In two days we visit some of the most iconic and newest temples in Thailand. One is multi-colored and is tiered like a Chinese Pagoda, another is 26 story ‘female’ Buddha, one is all blue to symbolize enlightenment, and the final and currently most famous is the White Temple crafted by national master artist Chalermchai Kositpipat.
It is fun to see new generations reinterpret what a Buddhist temple should be and how it can relate to modern times. They also remind us of other architectural monuments like Sagrada Familia in Barcelona by Gaudi or the disney-like Sinatra castle near Lisbon.
Wat Thaton – our first morning stopOur view of the Maekok River and valley that we will boat down later that dayWe circle around the dragon’s (or In Thailand – Naga’s) back, up the several floors to the top, passing the large meditation chamber and several life-like images of important past monks – it is like a wax museum.Another Naga guarding the front entranceI walked up the nine stories of the pagoda and got an impressive view of Kuan Im at sunsetThe Naga at the entrance to the pagoda templeKuan Im looking down compassionately on all of us (even foreigners) as we soon ascend the stairs (there was also a free shuttle) to he entrance and elevator to the top, the Naga on the other hand doesn’t seem as excited to have visitorsThe lights are just coming on as we start to leave Our third temple is the aptly named Blue Temple, created by the White Temple’s studentInside the Blue TempleWe arrive at our final destination for this day – the now famous White TempleA Thai interpretation of Iron Man – Master artist Chalermchai Kositpipat enjoyed contemporary works including Hollywood. Inside the temple, which photos are not allowed, there are numerous modern images such as spiderman, star wars, minions, and on…A view of the entrance – where you walk across the moat of images of hell until you find enlightenment and heaven inside the templeA side view of the White Temple with the stupa in back or left of the main templeOne of the many Dr. Seuss like creatures around the templeAnd another creature as we move to the adjacent gold shrine to GaneshaOne fish, two fish, gold fish, Thai fish …
Siri and David Adventures 
Nice photos!
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