Our group ventured on an early morning visit to
Wat Tham Khao Wong, or what I've renamed
Oasis d'Serenity. This seems a fitting name because a Buddhist monk built this facility and landscaped the gardens for meditation purposes some 20 years ago.
Having an eye for architectural detail, I spent time not only admiring the gardens but use of wood and design of facility -- from the building appearing to ‘grow out of a tree stump’ to the natural use of wood for bridges, lanterns and cladding.
The structure itself houses a Buddha in the upper level where visitors are required to remove their shoes before entering.
Interestingly, the monk who designed this facility is no longer of the Buddhist persuasion so the locals have stepped in to keep the property properly maintained.
