One of Thailand's
most revered temples, Wat Pra Kaeo is located inside the grounds of the Grand
Palace. This Royal temple contains
a beautiful Emerald Buddha which dates back to around the 14th century. No one
is allowed near the Buddha, which is raised high on a series of platforms,
except the King. A seasonal cloak, changed three times a year to
correspond to the summer, winter, and rainy season covers the statue. A very
significant ritual, the changing of the robes is performed only by the King to
bring good fortune to the country during each season.
Wat Arun
This is one of Bangkok's most
famous temples. It has an imposing spire over 70 meters high, wonderfully
decorated with tiny pieces of colored glass and Chinese porcelain placed
carefully into intricate patterns. One can no longer climb the steps to the top
of the spire for those vertigo inducing views over the river but it's worth
visiting. Although known as the Temple
of the Dawn, as it will appear to shimmer given the right weather conditions,
it's lovely at sunset and particularly dramatic when lit up at night.
Wat Po
Wat Po is Bangkok's largest
temple, famous for its gigantic and stunning reclining Buddha, 46
meters long and covered in gold leaf. The Buddha's feet are 3 meters
long and exquisitely ornamented in mother-of-pearl illustrations of
auspicious laksanas or characteristics of the Buddha. As well as the reclining
Buddha, Wat Po is also acknowledged as Thailand's
first university and the place to learn Thai massage from the
traditional source. Courses in traditional herbal medicine and Thai massage are
available in English and Thai, and lasts between 7 to 10 days.
If one has never tried a traditional Thai massage this is a good place to
get the original. It's quite different from most other forms of
therapeutic massage and tends to be invigorating rather than relaxing, incorporating
yoga style positions to relieve stress and improve circulation. One can wander around the grounds in the late
afternoon where one can see some of the massage practitioners at work. There
are also a few astrologers and palm readers available for consultation. One can
also receive a blessing from a monk for a small donation which helps to
maintain the temple.