Wat Phra Thong (วัดพระทอง), i.e. the ‘Temple [of the] Golden Buddha (Statue)’, is a Buddhist temple in Phuket (ภูเก็ต), that is home to a unique and sacred Buddha image known as Phra Phut (พระพุทธ), which has a fascinating story behind it. The statue is partially buried in the ground, with only the upper half visible above the surface. The origin of the statue is steeped in mystery. According to legend, a local boy tied his buffalo to a piece of metal protruding from the ground. He soon fell ill and died. His father, upon inspecting the site, realized that the metal object was a rasmi, i.e. the flame on the ushnisha (उष्णीष) or the head of some Buddha images that symbolizes to Enlightenment. Efforts to fully unearth the statue were unsuccessful, and attempts to remove it often led to misfortune. Given this intriguing history, Wat Phra Thong has become a significant pilgrimage site and its peaceful environment, especially in the themed back garden, offers a serene atmosphere for meditation. The temple is also home to freely roaming roosters and chickens. A museum, located next to the main temple and established by Luang Pho Farang, displays a selection of artifacts and utensils donated by residents of Phuket. However, it lacked inventory and showcased only a fraction of the collection. Following the abbot's demise, a substantial set of over 500 pieces vanished mysteriously. The new abbot tried to revitalize the museum but faced challenges due to the absence of historical context for the exhibited items. Due to this and concerns about artifact security, the museum was eventually closed. The Phra Phut Buddha statue is housed in the wihaan, located adjacent to the ubosot or ordination hall. Each gable over the windows of the wihaan is adorned with an animal from the Chinese zodiac, each accompanied by one of the Twelve Heavenly Generals: Dhritarashtra with the Rat, Virudhaka with the Ox, Virupaksha with the Tiger, Vaishravana with the Rabbit, Virupaksha with the Dragon, Dhritarashtra with the Snake, Virudhaka with the Horse, Vaishravana with the Goat, Virudhaka with the Monkey, Virupaksha with the Rooster, Dhritarashtra with the Dog, and Virudhaka with the Pig. In a sala-style pavilion, three bronze statues of monks are displayed. At the forefront is Luang Pho Farang (ฝรั่ง), fully known as Phra Khru Witthara Samanawat Intharatoot (พระครูวิตถารสมณวัตร อินทรตูตน), the former abbot who established the temple's museum. Behind him are the statues of Phra Khru Suwannaphutthapibaan (พระครูสุวรรณพุทธาภิบาล), also known as Luang Pho Sukhum Isinyano (สุขุม อิสิญาโณ), and Phra Khru Ampai Amornthattoh (พระอธิการอำไพ อมรทตฺโต), both of whom were also former abbots. Collectively, these three monks served as abbots over a span of 100 years, from 1897 to 1998. 回