These Majestic Buildings and the Emerald Buddha Temple are absolutely indescribable sights. There are so many things to see that you will feel overwhelm. Each building is done in a different style and covered with gold and mirrored and shiny stone mosaics. There are also many demons and monkey guardian statues guarding the temple from evil spirits. There are a huge golden pagodas there, and the temple of the Emerald Buddha. It is actually carved of jade and is a deep green. The image is dressed in different costumes, depending on the season. The Chakri group, built by King Rama V (the son of Rama IV of The King and I and the king who did a great deal to modernize and, to some extent, Westernize, Thailand) is a building that is now used mainly to receive foreign dignitaries. The main building is an interesting and unusual one in that the bottom part is Western style, but it is topped by a typically Thai roof in green, orange, and gold. The Dusit group contains the throne room. Above the throne is a canopy (cloth structure) with nine tiers, the symbol of the present king, Rama IX. In front of this building is the Disrobing Pavilion, a Thai-style building where the king dresses for state ceremonies. It has won prizes for its architecture overseas. It's just not Phossible to describe how opulent and impressive this whole compound is. Afterward we will visit Wat Pho, the largest and oldest temple in Bangkok, renowned for its massive reclining Buddha and its massage training school. There are four pagodas that represent the first four kings of this dynasty. As in many temples in Thailand, the walls of the courtyard were lined with Buddha images. Families who contribute money for their restoration maintain these images. Some of them were much better restored than others. The walls were painted with scenes from the life of the Buddha. The reclining Buddha of Wat Pho was the most impressive one. It is the third largest reclining Buddha in Thailand. There were also many Chinese stone statues with a greenish cast. They were originally ballast for ships returning from China, and were intended just to be discarded, but apparently someone decided that they are interesting enough to save, and they sit in the courtyards of temples and palaces. |
