Emerging as a Pilgrimage Site for Women Seeking Love
Offering Bras to Wish for Romantic Luck
Thailand's "breast-shaped island" is rapidly emerging as a hotspot for those seeking good fortune in love, drawing a steady stream of tourists. Visitors to the island are participating in a unique custom of offering bras at the island shrine, expressing their wishes for romantic success.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on June 22, an island in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province in western Thailand is gaining attention as a "destination for those seeking luck in love." The island, named "Ko Nom Sao"?which translates literally as "Breast Island" due to its resemblance to a woman's chest?has recently become a pilgrimage site for people hoping to achieve love and romance.
This distinctive tradition originates from a tragic legend. According to the legend, there was a beautiful woman named Yomdoi. Yomdoi's father wanted her to marry a Chinese ruler, while her mother wished for her to marry a prince from the Phetchaburi region in central Thailand. After Yomdoi defied her father's wishes, he killed her and threw her body into the sea. It is said that her two breasts each transformed into islands?one being the present-day Ko Nom Sao, and the other forming near Chanthaburi Province in eastern Thailand.
About 80 years ago, a fisherman seeking refuge from a storm reportedly witnessed a mysterious light above the island. People believed this to be the spirit of the goddess Yomdoi. A shrine was later built in her honor, and over time, the custom of offering bras?symbolizing love?became established. Typically, after making a wish, people offer bras as tribute, though foreign tourists sometimes present flowers or small souvenirs instead.
Visitors at Konomsao are standing in line in front of the island shrine holding bras in their hands. Photo by SCMP
Sumate Charoensuk, Chairman of Corporate Social Responsibility in Sam Roi Yot, a subdistrict where Ko Nom Sao is located, stated, "The miracles of the goddess Yomdoi have long been widely recognized in the local community, and visitors come every year without fail."
He further emphasized, "The bras offered by women are sorted and distributed to local women's organizations and low-income women, providing practical assistance as well. This ritual also carries a meaning of social contribution." He concluded by encouraging visits, noting, "Here, you can enjoy not only a unique cultural and spiritual experience but also beautiful natural scenery and renowned diving spots."
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