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developing the area as a religious center, which<br />
today has become Wat Pa Saengdham, which is a<br />
Dhammayut temple focusing on strict Dharma practices.<br />
This forest temple is, therefore, suitable for those<br />
seeking tourism for peace or for Dharma study.<br />
Leaving Wat Pa Saengtham temple, we journey<br />
into the village of Ban Maduea Wan, one of the three<br />
indigenous communities in <strong>Ko</strong> <strong>Pha</strong>-<strong>ngan</strong>. The other<br />
two are Ban Tai and Ban Luk Ban Kao villages, situated<br />
deep into the land near Samai Khongkha Temple,<br />
locally known as Wat Bon. It is interesting that these<br />
communities are in a distance from the strand.<br />
Assumably, it is because people in the past led a<br />
reclusive life, eking out a living on crop-farming and<br />
growing coconuts. Indeed, there are a number of<br />
coconut plantations existing in the area, and related<br />
domestic industrial products, such as dried coconuts,<br />
have been supplied to factories to make coconut oil.<br />
The manufacturing process uses traditional wisdom.<br />
Visitors can stop by neighborhood that runs dried<br />
coconut production behind Maduea Wan school.<br />
Over and above that, in Ban Maduea Wan village<br />
lives an attractive ninety-three year old house. House<br />
number 45, 3, Ban Maduea Wan village, <strong>Ko</strong> <strong>Pha</strong>-<strong>ngan</strong><br />
sub-district, belongs to Mr. Prapas Maduea-wan, a local<br />
savant in <strong>Pha</strong>-<strong>ngan</strong> traditional knowledge.<br />
Mathura Wararam Temple, widely known as<br />
Wat Maduea Wan, a respectable monastery, has<br />
enshrined a stunning white jade Buddha image, called<br />
in Thai language “Phra Sila Yuang” sheltered in a mondop<br />
at the hilltop. The image was made in Mandalay,<br />
Myanmar, of crystalline white jade. It portrays a sitting<br />
position of the Lord Buddha with left hand turned up,<br />
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