Wat Rong Khun

Worth all the struggle to get to, Wat Rong Khun is a fantastically unique and contemporary wat. Designed by Thai painter/architect Chalermchai Kositpipat, it's nicknamed "The White Temple" for it's stark, white surface which is flecked with mirrored tile. Construction only began 16 years ago, and is ongoing; Wikipedia says it won't be completed until 60-90 years after Kositpipat's death.

From a distance, it's curved roofs and general shape look similar to other Thai wats. But up close, you see that this wat is atypical, to say the least. Surreal and outlandish characters guard the temple, a pond of hands--symbolizing desire--reach up at you as you cross the bridge to the wat, where instead of scenes from Buddha's life, Kositpipat's painting new-age scenes--symbolizing the realm of rebirth and delusion--peppered with modern day characters such as Kung-Fu Panda, Michael Jackson, and Neo from the Matrix... interesting stuff! Too bad there's no photography permitted in the wat itself, and our time there was so brief. There are so many amazing details to take in!