As an Australian teacher living in Thailand, I love helping students learn English and I also love learning about Thailand’s unique culture. An integral part of Thai culture is Buddhism. While all religions and faiths are embraced in the Kingdom, the overwhelming majority of the population are Buddhists, which means there are thousands of temples. Some of the most beautiful, peaceful and interesting temples are not well publicized and require effort to get to, which is why I love to share these largely unknown temples on Google Maps.
I particularly love artistic and non-traditional temples, including the incredible Wat Pariwat in Bangkok. On the banks of the Chao Phraya River, it is a busy community temple with a school and weekend market. While there are some traditional buildings, it also features beautiful sculptures and mosaics that combine Buddhism with popular culture figures such as Harry Potter, Batman and David Beckham.
Outside of Bangkok, some of my favorite temples have been found on the top of mountains, such as Wat Tham Seua (Tiger Cave Temple) in Krabi – a very arduous climb is rewarded with sweeping views over the jungle and sea – and Wat Phrathat Sornkaew (Temple on Glass Cliff), which features a massive five-faced Buddha on a mountain in Petchabun province.
As all seasoned travelers realise, the journey is just as important as the destination and I also love sharing details on Google Maps about transport, restaurants and other attractions in the small towns that I visit. When traveling in some of the remote provinces I am often the only foreigner and at some of the most incredible temples, I have been the only person. Sharing on Google Maps hopefully encourages other adventurers to head off the traditional tourist trail to find some of the hidden treasures of Thailand. The reward is worth the effort.
