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I was the very first visitor to arrive. After seeing the world's third largest reclining Buddha in Hat Yai หาดใหญ่, I was looking forward to see the biggest in Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์. The temple is actually much older than the city of Bangkok itself. It was founded in the 17th century, making it the oldest temple in Bangkok.
"Wat Pho (Thai: วัดโพธิ์), also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon - วัดพระเชตุพน) or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is a Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, Thailand, located in the Rattanakosin district directly adjacent to the Grand Palace. Its official full name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn (Thai: วัดพระเชตุพนวิมลมังคลาราม ราชวรมหาวิหาร)". Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Pho
"The name Wat Po comes from its original name of Wat Potaram. King Rama I, the founder of Bangkok, enlarged the temple, installed many statues and other artifacts recovered from Ayuthaya, and renamed the temple Wat Phra Chetuphon in 1801." Source: http://tinyurl.com/oen38f
Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์ is HUGE! I took four hours to explore the entire place - a whooping 80,000 square metres. The sky was ocean blue and perfect. I was able to snapped loads of nice pictures.
Along the way, I bumped into a big bodhi tree in Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์. It was wrapped with pieces of cloth. Flowers and statues of Buddha were placed next to the tree. I remember seeing a huge crowd gathering at an unknown location in Hat Yai praying another bodhi tree.
Moving on, I was mesmerized by four gigantic sized chedis. The shape of the chedi reminds me of Eiffel Tower and Empire State Building. They are beautiful!! Each chedi is decorated with three dimensional ceramic tiles that form intricate floral patterns.
Next...The reclining Buddha, ubosot & Friday prayers in Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์.
Title: The Scholar
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:40am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
A close-up shot of a rock statue guarding one of the many gates in the temple.
Title: I Bow to YOU
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:25am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
I was squatting on the floor (moving left and right) until I got this angle. LOVE IT!
Title: Phra Maha Chedi Si Rajakarn
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:42am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
Phra Maha Chedi Si Rajakarn is a group of four huge pagodas/chedis surrounded with Thai-Chinese style sheltered gates and decorated with colour-glazed tiles. There are over 95 chedis in Wat Po วัดโพธิ์.
Title: Thai's Eiffel Tower?
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:43m
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
Simply impressive and unique.
Title: Reaching for the Sky
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:44am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
Thais usually refer chedis as pagodas. Each of the largest four pagodas is 42 metres high with elaborate colourful mosaics.
Title: The New Empire State Building?
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:49am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
Another humongous chedi in Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์ decorated mostly with blue ceramic tiles. This last of the four big chedis was built to represents the reign of King Rama IV or King Mongkut.
Title: Staircase to HEAVEN?
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:49am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
This is one of the four largest chedis in Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์. You can only climb up to the chedi first level. In Wat Arun วัดอรุณ, I climbed up to the highest level.
Title: The Offering
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:16am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
A close-up shot on the offerings lying on the sacred bodhi tree in the temple.
Title: BEHOLD!! The Philosopher Stone
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:39am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
One of the many rock statues in the temple.
Title: Mini Buddha
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:17am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
This tiny Buddha together with few other statues were left on a big bodhi tree in the temple. According to Buddhist texts, the Buddha, after his Enlightenment, spent a whole week in front of the tree, standing with unblinking eyes, gazing at it with gratitude.
Title: Taller
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 10:01am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
This chedi is twice taller than the building. You need to stand beneath this chedi to understand the massiveness of the chedi.
Title: Work of Art
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 10:08am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
No words can describe the beauty of Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์.
Title: Temple in Garden
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:27am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
The beauty of the temple captured my attention. It was peaceful and relaxing. I really missed those moments. I wish I could escape from KL madness....again, again and again.
Title: It's BIG & AWESOME!!!
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:52am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
The building with blue roof has the word's largest reclining Buddha. I decided to explore the rest of the temple before visiting the Buddha's statue. By the time I returned back to that building, there were hordes of visitors lining up to see the statue.
Wow the roof design is really busy!
A bit over-powering?
The mackerel sky is lovely!
i didnt notice there's a philosopher stone in wat pho huuh...
i thought you were wrong as i remember wat pho has a reclining buddha but i cant find any picture of the buddha here... so went to the top and i read, oh... you are a good observant :)
cant wait to see the buddha... ok i have been there 2yrs ago...but still gotta get my europe trip done before i could continue with my travelogues in singapore, thailand and the philippines
*well fyi, i always look at your pictures first before i go into the text*
@1ondoncalling,
I just snapped whatever lying in Wat Pho - living or dead :) Not really good at playing with the camera controls. Have to try better next time.
@fufu,
That's interesting...photo 1st, captions later.
I'll be posting the pictures of reclining Buddha in Part 2. I'm so lacking. fufu already been there two years back. I only made my maiden journey to Bangkok recently. Got to travel more!!!
Looking forward for more of your Eurotrip!
Cheers to all!
mylo
I've been there few years ago but I didn't take any photos... back then I wasn't interested in snapping any photos :-(
@Shelyn,
Another well traveled blogger!
Cheers!
mylo