I haven’t done a PixRemix photo in a while, but I feel it’s time. Thailand is known for its amazing Buddhist Temples, but I often find them a bit off-putting. Many of them are very garish by American standards of taste, and they also tend to look “new”, which is something that we don’t often expect. When we (or at least, when I) think of temples, we think of the crumbling, archaic beauty of Angkor Watt in Cambodia, or the thousands-of-years-old temples in the Middle East with all their tremendous history. We don’t think of… new. Fresh paint. Bright colors.
Yet, ironically, when all those ancient temples were first build, they were usually covered in beautiful dyes and colors, and decorated with jewels, fabrics, and other ornamentation. They were not the somber black-and-white relics of today, but were much closer to how the temples of Thailand look. I find that contradiction fascinating, and for that reason alone, the Buddhist temples of Thailand are worth a look.
For the first time in the history of PicsRemix, I am using a photo *not* taken by me. Why? Because I have to admit, I had a hard time taking any good pictures of these temples, at least by my standards. They are incredibly hard to photograph, both because of their odd, tall shape, and the immense detailing with which each temple is decorated. There is something about the design that is extremely hard to capture, in part because Buddhist temples in Thailand are meant to be experienced, not photographed. They are meant to be an intense moment for the individual at a micro level, and are designed and decorated accordingly. It is a rather unique way to look at architecture, if you think about it. So take a look at this temple pic and see what you think!
Photo credit: Alex’s Blog – asmodehn.fr
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