Art & Architecture: Gold Blooded
Thailand loves gold, there’s no two ways about it. You can’t get very far in Thailand without running into a wat – a Buddhist or Hindu temple. These temples are built with the most intricate architecture I have seen anywhere in my travels.
The roof of a wat is often made of many different tiers, which have ornate finials along every edge. The most breathtaking we visited was Wat Doi Suthep, high in the mountains looking down on Chiang Mai. There is a large gold plated chedi (place of meditation). We visited on a clear day, and it glistened so brightly you could hardly look directly at it!
Another temple that absolutely must be mentioned is the White Temple in Chiang Rai. This temple has been somewhat popularized in western culture because of its bizarre illustrations inside. Although photography was prohibited, the interior depicts images of hell and Western idols including Michael Jackson, astronauts, Harry Potter and more. It is beautiful to see – completely white with inlaid mirror mosaics.