The Big White Buddha

One of the things on the kids "to do" list was to revisit the big white Buddha temple in Muak Lek.

People drop off all sorts of pets for the monks to take care of.
I would have loved to see their faces when they realized someone
left them a one eyed crocodile as their new charge.

This monk was doing some groundskeeping near their huts.

A close up of the white buddha

A shrine to the king sits at the bottom of the buddha.

Workers were on site adding a few new statues to their exhibit.
This one had been whitewashed by the time we came back down.

This one was getting it's full painting completed.

The stairs start in the center and then you go right or left to a
more narrow staircase on the side.

700+ stairs to the top, but who's counting?  ;)

I love the combination of spicy and sweet and Thai food.
These little peppers were just growing wild next to the staircase!  Laura's theory is that someone was having a snack and tossed the seeds onto the ground next to the steps.  Bet these are pretty hot!

My sweet eccentric little girl

Marshall made it to the top and wanted to high five these statues!

What do you do after climbing 700 stairs?  You take a rest, of course!

Amelia and the rather large moth that she and Lia were playing with.
I love the look of thrill/disgust on her face.

My beautiful friend and her goofy little doggie.

Katie and her little bug

The view!

Thailand has some odd bugs!

A more familiar praying mantis
This was quite the feisty little bug.  We were taking some pictures of it and it started ramping up and looking like it was going to spar with us.

When he'd had enough of our picture taking, he attacked Ryan's camera, fell to the ground and unfortunately was stepped on by the dog who was completely oblivious.  It was a rather somber way to end our time at the top of the buddha.  I think everyone, big and little had wished we'd just left the little thing alone.

The ever cautious Marshall slowly making his way down the stairs.  They are quite steep and of varying heights so it would be easy to fall.  (But I didn't!  YAY, me!)

Great big ol' millipede next to my great big ol' sneaker!

This pretty little butterfly has obviously seen better days, but his coloring is still so bright and vivid.

Lia and Amelia with some fresh and fragrant plumeria blossoms

Abby and Katie came down the stairs at their own pace, girl talk all the way

Some beautiful flowers and incense offering

These are the flowers that all the cab drivers have hanging over their rearview mirrors.  The little white ones are the type that were shown in the vase at Ancient Siam.  So pretty and they smell really good too!  I obviously don't wish to worship Buddha, but I think the splash of color (made by the one, true, living God) that they add to the inside of the car is rather nice!

Elephant Buddha, which I believe is from India.