Wat Rong Khun, Chiang Rai

From Chiang Mai, we headed over towards the Laos border at Chiang Khong. We decided to take local buses (where there’s no air con, but you can buy sticky rice in bamboo stick) and a tuk tuk bus (where you feel like a sardine) to make a detour to Chiang Rai to see the magnificent Wat Rong Khun.

Chiang Rai’s bus station had the most questionable luggage storage we had ever seen, but we decided to trust their system, and hopped on a little bus to Wat Rong Khun, aka the White Temple.

The temple is very modern and is actually under construction and due to be completed in 2070. It is designed by a famous contemporary Buddhist artist, and was incredibly original, like no other temple we have seen. It is entirely self-funded by the artist and he hopes it will one day be compared to other wonders of the world.

Visitors must pass through purgatory, with clawing hands and hanging skulls, before reaching the glorious white temple. Inside were modern paintings depicting unexpected characters including George Bush, Osama Bin Laden and superheroes like Superman and Spiderman. The painting was ongoing, with artists at work, and photographs were strictly prohibited inside.

This is the first of nine temples to be completed

At the entrance; multitude of hands coming from the underworld…

Thousands of prayers

The most decorative toilets I’ve ever seen!

Thousands of prayers

Wat Rong bollard

Public Bus

Asia bag storage: chuck the bags at the back of an open jumble sale/shop.