Wat Plai Laem

A short ride from Big Buddha and worth pairing with it. Wat Plai Laem sits on a lake with two showstoppers: an 18-armed white statue of Guanyin, the goddess of mercy, and a fat, grinning Budai — the laughing Buddha — both reflected in the water. Feed the fish in the lake, walk the bridges between the shrines, and look up at the painted ceiling of the main hall. Still an active Thai-Chinese temple, so dress modestly. Free, quieter than Big Buddha, and better for photos.

Highlights