Krabi Tiger Cave Temple

One encounters unusual road traffic when you head north from Phuket.

A’s recent trip to Krabi with our friend, Pim, began with a stop at the Tiger Cave Temple, also known as Wat Tham Sua. It is one of the most famous temples in southern Thailand. The monks live in a jungle valley contained by a warren of natural caves and share their habitat with numerous monkeys. The temple teaches Vipassana (insight meditation), based on the earliest Buddhist texts. The central cave displays peculiar photos of internal organs and split cadavers. These are intended to remind monks of the transitory nature of the body and to help them center on spiritual matters.

There is a 1,272-step climb up steep steps to see the “Footprint of the Buddha” and a large, golden Buddha statue. A and Pim didn’t attempt the grueling climb in the high humidity, but they climbed the first level to get pictures of the monk’s living quarters, which are smaller than the average tool shed found behind most American homes.

There are many statues of long-dead, revered monks in the entrances to the caves. These monks are Buddhist versions of saints and most Thai homes have small altars dedicated to them.

The monk's skeleton honors the monk and also reminds us of our temporal nature. Malas, Buddhist prayer beads, are also fashioned out of bone from the skulls of deceased monks. They are considered especially auspicious because of the thousands of hours of meditation the skulls experienced.

The young monks on the cell phones in the photos below somehow don't fit into the notion of an austere life of spiritual contemplation. Who do you suppose they call and what do they talk about? Nirvana? I suppose, considering the many hours people spend staring at the screens of their cellphones, it marginally qualifies as a new form of meditation.

A and Pim did a little exploring at entrances to the caves, but didn't venture into the dark recesses.

The monk sitting to the right of the Buddha statue gives an idea of its scale.

These monkeys will wash your car and check the air in your tires for 100 baht (about 3 dollars).

You pay him.


This unusual shrine is no doubt for the purpose of protecting travelers.

A very elegant Buddha statue carved out of a single limestone block.

And from here, A and Pim continued on to Pim's hometown for a religious festival and a wedding.