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man with no head

I took this picture in March on the way back from Pattaya. I forgot to get my wife to write down the name of the temple but it's located along the main highway from Saraburi to Korat (it's located in the flat area once you pass through the mountains and large lake). Looking at GoogleEarth I believe it's near a village called Sung Noen. This temple is very large and if you happen to pass between Korat and Saraburi you can't miss this.

buadhai

It's Wat Luang Por Dtor (Wat Reung Phaw Tow)....



Edit: As usual, there are a zillion spellings. I found this one: Luang Phor To

On this Virtual Tourist page

People call this wat after the huge statue of Luang Phor To inside. But no one I've talked to seems to know the formal name of the wat.

I'll keep asking

man with no head

Yes, that's it. We stopped in the evening on the way back from Pattaya and actually some of the gold leaf on the Buddha was placed by us.

forreachingme

I've heard that most of it was sponsored by one famous Thai movie star.

The village was the town where he grow up...

The greenery they put up around it is splendid...

buadhai

They have done a nice job of landscaping around there; lots of topiary.

But, the name is driving me crazy. I know the wat has a formal name....

man with no head

Here's some other photos I took of it:

buadhai

Wow, quite a bit more done than when I was there (November 2004?). But, passing by it seems that they are always working on it. There's certainly a good amount of cash being poured into the project.

Bobcock

I played golf at Voyage Panorama right near here, got lots of pics of it.

Thetyim

Well come on then

Lets see a few

Marmite the Dog

He's Welsh....

Thetyim

Oh OK, never mind then.

man with no head

Here's another photo of another part of the complex:

man with no head

And this is my daughter (far right) and two of her cousins near the entrance:



In their entire lives they had never left Nong Khai so this was an experience for them.

Anonymous Coward

Duh....

edit: I posted the name of the wat but see that someone else had already done it.

Thai Wife

It is called 'Wat LuangPhor Toh"



The actor, Soraphong Chatri is the founder of this Wat. He began the project because of his admiration of the guru Monk, LuangPhor Toh. Khun Soraphong's current wife influenced the Wat's location, since she is from the Sekhew area.





Khun Soraphong is well known by the Thai, due to his many movies:
1. Naresuan (2006)
2. Choo (2004) .... Chief Chaung ... aka The Sin (International: English title)
3. Ta-Kien (2003) .... Khamnan Witthaya
4. Beautiful Boxer (2003) .... Pi Chart
5. Saving Private Tootsie (2002) .... Sgt. Rerng
6. Suriyothai (2001) .... Captain Rajseneha ... aka Francis Ford Coppola Presents: The Legend of Suriyothai (USA) ... aka The Legend of Suriyothai (USA)
7. Sia dai 2 (1997) .... Rabin (Rose's Father) ... aka Daughter 2
8. Sia dai (1996) ... aka Daughter (International: English title)
9. Salween (1995) .... Sgt Ram ... aka Gunman II (International: English title)
10. The Lost Idol (1990)
11. The Vampire Is Still Alive (1989) .... Paul ... aka Counter Destroyer (International: English title: video title)
12. Robo Vampire (1988) (uncredited) .... Ray
13. Khon liang chang (1987) .... Boonsong ... aka The Elephant Keeper (International: English title)
14. The Ultimate Ninja (1986) (as Sorapong Chatri)
15. Raiders of the Doomed Kingdom (1985) (as Sorapong Chatri) .... Cobra ... aka After the Fall of Saigon (USA: video title) ... aka Saigonin kobra (Indonesia: Bahasa title)
16. Raiders of the Golden Triangle (1985) (as Sorapong Chatri) .... Major Pachak
17. Cobra Thunderbolt (1984) (as Sorapong Chatri)
18. Issaraparb kong Thongphun Khokpho (1984) .... Thongphun Khokpho ... aka Citizen II (USA)
19. Mue puen (1983) .... Sergeant Sommai Moungthup ... aka Gunman (Europe: English title) ... aka The Sister-In-Law (International: English title)
20. Plae chow (1979) .... Kwan ... aka The Scar
21. 1 2 3 duan mahaphai (1977) .... Padet ... aka 1 2 3 Monster Express (USA)
22. Louie (1977)
23. Ninja Destroyer (1970) (as Sorapong Chatri)

The Wat is named after LuangPhor Toh, the Abbot of Wat RaKang KhoSiTaRam of Bangkok.



LuangPhor Toh has the full name of SomDej Phra BhudDhaJarn (Toh) PhromRangSri, and was an abbot of Wat RaKang KhoSiTaRam, in the beginning of Rattakosin. He was born in the year 2331, in Phichit Province. He joined the monkhood when he was 7 years old. He became very famous for being the best preacher at the age of 18, and performed for King Rama I, II, III, IV and V.

LuangPhorToh was a founder of "Phra SomDej" Amulet. His incantation called "KhaThaChinNaBanChorn", is very famous for protection from all harm.



This amulet is collectable, and an authentic one can cost nearly 4 million Baht.