Tag Archives: Temple

Smoke Free Temple – Laos

Smoke Free Temple - Laos

Smoke Free Temple – Laos

Everywhere I went in Laos they advertised all of the temples as "smoke free temple", meaning that a person could not smoke a cigarette in the temple. Perhaps even on the temple ground. You could, however, start a fire and burn your trash. That seems to be how they get rid of all their trash in Laos and the rest of Asia for that matter. They just burn it. There is a constant haze over all the cities that I visited in Laos and India. It was smoke from all the burning debris.

Better Temples

Better Temples

Better Temples

In Laos, Luang Prabang is the city that gets played up for having great temples. So great in fact that the city is on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites. That’s a pretty impressive list. My own opinion is that I like the temples in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, better than I liked the temples in Luang Prabang. My advise? Go see them both and make up your own mind.

Laos Temple 2

Laos Temple 2

Laos Temple 2

It’s a temple in Luang Prabang. The city has many, many temples. Actually it’s famous for them. Yes, I know I’ve said that before. But, if you’ve seen one temple…

Jakarta Buddhists

Jakarta Buddhists

Jakarta Buddhists

It was the local Chinese Buddhist Temple in Jakarta. There was a lot of smoke from the incense. I mean a lot of smoke from the incense. I mean like a totally unhealthy amount of smoke. My body went into emergency mode, telling me that Buddha wouldn’t have wanted me to die from incense inhalation overload. My eyes were watering, I couldn’t breath and I started getting a rash on my hands. I got out of there as soon as I could. But, not before I got some pictures.

Scooter and Temple

Scooter and Temple

Scooter and Temple

I’m just out riding my $5-a-day scooter along one of the more deserted sections of the beach in Bali and I came across a temple. I stopped because the temple was interesting. I believe this was someone’s family temple. It was about family, as in clan, temple size. Temples are everywhere in Bali. People include them in the construction of their homes. Families build them. Neighborhoods erect them. Cities erect them. They’re everywhere. Better to build one than have to worry that the Gods noticed that you forgot them.

Crowd At Jain Temple – Udaipur, India

Crowd At Jain Temple - Udaipur, India

Crowd At Jain Temple – Udaipur, India

It was the Jain Temple in Jaisalmer. It was in the morning. The Jain religion is very similar to Hiduism in some respects. Both started in India. Both pre-date Christianity by hundreds of years. Jainism also has several concepts in common with Buddhism. There is some people who feel that Buddhism came into being because of Jain theology and concepts. Anyway, there were quite a few people at the Jain Temple on the morning I snapped this picture. Jain temples are considered to be some of the most ornate temples in Asia. I probably should have gone later in the day. There are 7 Jane temples in Jaisalmer. This is the main temple. There is an entrance fee and a camera fee.