Soi Diana, Pattaya, Chon Buri Province, Thailand.
On the 9th July 2011 I was walking slowly along Soi Buakhao in Pattaya. It is a very long Soi and very popular at night time ~ bars, massage parlours, pharmacies, convenience stores, rental shops for motorbikes and cars, can all be found here. I was shooting some videos and taking photos for my web site. When I heard “Motorbike taxi sir?”, I looked round and it was a young Thai lady chatting to her friend at a bar. I strolled across and told her I would like to do a running video on the bike and call at a few places on the way, like Phra Tamnak hill, the big Buddha hill, along Jomtien and back round the Sukhumvit road. “ How much ?” I asked, she replied 200 Baht. It turned out to be one of the best 200 Baht I ever spent. She was a good driver not stupid on a Motorbike and pleasant to talk to. The trip provided me with over 20 videos and many photographs along the way.
Reaching the other part of the hill at Phra Tamnak ( a road cuts through the middle of the hill ) you will be greeted by a very large fat Buddha. This Buddha image is called Luang Phor Yhai by Thai people, the Wat Khao Phra Bat temple is here also. The Buddha statue is 18 metres tall and is at the very top of Phra Tamnak hill in between Jomtien and South Pattaya. Each day many Thai people and other visitors pay homage and offer prayers here. The Buddha offers good things in life and good times depending on the day of the week you were born. They call this spot Big Buddha hill and the Buddha is one of the largest in Chonburi Province.
It was established in 1977 and is affectionately called Luang Phor Yhai by the Thai people. As you approach the top a small car park enables those travelling by car to park their car. A long straight and impressive stair case leads you to the top and the temple and Buddha area. At the base of this and prominently displayed on both sides of the staircase are two 7 headed serpents or snakes called Nagas that emerge out of the mouth of a larger and longer Dragon resting along the sides of the staircase, its body rising and falling all the way up. It is very impressive to see painted in gold and other striking colours at the base and heads of these fierce looking serpents.
At the very top you cannot miss the very large, golden Buddha perched high on this hillside. Scattered around the courtyard are smaller Buddha images. Originally this Buddha was painted white now it is all gold. The smaller Buddha images each represent their own role in life and represent the days of the week. Dependant on the day you were born you have your own guardian Buddha which is named on the day of its birth.
Mondays Buddha will bring you peace.
Tuesdays Buddha will give you peaceful sleep.
Wednesdays Buddha means you are a giving person.
Thursdays Buddha allows you peace of mind to meditate.
Fridays Buddha will give you happiness.
Saturdays Buddha will ensure your protection from the elements.
Sundays Buddha will search for the needy and care for them.
The temple here is on the right of the stairs at the top of the hill. The stairs are not steep, and each step has been made so they are not too high a step and are therefore easy to ascend for the old and those with walking difficulties. The temple has within its sacred part Semsee sticks, which are long strips of flat wood which are numbered 1 to 28 and placed into a container which you shake until one springs out for you, from out of the container. When you check the number on this stick read off from the chart on the wall behind to find your destiny. There is also now a Chinese temple on the left that contains relief’s and sculptures, a small lake sets off the temple.
Soi Diana, Pattaya, Chon Buri Province, Thailand.
On the 9th July 2011 I was walking slowly along Soi Buakhao in Pattaya. It is a very long Soi and very popular at night time ~ bars, massage parlours, pharmacies, convenience stores, rental shops for motorbikes and cars, can all be found here. I was shooting some videos and taking photos for my web site. When I heard “Motorbike taxi sir?”, I looked round and it was a young Thai lady chatting to her friend at a bar. I strolled across and told her I would like to do a running video on the bike and call at a few places on the way, like Phra Tamnak hill, the big Buddha hill, along Jomtien and back round the Sukhumvit road. “ How much ?” I asked, she replied 200 Baht. It turned out to be one of the best 200 Baht I ever spent. She was a good driver not stupid on a Motorbike and pleasant to talk to. The trip provided me with over 20 videos and many photographs along the way.
Reaching the other part of the hill at Phra Tamnak ( a road cuts through the middle of the hill ) you will be greeted by a very large fat Buddha. This Buddha image is called Luang Phor Yhai by Thai people, the Wat Khao Phra Bat temple is here also. The Buddha statue is 18 metres tall and is at the very top of Phra Tamnak hill in between Jomtien and South Pattaya. Each day many Thai people and other visitors pay homage and offer prayers here. The Buddha offers good things in life and good times depending on the day of the week you were born. They call this spot Big Buddha hill and the Buddha is one of the largest in Chonburi Province.
It was established in 1977 and is affectionately called Luang Phor Yhai by the Thai people. As you approach the top a small car park enables those travelling by car to park their car. A long straight and impressive stair case leads you to the top and the temple and Buddha area. At the base of this and prominently displayed on both sides of the staircase are two 7 headed serpents or snakes called Nagas that emerge out of the mouth of a larger and longer Dragon resting along the sides of the staircase, its body rising and falling all the way up. It is very impressive to see painted in gold and other striking colours at the base and heads of these fierce looking serpents.
At the very top you cannot miss the very large, golden Buddha perched high on this hillside. Scattered around the courtyard are smaller Buddha images. Originally this Buddha was painted white now it is all gold. The smaller Buddha images each represent their own role in life and represent the days of the week. Dependant on the day you were born you have your own guardian Buddha which is named on the day of its birth.
Mondays Buddha will bring you peace.
Tuesdays Buddha will give you peaceful sleep.
Wednesdays Buddha means you are a giving person.
Thursdays Buddha allows you peace of mind to meditate.
Fridays Buddha will give you happiness.
Saturdays Buddha will ensure your protection from the elements.
Sundays Buddha will search for the needy and care for them.
The temple here is on the right of the stairs at the top of the hill. The stairs are not steep, and each step has been made so they are not too high a step and are therefore easy to ascend for the old and those with walking difficulties. The temple has within its sacred part Semsee sticks, which are long strips of flat wood which are numbered 1 to 28 and placed into a container which you shake until one springs out for you, from out of the container. When you check the number on this stick read off from the chart on the wall behind to find your destiny. There is also now a Chinese temple on the left that contains relief’s and sculptures, a small lake sets off the temple.