Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks (Hin Ta Hin Yay)

These unusual rock formations on the outskirts of Lamai are a great spot to visit during your stay on Koh Samui. To reach the rocks, you need to watch for a small road about 1 kilometer west of the end of Lamai. The Grandfather and Grandmother rocks are so named for two reasons. First reason is their quite graphic similarity to the human genitalia, and the second is that the Samui people believe that they were born from the rocks themselves.

There is a tale of how the rocks came into existence. There was a young couple desperately in love on the mainland but their families refused to let them marry. They ran away and came to the island of Samui so they could be together but their families chased them and instead of being separated they threw themselves from the cliff. After which, the Hin Ta and Hin Yay rocks sprang up as the representation of the young lovers. A sad story - kind of an Asian Romeo and Juliet!

The popularity of the rock formations has lead to many small cafes and shops to appear crammed in around the entrance to the beach. Take some time to have a browse around all the knick knacks and unique gifts that you can bring home for mementos of your holiday. Or you can just sit in a café and enjoy a cool fruit shake in a completely different type of environment!