Koh Samui Buffalo Fighting

Thai buffalo fighting is a much more placid affair than the usual sort of Spanish bullfighting that's full of passion and drama and the bulls end up being killed. In fact, Thai buffalo fighting is the bovine-world's equivalent of arm wrestling - with two male water buffalos locking horns and pushing and snorting until one gets bored and wanders away! But it's still a hugely popular event and usually occurs at special festivals such as New Year's Day and the Thai New Year (Songkran).

There are several stadiums on Koh Samui, such as the ones in Ban Makham, Ban Saket and Nathon Town. It's not always possible to predict quite when these festivals will happen, but there are usually posters displayed prominently around the ring road prior to the event. It's a colourful and spectacular event, with much ritual and blessings being involved. The buffalos are festooned with garlands and ribbons and their horns decorated with elaborate designs in gold paint. Both the ground and the contestants are sprinkled with holy water and blessed before the contests begin.

There are usually two bouts, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with a fair bit of alcohol being excitedly consumed and more than a few bets being inconspicuously placed. Although the whole affair is really quite leisurely, winning buffalos are highly prized and bestow fame and fortune upon the owners, with the champion buffalo suddenly becoming worth several million baht! If you're on Koh Samui at the right time you'll be lucky enough to watch this colourful event, so keep your eyes out for the posters or ask about it at your resort.