Homestead, Fla. — Between the alligator-infested Florida Everglades and the craziness of Miami Beach lies a peaceful center surrounded by tomato and fruit farms.

Wat Buddharangsi, a Thai Buddhist temple, sits on five acres in the town of Homestead, a short drive from Miami. To get there, you have to take the miles-long roads just off U.S. 1 that surround dozens of farm and fruit trees, dominated by immigrants who work the fields.

J. Pat Carter / AP (ENLARGE)

Thai Buddhist monks chant during morning services at the Wat Buddharangsi of Miami temple in Homestead, Fla.

J. Pat Carter / AP (ENLARGE)

Duncan Stoner, dressed in traditional Thai clothing, watches a floating offering at the Loy Krathrong festival at the temple.

J. Pat Carter / AP (ENLARGE)

Chottip Mimlar dishes out Thai spicy chicken at the weekend market at the Wat Buddharangsi of Miami Buddhist temple in Homestead.

J. Pat Carter / AP (ENLARGE)

The Wat Buddharangsi of Miami temple

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Across the corner is one house with the American flag waving in the light breeze, life-size statues of soldiers standing in the front yard.

For several years, though, the area has been visited by Buddhist followers seeking a serene environment to pray and meditate.

Inside the temple sits a 5-ton, 23-foot-tall golden Buddha statue, with dozens of smaller statues and vases filled with burning incense. Flowers surround it.

A secluded, garden-like area in front of the "Buddha tree" is for meditation and prayer, where worshippers bow three times on a wooden platform to pay respects.

Visitors place a gold leaf on the Buddha as a blessing as a way for others to be part of the Buddha, explains Khanya Moolsiri, the secretary for the temple.

(A gold leaf on the forehead is a prayer for wisdom; on the heart is a prayer to find love or for good health.)

The temple welcomes everyone who is interested in or practices Buddhism, serving not just as a religious function but also as a welcome center.

"It become a community center for the Thai, Asian, Buddhist or for anybody," Moolsiri said.

Several monks live in a six-bedroom apartment on the grounds, sleeping on hard platforms.

A screened-in kitchen, covered by what appears to be a tin roof, has picnic-style seating.

The temple was designed by Nopporn Poochareon, a Thai native who has worked as a general contractor and owns two Thai restaurants in Miami.

Poochareon had to go to Thailand to get most of the decorative details for the temple, including the gold roof etchings and wooden-carved chairs for inside.

He hired workers there, he says, to ensure the temple resembled those in Thailand.

"We didn't have the temple" 20 years ago, he said. After much searching across South Florida, and many setbacks due to zoning issues and funding, Poochareon was finally able to purchase the land.

The total price has reached $1.5 million, most raised by temple members and support from local Thai business owners.

But Poochareon's vision still needs some work.

Finishing touches need to be completed on the adjoining buildings, which are missing the typical Thai decorations on the roof.

That could add another $100,000 to the overall cost.

"Thai people like to dress up the building," he says, referring to the bold touches of gold.

There are also plans to build a larger meditation hall on the grounds to hold the increasing number of visitors.

On Thanksgiving Day alone, for example, nearly 3,000 visitors attended the religious services.

On other Thai holidays, the temple sees half that number, Poochareon estimates.

Five to 10 people go to the temple every day, with significantly more on the weekend. No one keeps an official count.

"People are curious and want to know about Buddhism," he said. And the temple is a perfect place where Buddhism can be taught.

IF YOU GO

Getting there

Expect to pay about $160 or more round-trip airfare from Atlanta to Miami.

About the temple

Open 7 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Free. Meditation, 3-5 p.m. Sundays. Morning chanting at 6 a.m., evening chanting, 6 p.m. Wat Buddharangsi, 15200 S.W. 240th St., Homestead. 305-245-2702, www.watmiami.org. About 35 miles from Miami; directions at watmiami.org/location.en.php.

Offerings and blessings: Many visitors ask for blessings from the monks, who offer daily prayers, counseling and a sprinkling with holy water to wish everyone a happy and healthy life. They also perform marriages and funerals. Visitors are welcome to offer food to the monks, as is common practice in Thailand. (Prepared food is accepted in the morning; nonperishable food and donations are accepted throughout the day.)