Two extremes in Chachoengsao
A Thai friend tells me that he visited a beautiful and famous temple in Thailand a few days ago Chachoengsao. He knows that I immediately say 'I want to see that too'.
My friend has a car, so we go out the next morning. His wife and son are also present. After two hours we are in Chachoengsao and my guide knows the relevant one flawlessly Temple to find. The name is Wat Sothorn Wararam Worawihan or in short What Sothon. Wat Sothon is the most important temple in Chachoengsao province. It is located on the west bank of the Bang Pakong River. The temple houses one of Thailand's most revered Buddha statues, called Luang Pho Sathorn.
This statue, in meditation posture, is almost two meters high and is always covered with gold leaves. Large processions take place here twice a year. Believers from all over Thailand come here to pay homage to this statue. Thai dancers are then dressed in traditional clothing and give a performance several times a day.
The building itself is nothing short of beautiful. It has therefore been built for fifteen years. Entirely made of marble. The top is 85 meters high and decorated with five golden umbrellas. A total of 77 kilos of gold. Inside it is always very busy, people are praying everywhere. Apart from the Buddha statues in the current main building, the ceiling and floor are particularly striking.
Inside I find an amusing Buddha, which would have made Hans Brinker lick his fingers. It is completely unclear to me what this hole is for. Girls are sitting outside ready to show off their classical dance talents.
I agree with my friend that this is indeed a special temple, which clearly differs from the normal type of temples. Don't tell him I've been here before. It must have been years ago. At home I investigate and discover that this temple was part of a 2007 excursion to a sand sculpture exhibition.
Wat Saman Rattana Ram
My guide has another temple in store. We drive to the Wat Saman Rattana Ram. What a difference from the rustic beauty of the previous temple. This is apparently an amusement park for Chinese Buddhists. A three-headed elephant, a Buddha in a cheerful outfit, a many-armed pink elephant, wax statues of famous monks and a lotus-shaped island, it can't go on.
This farang was there last year Dick, I was there once in 2008 but then construction was still in full swing, but it has indeed become beautiful, it looks more like a palace and the garden around it is beautiful.
But it is strict if you wear clothes that do not cover your body sufficiently then you have to wear some kind of bathrobe otherwise you cannot get in.
The Chinese temple at the back is really dwarfed by this beautiful building.
The exhibition of the sand sculptures is also close to this temple and there is also this temple built on scale and completely made of sand, by the way, it is also recommended to visit this very nice.
I don't know if this is the most beautiful temple I've ever seen, I also think Wat Pailom in Nakhon Pathom is very beautiful, not to mention the white Wat Rong Khun Temple in Chiang Rai.
greeting
Last year I happened upon a huge temple complex under construction near Chonburi. The largest temple I think is placed on more than 100 marble columns. There are two beautiful temples on it. Beautiful inlaid staircase. Just can't remember exactly where it was. Does anyone happen to know the place. I do have a few photos of these https://plus.google.com/photos/110650463243707035497/albums/5813264555000437937/5815520773924377938?banner=pwa&pid=5815520773924377938&oid=110650463243707035497
Found the temple in question. I wonder if there are others who have already visited this temple. It is in the same district
It's Wat Phrong Akat.
The coordinates are : N13°47'48.77'' E101°03'25.19''
Wat Phrong Akat (Phra Archan Somchai)
Bang Nam Priao District
Chachoengsao
see also youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p881ywILHvo
Also fairly close to ChaChoenSao is Bang Khla. There is the temple Wat Pho Bang Khla.
The trees along the river there are full of flying dogs.