Bebo

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	HELLFIRE AND BRIMSTONE
	However, what I had come to Sukhothai for was the Wat Thawet Learning Garden. To this end, I elicited the assistance of a German guy called Jurgens who had lived in Thailand for several years, including a year spent as a monk. He was a wealth of information on Thai culture and history. So off we went on his motor-bike, something which I have to confess gives me the shits, considering the state of the roads and of innumerable accidents. I’d already seen several people with exhaust pipe burns, broken arms and legs. One young man had a terrible red and purple scar all the way down his left arm where the skin had been ripped away. Horrendous. The Garden was set up in 1975 by Monk Phra Sumroeng (1928- 1995) and taken over by Phra Banthoeng. There are 100 life-sized concrete statues vividly depicting eternal punishments awaiting those who have sinned on earth. Those who killed animals have the heads of their victims: elephant, buffalo, duck or chicken. Those who have abused alcohol have boiling liquids poured down their throats. Those who have kicked or injured others have huge hands and feet. Those who have lied or used bad language have tiny mouths. The souls in torment are surrounded by tableaux depicting scenes from the life of the Buddha. And next to the garden there is a large temple with intricate relief figures of Buddhist deities nearing completion. A great example of karmic retribution. And something I learnt that day - Hell isn’t just for Christians.
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