This temple was very visible from a distance because of the gold covering the top.
That made it very shiny in the sunset.
It was still quite shiny up close.
This temple had quite a bit of extra gold on the other corner posts.
Inside there were a number of carvings. They told stories which we didn’t know.
This was also the first time we saw gargoyles on any temples. Most just had drain holes on the side but no extensions away from the edge of the building.
Inside was a very shiny sitting Buddha.
This temple was very visible from a distance because of the gold covering the top.
That made it very shiny in the sunset.
It was still quite shiny up close.
This temple had quite a bit of extra gold on the other corner posts.
Inside there were a number of carvings. They told stories which we didn’t know.
This was also the first time we saw gargoyles on any temples. Most just had drain holes on the side but no extensions away from the edge of the building.
Inside was a very shiny sitting Buddha.
In the shadow of the gold gilded pagodas there is a small village.
It was set up for a wedding when we visited.
They raise pigs.
And grow cotton which they spin on a manual spinning wheel.
This is the kitchen, which is shared by a large family.
They cook directly on an open wood fire.
Using a small supply of cookware.
The most solid structure in the village is the small health clinic.
This Buddha had a shawl and wasn’t completely covered with gold.
Surrounding it was hundreds of tiny representations of Buddha.
The building shape on the outside was pretty cool.
Here the elephant-birds were guardians of the temple.
And these mammals, except for the duck on the bottom.
I guess this is a goose or another duck.
Many monks live in the monastery in this cave.
These are their beds. They actually seemed out of place, the rest of the furniture was dated but kind of looked like you could get it at Value Village.
We didn’t spend much time here because it was a bit weird to be wandering around someone else’s home while they weren’t there.
