Wat Rong Khun, the stunning White Temple, its facade shimmering in the sun from thousands of tiny mirrored pieces inserted into its gleaming white surface. This temple, which is in Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand, is more well-known among foreigners as The White Temple.

The temple is located in Ban Rong Khun, about 13 kilometres south-west of Chiang Rai city along Phahonyothin Road. It is the brainchild of Thai artist Chaloemchai Khositphiphat who started building it back in 1998.In an interview, he said that “maybe in 60 to 90 years after my death will the projected be completed”.

Chaloemchai Khositphiphat, in his lifetime has become a great Contemporary Thai artist that is admired by many people. He has not only revitalized an interest in the ancient Thai murals found in temples, but he has at the same time produce his only unique style. Most obvious is the choice of white for the temple while others are golden. He said that he believes that gold is only suitable for people who lust for evil deeds.

The attention to detail in the temple is remarkable and you do need to spend some time here studying the beautiful artwork. To reach the temple you have to cross a bridge over a pit of hell. Down below there are sculptures of people who are presumably trying to escape from hell. Inside the temple is a beautiful coloured mural of the Buddha. If you take a close look at the devil you will see small portraits of Bin Laden and George Bush in the Devil’s eyes. Across from the Buddha images, the artist has painted a montage of recent events, including the plane flying into the Twin Towers.

One of the new buildings is this Golden Toilet which is probably the most beautiful rest room in Thailand. Surprisingly it is also free, the same as for entry to the White Temple. Though obviously donations are welcome as up-keep of all the buildings is never-ending. You can buy reproductions of Chaloemchai’s impressive artwork in the souvenir shop. The White Temple is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

These are fantastic world news worthy of headlining any newspaper around the world.
This creature, was found on Thailand, its strangely shaped body leaves a lot of mastery around it .
The photographer has captured with his camera a truly unique and amazing moment, and got himself a fantastic photographs that make up a great story.

As all good mysteries it happens in far away from the technology wonders of the modern society in Thailand.
You can see a lot of local folks in the background of these photos that seem to worship this creature they have “found”.


The end result is an even more absurd and even humorous scene.
They managed to get me even more amazed by this baby powder and juices they brought as a tribute to this creature. They have even brought a fan to keep it well preserved for the scientists.

Lets turn to the main subject, or should I say object, of this photo series the fantastically colored and shaped body of the creature.

There has been a lot of debates about what this creature might be and that is exactly the beauty of mystery, the inability to solve it.
It might be some kind of strange animal, it even looks like a mythical creature. Honestly I don’t know what to think about this event.

These photographs do raise more questions than answers…

Here are  some facts about Thailand:

1. The Thai greeting “sawatdee” was invented during the Second World War. Before that, people greeted each other by asking if they had eaten yet.

2. According to the World Meteorological Organization, Bangkok is the hottest capital city in the world.

3. HRH The Crown Prince, an avid collector of classic cars, has the largest private collection of ”Classic cars” in Thailand.

4. H.M. The King once met Elvis Presley and Walt Disney.

5. HM the King is a renowned Jazz saxophonist who has played with many of the world”s greatest Jazz musicians.

6. HM the King is an Olympic standard yachtsman.

7. The Orchid is Thailand”s best flowering export. Exports of the Orchid are valued at US$250million per annum.

8. According to the Thai media, the estimated public gathering of 1 million people on 9 June 2006, to celebrate HM The King”s 60th year – was the largest public gathering in history to celebrate a royal event.

9. The beautiful Similan Islands in the south of Thailand got their name from Malay language. The islands are 9 in total and the Malay word for ”nine” is – Similan.

10. In Thailand, both Father”s Day and Mother”s Day are celebrated on the birthdays of Their Majesties the King and Queen.

11. Prior to 1913, most Thais did not have surnames.

12. Thailand”s most expensive pure-breed of dog is the beautiful ”Bangkaew”. Half-wolf/half-house dog, the Bangkaew has it”s origins in Phitsanulok province. Premium Bangkaew dogs sell for around 50,000 baht ($1,300). There is currently one in Phitsanulok (Top Father) which is watched by a security guard as it is valued at an astonishing…….2,000,000 baht ($54,000)!

13. According to the ”Guinness Book of Records 1995”, the Thai language has the second largest alphabet in the world. Second only to Khmer.

14. The name Bangkok (Thai language in origin) means ”Village of Olives” (Ban Mah-gork).

15. An English mistake is the ”Maekhong River”. Known in every English book about Thailand – as the ”Maekhong River”, it ought to be called the Khong River instead. ”Mae” already means ”river” so there is no need to repeat oneself.

16. The 1994 Guinness Book of Records contains the entry: the world”s biggest restaurant – the Royal Dragon Restaurant, Bangkok – can serve 5,000 eaters in its palatial dining rooms at one time.

17. According to extensive research carried out in 2001, there is an average of 5.2 cockroaches per Thai house!

18. Nakhon Pathom, boasts the tallest Buddhist pagoda both in Thailand and in the world.

19. Wat Traimitr (Temple of the Golden Buddha) this is the world”s largest solid gold Buddha, cast about nine centuries ago. The image is three meters high and weighs five and half tons.

20. It is illegal in Thailand for women to visit night-time entertainment venues alone. They must go with a man!

21. It is illegal in Thailand for men (and women of course) to go bare-chested in public. You must wear a top at all times!

22. It is illegal in Thailand, to leave your house if you are not wearing underwear.

23. After spending the night together (unmarried couple) the female is entitled to ask the man to marry her – and give a dowry. If the man doesn”t want to get married, the women is entitled to seek compensation ie….money.

24. The man is entitled to sue his new wife in a court of law and get his dowry back, if it is found that the bride had had sex with another man before, and so – not a ‘virgin’ at the time of marriage.

25. Since 1939, it has been illegal to NOT stand-up for the national anthem.

26. Bangkok full name in the Thai language is the longest city name in the world.

27. H.M. The King was born in America.

28. Some barbers close on Wednesday because Thais believe that it”s not good to have hair cut on Wed.

29. Don”t touch Thais” heads if you are not very close friend to them.

30. Point something with foot is impolite in Thailand.

31. Thai calendar is counted on Buddhist Era (After the death of the Buddha). Now 2008 in Thai calendar is 2551.

32. Thai superstitions about color.  Thais are a very superstitious people and there are many superstitious beliefs and customs that have long been observed in Thailand. Some superstitions are about good luckand some are about bad luck. For example, there are superstitions about the meaning of colors and some take it very seriously. Thais believe that wearing the right color on the right day would bring luck. Most people don’t really seem to follow this practice anymore, but some may have a small piece of clothing, like a tie or handkerchief, which is the correct color.

to be continued

This is a train go through bazaar in Bangkok

Posted by Evgo