The White Temple

Trip Start Oct 04, 2011
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Trip End Nov 29, 2011


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Flag of Thailand  ,
Wednesday, October 5, 2011

On the way from the airport to the hotel we took a detour to see the White Temple just outside Chiang Rai. It's still in the process of being built and and all nine temples which make up the complex will be finished by 2070. As the name suggests it's all white but what the name doesn't hint at are the thousands of bits of mirror which are embedded into the plaster work - the whole temple glitters and looks like a wedding cake.
The White Temple
The White Temple

The interior is still being painted - the part which is finished is what you could only call "graffitti" style and has images of the Twin Towers, Spiderman, Neo from the Matrix, Michael Jackson and allegedly Sponge Bob Square Pants (but we didn;t see him) to name just a few  - I think it's all meant to represent the evil man has to over come.
To get to the temple itself you go over a bridge over hundreds of outstretched hands , some with bright red nail varinish - symbolising hell.
Hands from Hell
Hands from Hell


All very weird but magnificent!


Are at the hotel now but more about that tomorrow.
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Comments

Maggie Yarnsong on

Wow - I bet you need good sunglasses. The temple is amazing.

Iain Milligan on

Very nice! Do you have more pictures?

It sounds like they are a bit confused about "the evil man has to overcome", though. Those hands are quite creepy (as is Spongebob) but I don't think Spiderman has traditionally been seen as evil.

Julie on

Wow looks fab, I am so jealous have a fab time xx

Philip & Emily on

Looks lovely :)
Glad you finally got there in one piece (mostly...)
x

Gill Ashby on

What a beautiful sparkling palace, but it sounds a bit weird

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