The Temple of a Million Bottles

The resident Buddhist monks at the Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew complex in north-east Thailand have built twenty buildings from beer bottles including; the main temple over a lake, crematorium, prayer rooms, a hall, water tower, tourist bathrooms and several small bungalows raised off the ground which serve as monks quarters.

Over all 1.5 million bottles were used. The bottle collection started in 1984. But the monks do not intend to stop there: 'The more bottles we get, the more buildings we make', says Abbot San Kataboonyo.

Recycling doesn't stop at building the temple's buildings - mosaics around the temple, predominantly of Buddha, are made out of bottle caps.
Besides being ego-friendly, the disused bottles don't fade, provide good lighting and are easy to clean.