Wat Pho Thi Khun (Wat Huai Toei)

“Wat Pho Thi Khun” or “Wat Huai Toei” is an important tourist attraction in Mae Pa Sub-district, Mae Sot District, Tak Province. It is situated on the roadside of highway number 195 and near the 69th kilometer marker on Asian highway Tak- Mae Sot route. It is 11 kilometers from Mae Sot city center and 500 meters from Noen Pisawong (Amazing Mound). The temple belongs to the sect of monks who live in jungle. The atmosphere is so shady with various types of plants. Inside the temple, the landscape and the buildings are designed and planned spectacularly and uniquely. The design, the construction, and the decoration of the temple, as well as the molding of the Buddha image, are the works of Mr. Somprasong Chaonarai, who graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University and Master of Archaeology from Silpakorn University. He had created a number of elaborate artworks, including sculptures and paintings, especially the ordination hall of this temple which he dedicated his life and his heart for over 18 years to build. He gave the ordination hall as offerings to Buddha without any reward. The shape of the ordination hall is like a large boat. There are 3 floors in it. The first floor is not decorated at all, while the second floor is decorated at its walls, ceiling, and capitals of the columns. Moreover, the third floor, which is the chapel for observing religious ceremonies, is delicately and neatly adorned with the combination of bas-relief, paintings, glass-mosaic and gold leaves at its walls, columns, and ceiling. There is also a large Buddha image housed as a principal Buddha image. Outside the ordination hall is ornamented in professional patterns which are really neat, complex, and elaborate. This shows that the creator could use traditional art and his imagination to create new things very vividly.