Friday, July 17, 2009
Buddha Mountain Sunday May 24th.
The Big Buddha is now a wondrous landmark visible from much of southern Phuket.
It stands high on a hill, offering magnificent views.
We have been there a number of times, watching it grow and watching, too, the site develop into a shrine for prayer and contemplation accompanied by some of the fripperies of tourism.
Three years ago we could be there, almost alone; these days it is best to choose the time of one's visit carefully. We went quite early on a Sunday morning, before too many tourists arrived. By the time we were leaving we had to battle past a coach load of Russians.
Jamie has obviously written about this site.
https://www.jamiesphuketblog.com/2006/06/hills-and-views-in-phuket.html
This site has sites for 4 blog postings showing the development of The Big Buddha, including the most recent visit with us in May.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Big+Buddha+Phuket&btnG=Search&meta=
This site is a photo gallery of Big Buddha images (and other Phuket scenes) - some of the photographs were taken by Jamie.
I have used one or two of Jamie's photos in my selection, which should create a good impression of the Buddha and the views etc.
The Big Buddha is huge and covered with white marble tiles.
The Big Buddha is not finished yet - there is still some scaffolding around the lower levels.
There are other Buddha statues and other images connected with all the Buddha history.
There are bells - big booming bells and little bells that tinkle in the wind. It is possible to buy a bell to hang and send the the little chimes into the air for ever.
There are those who come to the Big Buddha who want to spend time in prayer and meditation.
Others just want to experience life as fully as possible.
Our eyes were also drawn away from the Big Buddha to explore the wonder of the views.
I think the small town below is Karon, where Jamie works at Sunrise Divers. 
It stands high on a hill, offering magnificent views.
We have been there a number of times, watching it grow and watching, too, the site develop into a shrine for prayer and contemplation accompanied by some of the fripperies of tourism.
Three years ago we could be there, almost alone; these days it is best to choose the time of one's visit carefully. We went quite early on a Sunday morning, before too many tourists arrived. By the time we were leaving we had to battle past a coach load of Russians.
Jamie has obviously written about this site.
https://www.jamiesphuketblog.com/2006/06/hills-and-views-in-phuket.html
This site has sites for 4 blog postings showing the development of The Big Buddha, including the most recent visit with us in May.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Big+Buddha+Phuket&btnG=Search&meta=
This site is a photo gallery of Big Buddha images (and other Phuket scenes) - some of the photographs were taken by Jamie.
I have used one or two of Jamie's photos in my selection, which should create a good impression of the Buddha and the views etc.
The Big Buddha is huge and covered with white marble tiles.
The Big Buddha is not finished yet - there is still some scaffolding around the lower levels.
This scaffolding looked to be metal. Three years ago the whole structure was covered in wooden poles to support the workers. See Jamie's postings.
There are other Buddha statues and other images connected with all the Buddha history.
The gold Buddha would seem large if it stood alone.
There are bells - big booming bells and little bells that tinkle in the wind. It is possible to buy a bell to hang and send the the little chimes into the air for ever.
Little bells and Chalong Bay.
There are those who come to the Big Buddha who want to spend time in prayer and meditation.
Others just want to experience life as fully as possible.
Why couldn't I make that huge metal disc sing to the hills? Others could... but I just couldn't get my hands to get the vibrations right.
I was disappointed.
Our eyes were also drawn away from the Big Buddha to explore the wonder of the views.
I think the small town below is Karon, where Jamie works at Sunrise Divers.
It could be Kata though - no doubt Jamie will let me (and us) know.
