Wat Arun and Wat Po

Day 4, Part B

Wat Arun, Wat Po and

the Fish Market

Wat Arun is also best viewed from the Canal. It's other name is the Temple of the Morning Dawn.It is one of the more unusual Buddhist Wat's since it was build in Cambodian style with spires (Prangs). We did not go inside this one as the Wat Po was coming up next.




The Fish Market undoubtedly was there from the days when the Canals were the heart of business. You either get used to the smell or breath through your mouth. Everything you can imagine is for sale there. Pim is trying to describe the different items on display from dried squid with sesame noodles to sting ray. Oh yummmmm, NOT.

We leave the market without taking any samples -- awwwwwww and head for Wat Po, the 'Temple of the Reclining Buddah.' As jaw dropping as the Golden Buddah at Wat Suthat was, it pales by comparison. The Reclining Buddah is 140 feet in length and 50 feet high and created in the 16th century. It is made from brick covered by plaster, then gold leaf. The temple had to be built around the figure and with the supporting columns, it is literally impossible to view it in one shot (at least that would do it justice) . This Buddah was also built about 200 years before Bangkok was established as Thailand's capital

Image of the back of the head of Resting Buddah

Supposedly it is designed to illustrate the passing of the Buddha into nirvana. The feet and the eyes are engraved with mother-of-pearl decoration, and the feet also show the 108 auspicious characteristics of the true Buddha.



(Bottom of Feet)


There are over 1000 Buddah images on this 20 acre Temple. It is a photographer's dream (yes Tony, you ). This is the largest and oldest of the Temples in Thailand. Wat Pho is also famous as Thailand's first university, and is center for traditional Thai masage.

We had dinner at a Mexican Grill back in Bangkok with 4 of Eriks friends (and their 'mates'). These expats really need the commeraderie of each other (although alcohol usually runs theirs evenings)