Wat Rong Khun
Make the 13km (8 miles) journey south on Highway 1 to visit Wat Rong Khun, aka The White Temple. Upon approach, the dazzling white structure shimmers in the sun thanks to mirrored mosaics on the white exterior. Cross the footbridge above a pond filled with reaching hands (a symbol of desire) before entering the temple. Buddha’s life story typically adorns the walls of most temples, but here, contemporary takes on pop culture are on the walls. See if you can find Harry Potter reaching for the golden snitch, Hello Kitty, Keanu Reeves’ Neo from The Matrix, and darker elements like an airplane crashing into the Twin Towers on September 11th. The temple is the brainchild of Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat (the artist behind the Clock Tower in the center of town), and he and a team of 40-plus artists started the project in 1997. Comparisons are often made between Chalermchai and Antoni Gaudí because the Thai artist doesn’t expect the temple to be finished in his lifetime, which, since he was born in 1955, means a lot of construction is left.
Make the 13km (8 miles) journey south on Highway 1 to visit Wat Rong Khun, aka The White Temple. Upon approach, the dazzling white structure shimmers in the sun thanks to mirrored mosaics on the white exterior. Cross the footbridge above a pond filled with reaching hands (a symbol of desire) before entering the temple. Buddha’s life story typically adorns the walls of most temples, but here, contemporary takes on pop culture are on the walls. See if you can find Harry Potter reaching for the golden snitch, Hello Kitty, Keanu Reeves’ Neo from The Matrix, and darker elements like an airplane crashing into the Twin Towers on September 11th. The temple is the brainchild of Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat (the artist behind the Clock Tower in the center of town), and he and a team of 40-plus artists started the project in 1997. Comparisons are often made between Chalermchai and Antoni Gaudí because the Thai artist doesn’t expect the temple to be finished in his lifetime, which, since he was born in 1955, means a lot of construction is left.
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