Wat Arun, Bangkok
Thursday, July 05 2007 @ 12:42 PM | Contributed by:
Oliver | Views: 930
 | Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn is one of the main tourist attractions in Bangkok, due to its large buildings and convenient location near the river. It can bereached by boat or by car and offers a good look over the city, with the royal palace and Wat Pho in viewing distance. The incredibly detailed and rich decoration, the many statues and buildings as well as the carefully arranged gardens make it a very interesting place to visit. |
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| The central Khmer-Style tower as well as the 4 towers and 4 smaller shrines around it are very impressive and are linked to Indian mythology. |
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| Over a stair one can reach two different terraces on the central tower, but the ascent is not for the faintly hearted, the steps are high and slippery. The view from the top however is great, all the surrounding buildings of the temple can be seen as well as the royal palace (Pic 3) and Wat Pho. |
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| The statues all around the towers seem to hold it. |
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| The decoration seems to be made in part of old painted plates and other ceramics. The mosaic on the central building covers each millimeter and is quite well preserved. |
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| Many statues can be found as guardians and auspicious symbols aroun the towers. Inside as well as outside Buddhe-statues can be found and offerings around them. |
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| In a gallery around the center many similar Buddha-statues are lined up, and monks pray in front of them. |
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| Dragons, Demons and modern soldiers protect the temple. |
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| We were lucky to see a sprititual healer on a courtyard on the temple area. Several people who searched healing waited in an area next to the healer. On the first image you can see a woman with both arms in bandages, crying and asking for help. The second image shows the healer standing above an assistant performing a ritual dance. Chinese dragon costumes were to be seen as well as a drummer (smoking). |
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| The whole scene had a huge table in the center with many fruits and other donations piled up on it. The healer was constantly dancing or smoking 4 cigarettes (?) at a time. |
