#Wat Traimit

[southeastasiadiary]

Day Twenty-Eight: All Good Things Must Come to an End; Final Thoughts

The itinerary for this last day was to include a visit to the Jim Thompson House and then my transfer to the airport for the flight home. But since I’d already visited the Jim Thompson House on the day I arrived in Bangkok, I had the entire day to myself.

So, I decided to divide it (like Caesar's Gaul) into three parts. First thing in the morning, while it was still cool (or more accurately, when it was only blazingly hot but not to the point where it would cause you to combust spontaneously), I decided to take a stroll around Bangkok’s Chinatown because my hotel was right in the middle of it.

Here is about one minute of a three-minute stroll through the morning market:

If you want to see the full three-minute clip, you’ll need to go to shared photo album. I’m delighted to bring you the sights and sounds out this market, but not (fortunately or not) the aromas.

Of course, what Chinatown would be complete without a Mister Hotdog directly across the street from a Texas Suki and a shop selling “Authentic Chinese Cuisine”?

And it’s always nice to be reminded that “We are a part of your delicious.”

In my walk, I chanced upon a small neighborhood shrine

that was complete with gifts, which had just been brought there by people on their way to work that morning.

Then, a bit later, I saw this lovely statue of Confucius

and a singularly elegant spirit house with a prang on top.

The non-random part of my walk was my one pre-determined destination: the Wat Traimit,

Temple of the Golden Buddha.

Now perhaps, if you’ve been keeping up with this blog, this must be a temple of a golden Buddha since you've already seem more than your fair share of golden Buddhas. Ah, but here’s the difference. All the other golden Buddhas were made of other materials and then covered with gold leaf. This particular Buddha is solid gold, 15’9” high and 12’5” wide, weighing 5.5 tons … of solid gold. In times of invasion, the statue was covered with plaster so that it would look less valuable than it was.

In time, since the statue looked as though it was merely made of plaster, people forgot what was inside. Only in 1955, when there were plans to move the statue from another site to here at the Wat Traimit, did some of the plaster fall off, and it became clear that underneath a shallow façade was a virtual mountain of gold.

And today, if you like, you can buy a pre-packaged bottle of holy water at the temple for only twenty baht.

After visiting the Golden Buddha, I returned to the hotel for breakfast, a shower, and a brief rest before checking out.

The second part of the day has not yet occurred, but I need to post this entry now while I have access to the Internet. Since I’ve yet to experience Thai massage or, for that matter, any massage in Southeast Asia, I've booked a few hours in a spa this afternoon between my check-out time and my departure for the airport. Thai massage is one of the things that people often talk about after visiting Bangkok, and I have a few empty hours on my hands, so …

When booking the appointment I told them that my spa visit would occur shortly before a thirty-hour flight back home, so I wanted to feel “clean and refreshed but also relaxed.” They assured me they have “just the thing.” (When do businesses not have “just the thing” when you make an inquiry?) I'll be in for a body cleanse and scrub, followed by a gentle aromatherapy massage.

We’ll see how that goes. If you truly want to know, ask me in person sometime.

Now, the third part of my day will be to engage in a bit of post-trip reflection. And I've already given that topic a lot of thought during my walkabout this morning. So, here goes.

This experience in Southeast Asia was one of my long-term goals. You might even say it was a life goal. At least, it was something I'd talked about for years and felt I absolutely needed to do. So, life goal accomplished!

But here's the funny thing about life goals. Once you achieve them, you have mixed feelings. On the one hand, there's a major sense of accomplishment. On the other, it feels as though a milestone in life has now past, and you wonder whether there will ever be other goals that you’ll long for quite that much. Not to exaggerate, but it feels as though a part of your life is now over and that you’ve passed one more signpost on the road toward mortality.

I remind myself that I’d had similar feelings before. When I was very young, my life goal had been to get a Ph.D. and become a college professor. (Seriously. I remember telling people this as early as fifth grade.) Then, when I was 26 and had achieved that goal, I thought, “Well, now what?”

Other goals came along, of course. There was a period when, if people asked whether I had a “bucket list,” I’d say, “I want to do three things. See the pyramids in Egypt, visit Kyoto, and attend the Wagner festival at Bayreuth.” Then, by a strange turn of fate, I did all three of those things within the same six-month period and again thought, “Now what?”

But there was always that Southeast Asia trip left for me to plan. So, now it's over. Okay, now what?

The honest answer is “I don’t know” but also “I’m sure I’ll think of something. I always have.”

As this trip comes to an end, I find myself reminded of that article I mentioned on Day Nine: “The Case Against Travel.” The author’s argument was that people always say they travel because travel changes them, but everyone returns from a trip no different from the person they were before setting out.

So, am I the same person I was before this trip?

Absolutely.

But I don’t really think that’s the point. Certainly, there can be zen-like, blinding flashes of insight during a trip, like a flash of gold appearing from beneath a thin façade of plaster. I already mentioned once being in Rome and realizing, “Oh! That’s what Horace meant in his poetry!” and never seeing his works in the same way again. But those experiences are rare.

More often, travel changes you slowly over time. You don’t see those changes in a single day, a single week, or even a single year. Rather it’s like the slow polishing of a stone into a statue. It takes time. It happens almost imperceptibly. And eventually you realize that you actually aren’t the same person you were before. You’ve broadened your perspective, left behind a few assumptions, and made connections between ideas you never would've made before.

