Wat Muang Komanraphat - วัดม่วงโกมารภัจจ์

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Wat Muang Komanraphat - วัดม่วงโกมารภัจจ์ - is somewhere which we stumbled on quite unexpectantly, I don't remember what we were looking for or where we were going.

We were looking for a short cut and ended up in a rubber plantation.

But what a find - this was clearly not a tourist attraction, there was nothing there in any other language but Thai. This only added to it's natural beauty however.

I can find almost nothing about this for the tourist however - here it is on Temple Tour and Pantip.com. 

The temple was calming beyond my expectations.

The sculptures the gardens are not something that I have had an experience of calming but rather a 'teaching tool'  which I have seen in Wat Thampatan.

Then there was a buried Buddha? - something else to find here.

It was clear that it was somewhere which the locals used often.

A peaceful place to escape to...

  

Elephant sanctuary

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We An Elephant Sanctuary is something that I have been asked for a number of times whilst sitting in the Front Lobby of the Cape Panwa Hotel and Spa.

It has meant me finding their Facebook page and their Website.

It is with great delight that I see CNN have just released.

Phuket Street Art December 2016

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We had a great number of paintings throughout Phuket Town in June 2016. Since the passing of His Royal Highness King Bhumibol the Great 

it has now been changed to the classic paintings above.

Wat Khao Rang - giant demons

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Wat Khao Rang is certainly a place to visit if you are in Phuket Town. I always try to visit and have a number of times - more than I have listed below.

Wat Khao Rang is a wonderful example of a Buddhist Temple - there is a beautiful golden Buddha which is worth visiting. 

Next to this Buddhist statue there is a wonderful example of a Wat - perched on the top of a number of steps.

What I found today was the large creatures at the front of the Temple. What is common is the Yuk. 

Then there are more and I can find very little information about - but once I have written this I will endeavour to find out.

This one (I think maybe the 'God of Death') is actually a bit scary - look at that necklace!!

and then his stick!

There are also more beautiful and balanced...

But what is this demon representing?

Is this demon holding a traditional 'ball' which is placed at Wats? 

These sacred stone balls, usually nine, are called ลูกนิมิต in the Thai language and are placed at the four corners and other cardinal points of the พระอุโบสถ.

BUT one of the greatest pleasures is not knowing, looking briefly  and sometimes it doesn't matter...

Previous Visits

 1) November 2012 - part I

 2) November 2012 - part II

 3) July 2014 - a walk up Rang Hill
 4) May 2015 - an investigation

 

Fortune

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Fortune is a good place to go shopping when you are looking for 'bits and pieces' and it won't cost you a fortune (sorry I could not resist that one).

So what is in here? 

Well I would imagine that the photographs are the best way to share that with the reader.

So here are some.

But I am not sure whether I would purchase the 'authentic items' - not sure that these are something to purchase and take through customs?

These bags are very popular (at the moment).

But these are ubiquitous and certainly not expensive!?

 

Rung Market - Flower threading

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Flower threading is an art which I started to learn when I first moved to Phuket in 2000 and unfortunately did not continue to learn. 

These types of flower garlands are called 'Uba'. 

The local markets are a place where I saw the most flowers being threaded at the same time - Rung Market (behind Robinsons).

 

It is still a popular skill in Phuket and some are sold on the side of the road and the larger ones (more detailed) are sold in the Flower Shops (Suan Luang for example).

However the very ornate and detailed ones can be purchased in Bangkok. 

But the joy of watching the flowers be threaded in the Local market is lovely.