The marvellous Thai temples

Thailand is a very well-known destination that attracts people of all ages, each finding an interesting activity for themselves. However, it remains a popular destination for men who seek company of women, and that is in abundance in main cities and islands of Thailand.

There are also a big number of Buddhist temples or (Wats). It seems they are trying to strike a balance between the physical and spiritual worlds.

On our visiting list was ( Wat Suthat Thep Wararam), one of the biggest and nicest Royal Temples in Bangkok. A neat and air-conditioned bus picked us up and our tour guide who was a soft-spoken elderly gentleman welcomed us on board.
Of course, if you have walked the previous day on the streets and inhaled the toxic fumes that is becoming synonymous with Bangkok city, you would appreciate travelling in an air-conditioned bus.

We were a number of tourists on board, some curious like us, others, mostly Europeans-who have read about and prepared themselves for every step of the tour, and ones who were there because they found nothing else to do.

The tour guide reminded us that although for us this was sightseeing, these places remained sacred and holy for thousands of worshipers.

He stressed that we had to take off our shoes in the main temple, he then discretely reminded the young woman sitting behind us that she would have to wear a scarf on her bare shoulders while entering the prayer room.

The Ordination Hall
This is the main building and it faces the East, which is the direction that Buddha turned to get enlightenment.

There are also many murals that illustrate the life of Buddha. Out in the courtyard and being in wood industry, we were attracted to the amazing carved doors that were made out of the best type of teak wood.

There were also many sculptures, mostly of Chinese origin, in so many different shapes that varied from animals to warriors. This made a good picture point for all the tourists. Just before we left, we passed by 156 sitting Buddhas in Meditation posture.

Patong
A few days later, we flew to Phuket Island, a favourite destination for many tourists. Unfortunately, we chose an area called Patong. This was crowded with visitors that one wanted to run away. Streets jammed with everyone and anyone who wanted to sell a service, be it food, massage or merchandise. Even the tours that took us to the nearby islands were packed. So a trip to Wat Chalong, one of the oldest and nicest temples of the island was a relief.

I liked this temple and its main Pagoda that is said to be holding a splinter of Lord Buddha’s bone. And in case you manage to visit this place, don’t forget to find yourself a calm corner and meditate. What a good feeling!