DOUBLE DRAGON TEMPLE IN KAMPUNG BALAI IN BACHOK DISTRICT IN KELANTAN IS MY FAVOURITE AS IT IS THE MOST SENSATIONAL WITH TWIN DRAGONS COILING 598 METRES ALONG THE TEMPLE'S PERIMETER AND EFFECTIVELY ACTING AS A FENCE. THE 2 GREEN, RED AND GOLD DRAGONS MEET FACE TO FACE AT THE ENTRANCE WHILE THEIR TAILS COIL AROUND EACH OTHER AT THE BACK OF THE 108 METRE WHITE STANDING BUDDHA!

KEE@FSWMAG.COM
This is one of the most incredible sights of Kelantan my home state and only 40 minutes' slow drive from Kota Baru my hometown! Yet it is a surreal world apart! Imagine driving along a small, narrow, untarred road in a nondescript village called Kampong Balai in Bachok district only to be confronted by the stunning sight of twin dragons facing each other with the Flaming Pearl in the centre! 

Its Thai name is Wat Photikyan but everyone simply calls it Double Dragon Temple or Twin Dragon Temple or Standing Buddha Temple.

To think a magnificent temple of this stature is found in the outback of Kelantan which is under strict Islamic rule is this side of incredible! Of course the locals are all Buddhists but they number less than a thousand, in fact around 600! Yet they and their local monks managed to raise millions to build this homage to Buddha, Kuan Yin and the pantheon of the gods, goddesses and deities! Miraculous! 

Visiting Double Dragon and other temples in Kelantan is worth a trip and you need at least 3 to 5 days to explore and enjoy the main temples which are mostly if not entirely Thai in nature though all have typical Chinese touches.

 Entrance to Wat Pothikyan

 Thai pavilions in the compound

 The 108 metre Standing Buddha

 The Wishing Tree is also famous

 The main temple

 Amazing 

 Stunning

 Awesome

The Kuan Yin Temple 

 Entrance to Kuan Yin Temple

 Ng Kun Tek praying

 Grand

 Ng Kun Tek

 The tails of the 2 dragons meet at the back of Buddha

 Shrines bought by Buddhists to hold the ashes of their loved ones and for themselves. My parents and I plan to be here after we ascend to heaven so visit us or tell your children as we plan to live long!

 Back of Buddha

 Buddha from the base

 Buddha towers above the 2 dragons

This is what you see as you drive in

 Closer

 Car driving in

 This magnificent tree is strung with colourful ribbons on which wishes are written

 You can see the ribbons and buntings hanging on the branches. This was taken around 6.30 pm 

 Due to Buddha's intercession, the entire temple was deserted so Ng Kun Tek and I had Wat Photikyan all to ourselves! Miraculous!

 The light was fading slowly

 The lamps come on

 Spectacular sight of tree and Standing Buddha

 What a view

 I am a brilliant composer of photos!

 Kuan Yin temple at twilight

 Dragon staircase

 Kuan Yin and her 2 acolytes 

 Jade Maiden and Golden Youth

 Kuan Yin stands atop a coiled dragon

 108 metre Standing Buddha

 Ng Kun Tek is beloved by dogs wherever he goes which proves he is a good guy as those who dislike or fear dogs are sad and bad with lousy karma. Of course dogs adore me too!

 Ng Kun Tek chatting with the darling doggies

 So many Dediones as all dogs are named Dedione after my darling son

 Animated conversation

 Ng Kun Tek praying to Kuan Yin who says his name will shine like a star but I dunno when

 Kee Hua Chee is a super star of the first magnitude as dictated by the gods and goddesses

 Kee Hua Chee prays to his patron goddess Kuan Yin the Goddess of Mercy

 Yahoo

 The little huts bought by Buddhists for their ashes

 Golden dragon tails behind Buddha

 Golden shrines to store the urns of devotees' ashes

 Dusk came

 I walked to the car and passed Kuan Yin temple again for a last lookee

 Ng Kun Tek playing with Dediones

 So stunning the colour contrast

 The 4 Face Brahma shrine like the one at Erawan Shrine in Bangkok

 The night was approaching fast

 The light had gone

 The stars come out

 Notice the 2 stars at left and right of Buddha! Plus teh light on His head!

Ng Kun Tek praying to Brahma