Join Thor and me as your virtual vacation continues with our last stop on the island of Koh Samui — the mind-boggling temple complex of Wat Plai Laem.
NOTE: “And now for something completely different.” Thor and I made our first trip to Asia — the beautiful country of Thailand. We were lucky to squeak through the pandemic flight closures in January/February of 2020 as we returned from our three-week trip. Since more travel has now become a distant prospect, we hope you’ll take a virtual vacation with us in the following weeks. (This blog series started on June 13.)
Last week, our visit to the Big Buddha shrine prompted reactions from awe to bemusement, and now this ramble around the exuberant displays at nearby Wat Plai Laem took us right into the realm of the surreal. Both complexes are of fairly recent construction (1970s), and the aesthetics are quite a step from the traditional wats we visited in Bangkok. Again, a combination of Buddhist, Chinese, and Hindu deities and imagery flourish, here in vivid colors. Come on along!
The complex holds a collection of shrines and statues mostly suspended on platforms on a small lake, appearing as if floating on pink lotus blossoms. Outsize statues loom over the lovely temples with startling impact. Joining the few pilgrims that day, we earned merit by buying a bag of food for the schools of fish swarming around the platforms.
Another floating pavilion offers a very large statue of many-armed Guanyin, goddess of Mercy and Compassion. She’s encircled by a huge, bright-green dragon.
Shrines and statues honor Ganesha, Vishnu, Shiva, Sakka, and more. There are apparently 330 million Hindu gods and goddesses (including reincarnations), and they are often depicted with multiple heads and arms, holding various weapons or implements portraying their different attributes. The multiple heads/arms illustrate their superhuman abilities.
There were no informational signs at the site, and I could identify only a few deities. Here is Ganesha:
He reminded me of an image I forgot to add to the Big Buddha post:
More smaller shrines with deities:
Please speak up if you can identify any of these images!
The central floating temple is flanked by the ubiquitous guardian demons:
Inside, a serene Buddha statue. On the altar is a photo of the current King Bhumibol (Rama IX), who has been revered for bringing virtue and stability to a country troubled by bouts of political upheaval. Photos and banners of the king and queen are displayed everywhere in Thailand, and it is considered an actionable offense to show disrespect to the monarchy. However, I have just seen in the news this week that protests are heating up in the country, demanding reform of the monarchy.
Paintings cover the walls of the temple:
Here’s where the surrealistic feeling really overcame me — statues at the edge of the pond. I’d love to know who these figures represent, and their stories.
A larger temple with green naga stair is set back from the pond on terra firma.
Elephants are revered:
Next week: taxi, ferry, train, and van to My Jungle House in Koh Sok park near the mainland mountains, where we will bathe a sweet elephant among other adventures!
*****
You will find The Rambling Writer’s blog posts here every Saturday. Sara’s latest novel from Book View Café is available in print and ebook: The Ariadne Connection. It’s a near-future thriller set in the Greek islands. “Technology triggers a deadly new plague. Can a healer find the cure?” The novel has received the Chanticleer Global Thriller Grand Prize and the Cygnus Award for Speculative Fiction. Sara has recently returned from another research trip in Greece and is back at work on the sequel, The Ariadne Disconnect. Sign up for her quarterly email newsletter at www.sarastamey.com
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