Touring Bangkok's Temples

Today we got up around 11am as I was still feeling ill. Neither of us had had a particularly great nights sleep due to the people we were sharing with so we were fairly tired.

We decided to visit some of the temples on one side of the city. We set off walking and it was very hot. The first temple we got to was Wat Rajaburana which had a big white and green tower type thing out the front. We weren't actually able to go inside the main building but we had a wander round the outside.

The second place was probably one of my favourites. The sign said "Khao Mo or a replica mountain of Prayurawongsawas Temple is located in the middle of a large pond. It is a rock garden surrounded by a number of miniature chedis and stupas, cathedrals, pavilions,  and rare plants. It has been a place of peace and tranquility in the monastery for more than 180 years". We sat on the side of the pond looking up at the mini mountain feeding turtles. It was quiet and green and peaceful. I could have sat there all day.

Wat Prayurawongswat was just next door. It had been restored in 2013. It had a large white stupa which you could go upstairs and in to. Inside was a little temple. And then we had to crawl through a small gap to get out. I'm not sure why.  I'm also not sure why we couldn't have just gone out the way we came in but oh well. In the ground there's was a whole load of stalls and lots of people were praying as today is the last day of Songkran.

Our next stop was Wat Phitchaya Yatikaram. It was a big temple with some fancy white turrets. We wandered round inside the temple and round the outside taking pictures. There must have been some watery event going on there earlier and the floor was soaked. I almost slipped over. There was lots of people praying.

Next we headed to Wat Kanlayanimit. It had a huge gold Buddha inside. We had a look round and then went round the grounds where there was lots of things going on. We saw a purple lion dance which we only briefly watched before heading on to the next and final place.

Wat Arun was probably one of the most elaborate temples we have seen. There was four decorated white towers round the outside with a big one in the middle, which unfortunately was covered in scaffolding. There were bells hanging off the towers, and the two square buidings at the sides, chiming in the wind. It was quite beautiful. We wandered round taking photos and then headed out the back where we sat and watched what one would assume was a traditional Thai song/dance/acting performance with about 6 characters; 2 people and 4 dragon type creatures. We watched for a while and then got a tuktuk home.

We had survived all day without getting a soaking but on the tuktuk ride home we encountered several people at the side of the road with big buckets. We were nt prepared or dressed for it and we got very wet. Wet leggings make for uncomfortable walking. Thankfully we had considered that it might happen this morning and all our stuff was wrapped in plastic bags.

We got back to the hostel around 6pm and just spent the evening chilling, as I am not exactly up for going out partying.