Saturday 30 January 2010

Wat Kiri Wongkaram, Baan Taling Ngam, revisited

Wat Kiri Wongkaram, Baan Taling Ngam, revisited

It's been over two years ago since I posted something for the last time about Wat Kiri Wongkaram in Baan Taling Ngam and it's about time to give you an update on this temple.
First of, this is one of the two temples on Koh Samui that has a mummified monk on the premises, the other temple being Wat Kunaram near Lamai.

Both temples have seen their respective mummified monks being relocated in a nicer building than their previous ones.


This is the new building for the mummified monk in Wat Kiri Wongkaram, a real nice building especially comparing to the state of the other buildings on the temple complex.


The new accommodation for Luang Por Rerm Khun Wongkaram.



A picture of the Luang Por Rerm Khun Wongkaram when he was still alive.
The mummification is achieved by a strict diet and apparently his hair and nails still grow, according to a flyer available at the temple and sections of the nails are cut and used as protective charms.


A picture of the accommodation building, build in 1957. Still in fairly good shape though and I really like the big painting of Thai characters on the walls of this building.



The main Temple, build in 1968 and still in use for the monks daily prayer and religious ceremonies is not in that great shape and could really use some paint and general maintenance.


When you're making a trip around the island this is a beautiful and quiet get away from it all place to visit. Enjoy.

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Camille




6 comments:

Mike said...

Camille there seem to be quite a few of these mummified monks in different Wat's.

I wonder what the significance is?

Camille Lemmens said...

Hi Mike,

There are at least two of them on Samui and I wouldn't be surprised if there are more around the country.

The real signifcance is lost on me although I did see a show on National Geographic or similar about this phenomena and it dates a couple of 100 or 1000 years back into ancient China.

Despite following the correct diets etc , there was no guarantee that the mummification would work is what I remember, imagine you go to all that trouble and than you just turn to dust. Real bummer.

MoniqueSamui said...

Niet al die toeristen naar ons rustige dorpje sturen Camille! :) Hij zit er nu prachtig bij in z'n kleurrijke onderkomen ;)

Camille Lemmens said...

Hoi Monique,

Is alles goed in jullie nieuwe hut?

MoniqueSamui said...

Nou hut!!! Bijna net zo mooi en kleurrijk als die van de mummie :) Alles goed, maar wat is 't heet ...! Een regenbuitje zou wel welkom zijn en dan niet die drie dikke druppels die een uur geleden vielen ;)

Camille Lemmens said...

Mooi dat alles goed verhuisd is. Wacht maar tot April als je water auto's moet bestellen zodat je tenminste nog douchen kunt!
Op het moment is er niet veel regen voorspeld!