Destination: Sala Kaeoku – the Nong Khai ‘temple’ with bizarre statues

Have you ever felt like the lesser-knownsibling? Jan Brady to her sister Marcia? Elizabeth Olsen to her sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley? If so, you’ll probably understand how this place would feel – y’know, if places could talk.

Much like the Xieng Khuan Buddhist Park across the river in Laos, thestory begins with our man Luang Pu, a priest / shaman aiming to integrate Hinduism and Buddhism into a single religion. That park camefirst, andconstruction of the bizarre concrete sculptures began in 19...