THE TEMPLE OF A MILLION BOTTLES

The Wat Phra Maha Chedi (more famously known as Wat Lan Kuad) in Thailand’s Sisaket Province is the latest addition to Southeast Asia’s official list of eco-friendly tours.


It is made of 1.5 million recycled beer bottles donated by just about everybody who knew what was going on since 1984. Monks of this monastery started using coloured beer bottles as decorations, but people started donating and the inflow went on for the next 25 years.

So... what's a monk to do? Use all donated bottles like there's no tomorrow!


Wat Lan Kuad literally means: “Temple of a Million Bottles” and already making news around the globe. The temple complex has 20 buildings all made of recycled bottles and the monks intend to build more!


Green Heineken *Thank you, Denmark!* and brown Chang Beer *Thank you, Chonburi!* bottles are used to make the walls and roofs. It is all spectacular!


There’s also a mosaic of the Buddha made of recycled beer tin-caps! Amazing, isn’t it? =)

Ok, let's sing together now...

1.5 million bottles of beer on the wall
1.5 million bottles of beer!
You take one down, and pass it around
1,499,999 bottles of beer on the wall!

1,499,999 bottles of beer on the wall
1,499,999 bottles of beer!
You take one down, and pass it around
1,499,998 bottles of beer on the wall!

1,499,998 bottles of beer on the wall
1,499,998 bottles of beer!
You take one down, and pass it around
1,499,997 bottles of beer on the wall!...

Geez! Goodluck!

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THE GREAT HORNBILL: Our Heritage Icon

Here’s one heritage icon instantly associated to our beloved region – the Great Hornbill of the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines. *other species found in Vietnam*

They are called แก้ไข นกกก in Thai, Kalaw in the Philippines and Burung Enggang in Malaysia and Indonesia and Kenyalang in Kalimantan. *what is it called in your language?*

I visited Jurong Bird Park in Singapore a few weeks back and this birdie does it all the time. When I walk in the aviary, they always land to get in the way. So, either I go back where I come from or I just make a run for it. What do they want from me?

Obviously, these great birds are fearless. That’s why they are the symbol of numerous tribes like the Iban people of Borneo, the Dayaks of Kalimantan, the Igorots of Ifugao -- Brave, fearless warriors of the land. Sarawak is known as the "Land of the Hornbills".

They can grow up to 4ft in height with a wingspan of 5ft! That’s why they are sovereigns of the rainforest. The Hornbill’s most distinct feature is that ginormous thingy on top of its’ already ginornous bill – it’s called a “casque” by those who want to have names for anything & everything. A casque – don’t forget.

It is said that Hornbills use their casques (only males has it) for aerial battle. Like what those deers and goats do – butt fight! Although nobody has actually seen Hornbills in actual aerial butt fight.. It’s just a legend perhaps.

The Great Hornbill is in the list of Threatened Species. We can’t afford to lose another one of our endemic icons.

Save the forest, protect the Great Hornbills –

heritage icons of Southeast Asia.


Buceros bicornis


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*Thanks to Mr Bauer for the photos

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CHINLONE: Burma's National Sport

BISEAN previously featured our region's National Sports. It was a round up of our neighboring village's cool games.

We mentioned that Chinlone was the most beautiful game -- non-competitive, graceful and everything nice. See for yourselves...

Cool! See what we mean? =)

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