Today we went to Nong Khai and visited Sala Keoku (Thai: ศาลาแก้วกู่), also spelled as Sala Gaew Goo, Sala Keo Ku, Sala Keo Koo, Sala Kaew Ku, Sala Kaew Koo, Salakaewkoo, Sala Kaeoku, and a few more! The only name that is somewhat consistent is Wat Khaek. Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat started in 1958 to build Wat Xieng Khuan – a similar park in Laos, just over the Mekong, not too far away from this one. When the Communists became stronger, he feared they would kill his park, so he fled to Thailand in 1975 and started this park in 1978.
The first statue after the entrance
Buddha seated on a coiled nāga
4 of the hundreds of statues
Hmmm what is going on? Jump, or I shall kill you! Not sure what he wants from a happy turtle
The woman gives you some idea of the size of the sculptures. The tallest one is 25 meters high.
Ganesh
Not sure what is going on – does the Dog protect the Snake?
They look happy
Sure enough – true 360 vision
Small one in front of the 4-faced Buddha
Serpent goddess
Another Buddha
Kali is the Hindu goddess (or Devi) of death, time, and doomsday
An Elephant wading through a pack of anthropomorphic Dogs. This should teach people not to be bothered by gossip
Looks like this one drives a car
A lot of talk
Gram and Nong, my tour guides for the day
Gram and Nongs’ offspring at the Vietnamese place. All that looking at statues makes one hungry. Too bad there was no food for me. I had some of that green stuff next to the beer – well, what to do ;-)
Laos is on the other side of the Mekong. Thank you, Nong, for driving us and showing us this nice sculpture park!!
My mother got me an Eurorail ticket when I was 15, and together with two friends, we adventured into France. This was the beginning of a new addiction. I do like to take pictures, so one thing leads to another. On this site, I want to share some of my pictures and some of my trips with you! Now I am on the road for more than 8 months every year. Visiting old friends and making new friends while exploring this big blue ball.
