[logpogingg]

I always feel ripped of when i have to pay admission to temples. Kind of takes away from the expierience. Although I understand that it is part of the "market".....I hope the $$ goes towards maintaining the temples and not into the hands of an Oil corporation.hmmmmm. like at Angkor wat......

Personally I don't. It all gets down to choice, if you don't like it, don't do it.

And this applies anywhere on the planet. I remember one evening when I wanted to go into Epcot at Disneyworld to visit the British Pub there for a pint and a bite to eat. It was approaching 8 p.m. and the park closed at 10 (if I remember coorectly). They still wanted $70 US to get through the gate. Now that's what I call a rip-off.

Needless to say I walked away!

[DownloadMan]

I do visit our local Wat, and due to the fact that one building burned and they had no quarters for the monks, we have donated different amounts and and ways of donating and stop at times to just give the Abbot money, I think that the Buddhist monks have enough integrity to do what is correct with the money, ya know we are not talking about Catholics here.

[logpogingg]

I think that the Buddhist monks have enough integrity to do what is correct with the money, ya know we are not talking about Catholics here.

These are somewhat nonsensical notions when you consider some of the huge organisations that have been built up here in the name of religion. Remember the Bakers, Fannie Mae and her husband (forget his name), who were finally brought down when the details of their life styles were revealed.

I have never seen any monks running around in Mercedes Benz's. Perhaps when that starts happening we should start worrying and keeping our hands in our pockets.

[!!Aaroncheg]

(there is a 30 baht charge for non-Buddhists for entering the temple at Doi Suthep, they started collecting it about 3 years ago. usually I don't feel bad about paying a small fee for entering temples, I would leave a donation anyway, and I guess the money goes mostly towards upkeep and stuff, not to a multi-national company's pockets, so I don't feel bad about it. by the way, even the 200 baht to be paid for Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok compares favourably to the whoooooping 7 or 8 pounds I had to pay for Westminster Abbey in London, and I'm a Christian. soooo..... that's all about casting stones.)

[GeraldCortis]

I always feel ripped of when i have to pay admission to temples. Kind of takes away from the expierience. Although I understand that it is part of the "market".....I hope the $$ goes towards maintaining the temples and not into the hands of an Oil corporation.hmmmmm. like at Angkor wat......

[verybigf]

When go to the temple festival I go to warship Bhuda, enjoy eating varietal foods enjoy activity, now I stop buying clothes and electronic equipment, used to go Ape one time because of cheap prices but the quality is so poor after few washes they were ruin beside the vendor cheated and steal from your bag by dropping some on the floor as he put clothes in the bags distract you by calling amount the pieces subtotal acting like he 's doing his job when you're not watching you thought you pay for amount what you pick but it 's not so, come back after get home forget it.

[DownloadMan]

Maybe we could understand better if you stated just why you would go to a Temple, and also the reason that you would go to a Mall.
I really do not understand why the 2 are used in the same post with no info about why you go there.

[logpogingg]

The only time I ever had to part with money at a temple is at Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai and that was only to avoid climbing the stairs up the mountain and to rent trousers to cover the legs. I can't say that they were charges to enter a temple.

If I remember correctly, the temple in Phitsanulok asked for a donation from Farangs unless the Farang was a Buddhist. That's no different from many of the Churches and Cathedrals in Europe where donations are solicited from non-worshippers.

As to MBK, that place can be a real hassle when the public is out in force shopping. The mobile phone and electronics floor (3?) is especially tortuous. And I agree with FaranginPhetch the reasons for going to either destination have no relationship to each other.

And for a visitor to miss out on a major part of the cultural heritage of Thailand is, of course, a real crime.

[logpogingg]

And one other thought: It's very easy to give when you have the means but I find it wonderful when people with very little are ready to share whatever they have with others. I have had this happen in rural Thailand where food is offered for no other reason than you happen to be there.

[logpogingg]

(there is a 30 baht charge for non-Buddhists for entering the temple at Doi Suthep, they started collecting it about 3 years ago. usually I don't feel bad about paying a small fee for entering temples, I would leave a donation anyway,...........

And there you hit the nail on the head, even the Buddhist worshippers pay but in a different way, by leaving donations of money and food, by the purchase of incense, lotus flowers, gold leaf etc.

And it just goes to show how little most of us pay attention to what we are doing when we are having a good time although 30 baht (75 cents) really isn't that noticeable to most of us.

[doctorzlo]

I always feel ripped of when i have to pay admission to temples. Kind of takes away from the expierience. Although I understand that it is part of the "market".....I hope the $$ goes towards maintaining the temples and not into the hands of an Oil corporation.hmmmmm. like at Angkor wat......

That is a fine point, and one I often wonder about. I know what they all claim it does but I am curious if there is anything to show for it. Good question.

[GeraldCortis]

..........oh yeah..........now I don't know about you. But i prefer shopping malls to tempbles any day.

1. the girls are better looking in the malls.

2. It has aircon

3. There is always ice cream near by.

4. you don't have to pay admission like in some temples.

5. Escalators or (sliding stairs in thai) are fun.

6.The pollution doesn't choke you as much inside.

Whenever i have a vistor I say no to temples and yes to MBk.......