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Saturday, March 2, 2024

Wat Tham Faed or Twin Cave Temple

A Saturday with no plans and not having done a lot lately other than trying to stay cool. I hopped on the motorbike and rode south along the river. This is the ride I seem to do most often when I have no direction in mind.

Today I noticed a temple up on the hill and decided it was a good day to explore even with the temperature over 100f or 35c.

I found a dirt road leading up the hill and gunned the engine to make climb until I hit the paved road that someone who knew where they were going would taken. I arrived at Wat Tham Faed (วัดถํ้าแฝด) or the Twin Cave Temple.











I found a seat in the shade and enjoyed an ice coffee and the views over the countryside and the river.







I think the next 2 pictures are the enterence to the caves. I did not enter and they don't look like twins to me.





When leaving I stopped near the bottom of the hill to get a photo of the temple from a distance.



I stoped again when headed back to the main road and took a picture of the Tiger Cave Temple over the rice fields in the distance. I blogged about visiting the Tiger Cave Temple a few weeks ago.

Saturday, February 10, 2024

An Afternoon in U Thong

Suphan Buri province is the one of the provinces that border Kanchanaburi. U Thong is the town that is just a little bit past the province border. I had saved 3 dots on my map in this town as places to visit so decided that today was a good day to check off a few dots.

After about an hour on the motorbike I arrived at the first dot the U Thong National Museum. I didn't know a lot about the museum before arriving. I was greeted by a friendly lady that wanted to take my picture and then pointed at the entrance. I was a bit surprised that there was no fee to enter and don't think they get a lot of tourist to this museum.

A lady lead me to the first room in the museum and I was surprised that she spoke English. She started a 6 minute video in English that talked about the Dvaravati era. My understanding is the Dvaravati was a Buddhist culture that spread from India across southeast Asia and there are a number of ruins in U Thong area from this era.

Most of the museum was artifacts found at the Dvaravati religious sites in the area. The 2 pictures below are some of the artifacts. The Wheel is supposed to represents the Buddhist doctrine spreading throughout the world.





The photo below is of a traditional style of home of the Laosong ethnic group living in this area of Thailand that was in front of the museum.



From the museum I made my way to the second dot on my map Wat Khao Phra Si Sanphet.

Wat Khao Phra Si Sanphet is on the top of a hill or rock outcrop and can be seen from a long ways away depending on smoke on the day due to crop burning. The following is the cave at the base of the hill with a reclining Buddha.



It was a bit of a climb to reach the top of the steps and the views of the town and countryside.





Here are a couple pictures of the temple at the top of the hill.





I think the ruins of a pagoda behind the temple may be from the Dvaravati era.



Back at the base of the hill I took a couple of shots trying to improve my luck by pitching a coin into the belly button of the happy Bhuddha. I didn't improve my luck and had 2 less baht then before.



My 3rd dot and last place to visit in U Thong was Bhunyakiri Sri Suvarnabhumi.

I am guessing that this used to be a rock quarry but have not found anything that says this. It is a impressive site with the Buddha carved out of the rock. It also has a cave or tunnel behind the Buddha so you can walk a circle around the Buddha.

Not sure if it is this busy on every Saturday but going on Chinese new year may have been a mistake. The parking lot was packed and I had to be careful to stay out of the way of the many golf carts zipping around carrying people back for forth.











This site is still being worked on and it appears the glass walkway along the right side of the quarry is about complete.

U Thong made for a good day out playing tourist.

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple) วัดถ้ำเสือ

I like to ride my motorbike on the road that runs down along the river. The Tiger Cave Temple is on this road but I for some reason have never stopped and visited. Today I decided was a good day to make the stop.

I got lucky in the way I went to the temple because I went to the parking lot with the shorter staircase. This picture is the stairs I had to climb.



The temple has a good view of the river and landscape of the area.



The main Buddha has some work going on currently but it is still an interesting looking setup. I think it looks like a Buddha inside a sea shell inside another sea shell but have no idea what the true meaning of this is.



I climbed the stairs to the top level of this pagoda. I did not think it was all that high but taking the stairs changed my mind.



I like the picture I took from the top of the pagoda looking out one of the windows. Not sure it was worth all the work to get it but it was the only reward I was given for the climb.



I stopped by the parking lot that I did not use to see the steps I missed and toke a quick picture that I think is a good overview of the temple.



I uploaded a short video to youtube while I was at the temple and following is the link.



Friday, February 2, 2024

Wat Mettadhamma Pothiyan วัดเมตตาธรรมโพธิญาณ - วิหารพระโพธิสัตว์กวนอิม

I have found a bar in Kanchanaburi to play some darts and have met some really nice people. John has recommend some different places for me to visit and other than beating me at darts he is a really great guy.

John told me there is this Chinese temple that is under construction and tried to describe how to find it. As I was riding to Wat Tham Phu Wa I kept thinking this is the way John was describing. After visiting the temple in my last post I rode on up the hill and found Wat Mettadhamma Pothiyan วัดเมตตาธรรมโพธิญาณ - วิหารพระโพธิสัตว์กวนอิม and am sure this is the one John was talking about.





From the sign up I assume that Thailand will be getting another big Buddha when this temple is complete.





I went in the building that seems to be mostly complete and the statue in the main hall was amazing.

The Buddha with a large number of arms was repeated in all for directions surrounded by huge columns with dragons wrapped around them. I found it really impressive.







The following is a photo of an area where I think they are carving Buddhas to be placed in other areas as they are completed.



I also have to post a picture of a pink elephant when ever I take one.



I will try to go back to this site every few months to see how they move along and to see it when complete.