Wat Roong Koon (warning: cultural post)

[Bob]

A few weeks ago, I again visited the "wedding cake temple" known as Wat Roong Koon, located a few kilometers south of Chiangrai. If you are ever up in that neck of the woods, it's a rather unique temple to visit.

I don't remember the artist/architect's name but he's made this temple and surrounding buildings as his personal project to honor the King. It supposedly won't be finished for another 4-6 years but what is finished now is well worth a stop if you are in the area. There's another photo in the archives somewhere that I took about 18 months ago and you can now see that the
buildings immediately behind the main temple are almost completed.

Here's the view of the main temple:

http://upload4.postimage.org/1722300/Chiangrai012.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1722300/photo_hosting.html)

The front entry way through the elephant tusks:
http://upload4.postimage.org/1722317/Chiangrai013.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1722317/photo_hosting.html)

The somewhat bizarre figures in cement:
http://upload4.postimage.org/1722324/Chiangrai018.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1722324/photo_hosting.html)

Inside the main temple:
http://upload4.postimage.org/1722327/Chiangrai023.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1722327/photo_hosting.html)

Buidling immediately behind the main temple:
http://upload4.postimage.org/1722331/Chiangrai025.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1722331/photo_hosting.html)

Pagoda-style bridge under construction:
http://upload4.postimage.org/1722335/Chiangrai031.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1722335/photo_hosting.html)

A worker on the bridge contemplating when to start working again......
http://upload4.postimage.org/1722344/Chiangrai032.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1722344/photo_hosting.html)

Other buldings (perhaps the monastery) on the grounds:
http://upload4.postimage.org/1722353/Chiangrai037.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1722353/photo_hosting.html)

The somewhat bizarre figures in cement:
http://upload4.postimage.org/1722324/Chiangrai018.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1722324/photo_hosting.html)
Obviously the groom pursued by boyfriends past

[bao-bao]

Those are really nice pictures - I haven't been there myself, but I guess I'll try to soon.

I see there's only one picture in your photo album here - it'd be great to see more there from you when time allows!

Wow yes! I must go and see this temple thanks for the excellent photo's. Where is Chiangrai, what else is in this area?

I saw that temple 2 years ago. Its quite beautiful in a bling-bling sort of way. From what I understand it is at its most spectacular when viewed by the light of the full moon.
Unfortunately its a bit out in the boondocks. I think most people catch it while on the way to/from Chiang Rai. If I remember correctly its about 1/2 hr from Chiang Rai.
The artist's name is Chalermchai Kositpipat. He does a lot of New Age/psycedelic type paintings. Very 1960's I used to have a weblink to his site but lost it long ago.
Here's how the main Buddha image looked 2 years ago...

http://upload4.postimage.org/1734514/IMG_0010.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1734514/photo_hosting.html)

From 2 years ago
http://upload4.postimage.org/1734569/IMG_0003.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1734569/photo_hosting.html)

I wonder why they removed the landscaping. It wasn't anything great anyway

http://upload4.postimage.org/1734579/IMG_0006.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1734579/photo_hosting.html)

Note the limited use of mirrored glass. It really makes the structure sparkle when the light hits it just right