seen in a restaurant the night before.

After surviving the cycle trip we returned to what we do best, sitting around the pool, reading, chatting and playing the occasional card game.

The best of the days sunshine came late on, so we took up residence on the sun loungers and watched the sunset.

We are incredibly fortunate to be staying at a fantastic hotel with great views from a roof terrace out over the beach and wider bay.

It therefore makes it hard not to want to just stay here each evening and marvel at the views we have immediately to hand.

Amelia was keen to get dressed up tonight and looked stunning in a white dress that she ‘inherited’ from Michelle a few years ago.

We decided to take the short walk up to the hotel terrace and enjoy mojitos whilst we played a game or two of Gin Rummy!

It’s been so good to have this time together doing the simple things. We all agree it’s what we needed and help’s to remind us of what’s important.

After another enjoyable evening, we took the short stroll back to our hotel room bringing to an end another day of contentment.

Tomorrow we are joined by Amelia’s old school friend Kitty who is staying nearby.

Sadly we only have three more days here in Samui before we return to Bangkok. Amelia then heads back to the UK and we pick up on our travels again and move on to Da Nang in Vietnam.

Going to miss our darling daughter.