Spectacular wooden carvings at the temple

The workmanship in these full size characters within one of the temple buildings are amazing. All surfaces are painted and the array of colours is spectacular.

There were many buildings in the compound - some obviously meeting rooms or where they held classes, others with many statues (the above were wooden), and others with lotus flower icons hanging from the ceiling.

Really one could spend many hours in the compound visiting all of these places. It is Buddha's birthday in the next week, so there are small lanterns strung all around the city. I understand there is no public holiday, and I have not been able to determine what festivities will be occurring.

Celebrations here are generally centred around getting to together with the family and eating. Sometime special food - but the emphasis is on being with the family at special times.