As I don't read much in preparation for our trips, after three days on a bus, as we were approaching our destination of the White Temple, I was expecting to see, perhaps what was left of a very ancient, very heavenly, eternal (I know...another church!) and awe-inspiring edifice.
What I saw was--alright--it was gorgeous--a creation by Thai artist Ajarn Chalermchai Kositpipat.
My first thought, upon approaching the "temple" is that it would make one heck of a wedding cake. The pictures don't do it justice, as it is covered in mirror tiles and really sparkles in the sunlight.
It is, as an art project, no less than spectacular. It was started in 1997, at the complete expense to the artist, who doesn't charge admission and takes no corporate donations so that he remains free to pursue his own artistic vision. He expects it to take 90 years to complete and has a team of apprentices to continue after his death.
What I saw was--alright--it was gorgeous--a creation by Thai artist Ajarn Chalermchai Kositpipat.
My first thought, upon approaching the "temple" is that it would make one heck of a wedding cake. The pictures don't do it justice, as it is covered in mirror tiles and really sparkles in the sunlight.
It is, as an art project, no less than spectacular. It was started in 1997, at the complete expense to the artist, who doesn't charge admission and takes no corporate donations so that he remains free to pursue his own artistic vision. He expects it to take 90 years to complete and has a team of apprentices to continue after his death.
As at any proper Buddhist temple, you must remove your shoes to enter and no photographs are allowed inside. (You also must remove your shoes when entering the restrooms both here and at other temples, which somewhat turns me off to religion!) Inside you can expect to see a regal Buddha and monk, scenes of both heaven and hell, as well as Spiderman, Batman and Michael Jackson, among other deities and the eyes of the demon with George Bush and Osama Bin Laden seen within them.
I, personally, find Hell much more interesting than Heaven:
In reading to prepare for my blog post...I found something that I missed there, the golden toilet, "the most beautiful toilet". I guess I'll have to go back.
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