Thailand Day 10b
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Thailand Day
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Trip to Chiang Rai, with a stop at the Wat Rong Kuhn (White Temple) along the way
Wat Rong Khun, known
as the White Temple, was designed and construction was started in 1997
by Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. This unusual temple is a strange
surrealistic intertpretation of traditional Thai architecture. The main
building and most other buildings are painted white to symbolize Buddhas
purity. They are also decoratively enhanced by mosaics of mirrors, which
sparkle in the sun. All around the complex are figures of demons, skulls,
severed heads handing from trees and other bizarre objects.
To reach the temple
you have to walk over a bridge over a moat filled with arms reaching
up, which symbolize desire. There are also all sorts of skulls. Apparently
this is symbolic of the Thai version of Hell. Inside the temple, the
walls are covered with strangely contemporary scenes and images from
popular culture. The artist used contemporary images of good and evil
and put them into a Buddhist context. There are murals of comic book
Superheroes like Batman and Superman, and even a scene from The Matrix.
On one unfinished wall is the painting of a plane smashing into the
Twin Towers. In another wall there are images of spaceships and a scene
showing the destruction of earth. Photography not permitted inside,
unfortunately. |
Side
view of the walkway to the main temple building. For larger view, click
here
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Beautiful
golden edifice. All buildings in the compound are either white or gold
colored. Larger view, Click
Here
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Another
view of the temple and grounds. For larger image, click
here
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Strange
sculptured hanging heads on a tree on the grounds. This artist is very
strange! Larger view, click
here
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This
building houses the restrooms, and other things.
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This
lovely image is in such contrast to the many really savage and evil-looking
creatures and beings in this compound. For a larger view of this image,
click here
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Another view of the Wat Rong Khun temple. For a larger image view, click here |
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Strange animal heads around the round pavilion structure. For a larger view of this image, click here |
One more page with images of the White Temple and finally our hotel in Chiang Rai - click here