Sunday, Nov 13 - Chiang Mai - White Temple

Off on another long drive today.  The mid-morning rest stop was at the Mae Khachan Hot Springs where Mary spent some time dangling her feet in the hot water. 

Our silly guide, June (Supoom), making silly faces with the silly manikin.  

We got to our next destination shortly before lunch.  Oh my Oh my Oh my.  How to describe this temple?  Unlike any other temple we have seen.  There are not adjective sufficient do justice to this place.  We are visiting Wat Rong Khun, more popularly known as the White Temple. 

The new temple has been under construction since 1997 and is not expected to be completed until 2070.  The construction is being funded totally by the artist who designed it. 

To start - the women's bathroom is golden...inside and out.

There were some magical statuary on the grounds...

much of it white with silver detailing.

There was a very interesting art piece surrounding the entrance bridge.  It consisted of 
white hands (some holding pots and other items) reaching to the sky.

There was a small lake around the front of the main temple that included interesting statuary...

and it even had white fish in it.

The main temple was reached over a white bridge.

The main temple is absolutely magical.

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More photos of the White Temple
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After oohing and awing over this temple and taking a million pictures we decided we didn’t want to go the next temple scheduled to be visited.  It was the original home to the Emerald Buddha that we saw in Bangkok.  Since we had already seen the Emerald Buddha there was no real reason to go to the temple.  And if anything it would be a poor second after the White Temple.  Instead June, our guide, took us to the Baandam Museum. 

This museum, also known as the Black House, was designed by Thailand’s National Artist Thawan Duchanee to house his art collection.  The buildings had a Thai architectural feel but still felt very unique.

The collection was very weird and eclectic with many chairs and other items made from water buffalo horns.  

several crocodile skins, python skins,

shells,

other collected items, 

and works by the artist. 

There were traditional Thai houses and some very modern and unusual buildings including a “Worm” coming out of the ground and several round pod-like structures.  Unlike anything we had previously seen in Thailand (or elsewhere for that matter).  We very much enjoyed it and highly recommended it for those who are into the different and eclectic.

We then headed out to our final destination of the trip, Chiang Mai.

Along the way we stopped at a rest area/restaurant for a break.  One of the most unusual we have visited anywhere...Cabbages and Condoms Inn and Restaurant.  Featuring all things condom.

Our restaurant for dinner in Chiang May had a most unusual and very pretty welcoming "art piece" in the patio out front as we came in.  All things considered this was a really exceptional day.