That’s a good thing.

No. I'm wrong.

That’s a great thing.

In fact, as far as I’m concerned, it’s one of the best things a person can do.

And I wonder where I’ll go next and how that experience might change me.

I can't wait.

[svkgnll]

Unveiling the Mystique of Bangkok's Temples: Tales of History and Spiritual Splendor

[southeastasianists]

For more than 200 years, what appeared to be an ordinary plaster Buddha statue sat unprotected at the center of Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan. Then in 1955, when a crew of workers attempted to move it, they accidentally dropped it—only to reveal the far more valuable treasure contained within: an 83 percent solid gold Buddha statue weighing 5.5 tonnes.

With its slim waist and elegant proportions, the Golden Buddha, officially titled Phra Phuttha Maha Suwanna Patimakon, is a fine example of Sukhothai art. Archeologists believe that it was originally cast in the 13th century. Unfortunately, the discovery of the Golden Buddha led to a short-lived craze for chipping the stucco off other Buddhas, to no avail.

Today, the statue is currently Thailand's most prized holy relics, valued at over $250 million. Curiously, the statue actually consists of nine separate parts, which can be disassembled for transportation using a key hidden at the base of the statue. 

[sunleisureworld1]

https://sunleisureworld.com/tour/1766/private-three-temple-city-tour-wat-traimit-wat-pho-wat-arun-min-2-pax

The private city tour of the three temples is among the most sought-after tours for tourists who wish to explore Bangkok's top attractions. This tour provides a captivating insight into Thai culture, history, architecture, and local life. You will have the opportunity to visit Bangkok's most stunning temples, including Wat Pho, Wat Arun, and Wat Traimit.

[kawinh]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 #สมเด็จธงชัย (at วัดไตรมิตรวิทยารามวรวิหาร Wat Traimit-Golden Buddha) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqQBcXQrfyF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jose-a-perez]

The Wat Traimit temple in the Chinatown area of Bangkok is a Royal temple famous for the enormous gold Buddha image it houses. The temple, which is officially named Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan and also known as “The Temple of the Golden Buddha” enshrines the massive solid gold Buddha image named Phra Phuttha Maha Suwan Patimakon displaying the subduing Mara mudra. 🇹🇭💕🇹🇭💕🇹🇭 https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp54KMzo0sD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[2nd-star-2-the-right]

🙏🏽 (at วัดไตรมิตรวิทยารามวรวิหาร Wat Traimit-Golden Buddha) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpCPo9EuMb7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[prapat]

เข้าวัดถ่ายรูป #ตะลุยเดี่ยวแบกเป้เที่ยว #ทอดน่องท่องกรุง #Thailand🇹🇭 (at วัดไตรมิตรวิทยารามวรวิหาร Wat Traimit-Golden Buddha) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn7AYMiPXVp/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dan6085]

Here is a possible 7-day travel plan for exploring Thailand:

Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok and spend the day exploring the city. Visit some of the city's most famous landmarks, such as the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. In the evening, go for a walk along the Chao Phraya River and enjoy a dinner of delicious Thai food.

Day 2: Take a day trip to the ancient city of Ayutthaya, which was the capital of Siam in the 14th-18th centuries. Visit the Ayutthaya Historical Park to see the ruins of the ancient city and learn about its history. In the afternoon, take a boat ride on the Chao Phraya River.

Day 3: Head to the beach and spend the day relaxing on the sand. There are many beautiful beaches in Thailand to choose from, such as Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, or Koh Tao.

Day 4: Take a trip to Chiang Mai, the largest city in northern Thailand. Visit the city's famous night bazaar and try some of the local street food. In the afternoon, go on a trek through the jungle and visit a hill tribe village.

Day 5: Visit the Elephant Nature Park, where you can learn about elephants and see them up close. In the afternoon, take a boat ride on the Mae Ping River and visit the Doi Suthep Temple, which offers beautiful views over the city.

Day 6: Head to the island of Koh Phi Phi and spend the day exploring the beautiful beaches and diving spots. In the evening, enjoy a sunset cocktail at one of the island's beach bars.

Day 7: Return to Bangkok and spend the day visiting some of the city's other landmarks, such as the Wat Arun and the Wat Traimit. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at a rooftop restaurant with views over the city.

[jontycrane]

Bangkok

The start of the longest trip I’d ever taken at the time (as of August 2013), in which I spent five weeks exploring South East Asia. The first month was my first group tour, Intrepid Travel’s Great Indochina Loop. I’ve done a bit of travel since, but the photos and my diary from the time brought back the experience. Bangkok was an appropriate place to start the trip, and visit the first of so…

[asiablog-universe]

Golden Buddha, Wat Traimit, Bangkok, Thailand: The Golden Buddha, officially titled Phra Phuttha Maha Suwanna Patimakon, commonly known in Thai as Phra Sukhothai Traimit, is a gold Maravijaya Attitude seated Buddharupa statue, with a weight of 5.5 tonnes. It is located in the temple of Wat Traimit, Bangkok, Thailand. Wikipedia

[the-oak-forest]

Bangkok (กรุงเทพมหานคร) - Thailand (2017)

Wat Traimit  and Golden Buddha (พระพุทธมหาสุวรรณปฏิมากร)

[wolfie-indochine]

Wat Traimit temple in Bangkok, with altar to the king in front.

[42soul]

Golden Buddha by manjik

[whiskeygin23]

Golden Buddha by manjik