Thailand Day 12 — Bangkok Temple Tour
Thurs Oct 23rd, Day 12 – Bangkok Temple Tour
Today we got up for an 8am tour of a few of Bangkok’s famous temples. Going on early morning tours is essential because it’s just too hot later in the day. We are reminded when visiting temples to be respectful and wear pants, capris or long shorts that completely cover our knees while removing our shoes before entering the temples. We also must wear shirts with sleeves as part of the dress code. You don’t want to be caught wearing this conservative clothing in mid-afternoon heat. The other reason for morning tours is because the past 3 days, we’ve been experiencing some afternoon downpours. They’ve only lasted an hour but you also don’t want to get caught in those as they are always HEAVY. After all, we are in tropics.
Outside in the courtyard area of Wat Pho Temple
First, we visited Wat Pho which is home to the largest reclining Buddha, the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand, and the country’s earliest center for public education. The famous gold reclining Buddha is almost too big for the room at 46m long and 15m high. It represents the passing of Buddha into nirvana (Buddha’s death) and the end of all reincarnations.
The Wat Pho Temple complex is home to more than one thousand Buddha images
The famous Reclining Buddha is in a narrow hall which made it challenging to get a picture of him in its entirety
The Reclining Buddha is finished in gold leaf but his feet are most impressive with mother-of-pearl inlay ornaments displaying 108 different characteristics of Buddha. Likewise, there are 108 bronze bowls in the hallway where visitors can drop coins which is believed to bring good luck to those but it also helps the monks upkeep the temple. I thought the Reclining Buddha was quite magnificent!
Mother-of-Pearl inlay ornaments displaying 108 different characteristics of Buddha are found on his feet
Many of the Buddha statues here would get traded back and forth between Thailand and Burma as a result of wars fought. Til 1767 when these wars were ended. The Wat Pho Temple complex was vast and there was so much to see during our visit.
Outside in the courtyard, you could see large and small spires called Phra Chedi Rai. The smaller of the 71 chedis contain the ashes of the royal family and 20 of the slightly larger ones clustered in groups of 5 contain the relics of Buddha.
Phra Chedi Rai that contain ashes of the royal family
The architecture was influenced during King Rama III’s reign when he began renovations on the original temple as well as expansion. He would trade with China and rather than have the boats come back empty, they would be loaded up with building supplies from China.
Wat Pho is also the national headquarters for the teaching and preservation of traditional Thai medicine, including Thai massage. A mandate legislated by King Rama III was declared when the tradition of massage was in danger of extinction. Nearby stone inscriptions and statues showing yoga and massage techniques still remain serving their original purpose as visual aids. We have certainly enjoyed our fair share of Thai massage during our visit!
Wat Pho is known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage which is still practiced and taught at the temple
Next, we visited Wat Benchamabophit, otherwise known as the Marble Temple. There were a lot of ceremonies going on when we visited today and it is a well known learning center for monks. We got to see and hear the monks chanting in prayer. The Marble temple was built during King Rama V’s reign and had European influence (the beautiful white marble used to build the temple is Italian).
At Wat Pho — Phra Ubosot is the ordination hall used for performing Buddhist rituals. Considered to be the most sacred building of the complex, the remains of King Rama I are said to be in the base of the presiding Buddha image so that visitors may pay homage to both.
Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple)
After our temple tour, we did some drive-by’s. We drove by the Grand Palace, the Royal Palace where the King currently resides (although he has several houses around Thailand). The King’s sister died recently but her remains are at the Grand Palace while they build her a new creamatorium for her ashes (the ceremony is scheduled for next month). Officials have to wear black every day for 100 days in observance. We also drove by a few government buildings.
We drove by the Parliament House and saw all the police on duty for the protests. We drove down the same street where all the police and protestors’ clash occurred earlier this month and saw all the yellow flowers placed in the street where so many were injured and a few died in this political protest confrontation. We saw barb wire barricades set up to keep the people back. There was no big clash yesterday as the ex-deputy police chief claimed there would be. Instead in today’s paper, he said they were going to cut off all food and water supply going into the government house in an attempt to starve the PAD out. I’m glad we avoided all that during our stay. The U.S. Embassy sent us plenty of email warnings throughout our trip for days that might be problematic.
The rest of the day was spent swimming, packing to go home, and a visit to the Suanlum Night Bazaar for some remaining souvenirs.
While walking around, we noticed spirit houses outside of residences as well as places of business. These miniature houses or temples are placed in a prominent position, usually in the front corner of the property.
There are 9 Guardian Spirits of the Land; some of these spirits receive shelter in the form of a spirit house to watch over/protect the dwelling. Other spirit house may be utilized in matters of business. Or you can visit some of the more well known spirit houses where people make offerings in exchange for aid in the upcoming harvest. Rituals are done to ask for this protection or blessings which can include lighting incense or offerings. Some rituals are done daily while others only perform them on ritual occasions. The form and size of a spirit house is typically chosen with the help of a priest.
The spirit house in front of our hotel
We fly home tomorrow. While I won’t miss the excessive heat, I have noticed I have acclimated and am not sweating as much. I will miss the $7 massages here and the amazing food. The fruit is so fresh and flavorful and I LOVE the noodles here. I will also miss all the wildlife that we have seen during our stay! Packing my suitcase to go home, I now realize that I didn’t need to bring so many clothes. It’s only $2 to have a load of laundry done here and you get it back in the same day.
I am sad our adventures are over, and while some of them may have sounded a little challenging, scary, or just plain off the wall, it was all worth it to step out of my pampered American lifestyle to experience it. Granted, you could come to Thailand and stay in a 5-star hotel and not be inconvenienced a bit or probably even have to sacrifice much at all. It might not be any different than any other sunny vacation spot if you did that. But you wouldn’t get a true glimpse into the life of Thailand’s people or what it means to live here. I have truly enjoyed my time in this beautiful country!
