Showing posts with label [Thailand] Wat Pho. Show all posts
Showing posts with label [Thailand] Wat Pho. Show all posts
Thailand Land of Smiles - Exploring Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์ The Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Part 3)
18 September 2009
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As of today, I've posted nearly 1 400 pictures in my photo blog & travelogue. This will be my 153rd posts. For my trip to Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, I selected the best 42 pictures (out of 100). So, here are the remaining photos.
Wat Arun - Temple of the Dawn วัดอรุณ and Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง will be updated later. Too many Thai stuff lately :)
Next, Post 154th - The Biggest Fungi I've Seen in My Life!!!
Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์ or Wat Phra Chetuphon - วัดพระเชตุพน - Looking Back, A slide show
Title: The Warrior
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:52am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
RAWR!!! The eyeballs are popping out!
Title: The Chedis or Thai Pagodas
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:42am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
Sight...I need to travel again! I'm so bored with Kuala Lumpur :(
Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์ - Getting There:
Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์ is located on Sanam Chai Road and Maharaj Road next to the Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง.
Open daily between 08:00 - 17:00 hrs
Admission fee of 50 THB.
For more information please call (662) 225-9595, 622-0100, 221-1375 or Fax. (662) 222-9779
http://www.watpho.com/en/home/
Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์ - Things to do/see:
a) Chedis/Thai Pagodas of the Four Kings + 95 other smaller chedis
b) The Reclining Buddha known as Phra Buddhasaiyas พระพุทธไสยาสน์
c) Wat Pho's วัดโพธิ์ Massage school
d) Ubosot
e) Gigantic rock statues, rockeries and ballasts
f) Buddha Statues around clositers
Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์ - Read More:
a) http://www.watpho.com/en/home/ (Wat Pho's วัดโพธิ์ Official Website)
b) http://tinyurl.com/oen38f (Thailandforvisitors.com)
c) http://tinyurl.com/llvr38 (Travelers' Review from TripAdvisor.com)
d) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Pho (Wikipedia Article)
e) http://www.watpomassage.com/2009/ (Wat Pho's วัดโพธิ์ Massage School)
Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์ - Maps, Guide & Layout:
Thailand Land of Smiles - Exploring Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์ The Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Part 2)
16 September 2009
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Title: How Big Is It, Really?
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 11:26am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.0, ISO Equiv.: 800
There were loads of people standing right next to me. It was INSANE! I forced myself to stand as close as possible to get the first two shots.
Title: This is LONG!
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 11:26am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/3.5, ISO Equiv.: 560
This statue is 46 metres long, with the dimensions at the face of 15 metres high and at each foot of 3 metres high and 5 metres long. The hall was built after the statue of reclining Buddha was completed.
Title: Phra Buddhasaiyas พระพุทธไสยาสน์
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 11:23am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.2, ISO Equiv.: 1100
Sparkling 'GOLD' - A.W.E.S.O.M.E!
Title: Behold the Giant Buddha
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 11:22am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/3.5, ISO Equiv.: 1000
Two gigantic pillows for Buddha.
Title: The Amazing Soles
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 11:25am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/3.5, ISO Equiv.: 720
The soles of Buddha are inlaid with mother of pearl with 108 auspicious signs portraying natural scenes of Indian and Chinese influences. The soles are HUGE. I tried to capture the entire soles, but trust me...there are hordes of people right behind me. Mission Impossible!
Title: Buddha in Phra Rabieng
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 10:28am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.0, ISO Equiv.: 200
Phra Rabieng is a double cloisters surrounding the courtyard of the chapel and is connected by four main direction Viharas.
Title: The Belfry
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:28am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/9.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
Belfry is the time teller of every monastery. In Buddhism it symbolizes “awakening for the noble-truth and the feeling of peace”. In Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, there are two bell towers, one in the south and one in the north.
Title: Marco Polo Was Here?
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:37am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
Marco Polo (c. 1254 – January 8, 1324) was a merchant from the Venetian Republic who wrote Il Milione, which introduced Europeans to Central Asia and China. There are four pairs of Marco Polo in Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์. But, why statues of Marco erected in Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์??
I waited for someone to walk through the gate before snapping this shot :)
Title: Lan Than the Temple Guardian
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 8:58am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/9.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
Lan Than?? That's a rude word in Cantonese! According to watpho.com “Lan Than” or Rock Giants with weapons represents nobleman warriors in Chinese opera style clothes. The giant with a looking down fierce-face, holding a weapon in one hand and wearing a tight suite of armor, can be found as gate guardians. They were both high-rank soldiers and combatants. Source: http://www.watpho.com/en/data/Ballast.php
Title: A Monk?
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:25am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
There are loads of giant rock statues in Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์. This statue might represent a monk.
Title: The Mini Pagodas
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 10:33am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/9.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
I think these mini pagodas are traditional joss sticks burners.
Title: The Pyramid of Chedi :)
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:43am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
I was tempted to climb up this chedi and reach the peak just like French 'spiderman'.
Title: A School in Temple
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:05am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
This building is an elementary school in Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์. It was Friday morning. Pupils were playing Thai national anthem with their brass instruments.
Title: In Deep Meditation
Location: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 4 September 2009, 9:17am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
Another statue left next to the temple's bodhi tree.
Halfway exploring Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์, Thai prayers were blasting out from loudspeakers. The sound of prayer was soothing and relaxing. I can hear two monks chanting side by side. The prayers led me to Wat Pho's วัดโพธิ์ ubosot.
"Ubosot is the ordination hall, where new monks are ordained and other important ceremonies take place. The ubosot is not necessarily the largest building in a temple compound, and may not always be open to the public. In fact, the ubosot is supposed to be off limits at all times to women, but this rule is seldom enforced. The ubosot will always have an alter with at least one Buddha image". Source: http://thailandforvisitors.com/templeterms.html
Inside Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์ ubosot, there is a grand alter with a large sitting Buddha, all finished in gold and crystal. I saw monks in bright orange robe and devotees dressed in white seated with hands clasped in prayer. Interestingly, monks were seated on an elevated platform higher than devotees. I guess monks are revered and much respected in Thailand. The ubosot is small but it is a BEAUTY. The elderly chief monk was seated directly beneath the golden statue of Buddha. A devotee was making her rounds collecting donations for the temple. I managed to capture two short videos with my hand phone. Check out the YouTube videos below.
For my grand finale, I visited one of the world's largest reclining Buddha known as PhraBuddhasaiyas พระพุทธไสยาสน์. According to Wikipedia "The reclining Buddha is forty-six metres long and fifteen metres high, decorated with gold plating on his body and mother of pearl on his eyes and the soles of his feet. The latter display 108 auspicious scenes in Chinese and Indian styles." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Pho
By noon, there were loads of visitors lining up to see PhraBuddhasaiyas พระพุทธไสยาสน์. Some visitors were 'glued' to the BEST SPOT. I HATE CROWDS!! I have no other option but to forced myself and virtually 'pushed' them aside. Sight...I wish I had a better lens to capture the entire statue. Capturing large subject with my basic Nikon D60 DSLR is always a big letdown.
Next Post...From Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์ to Wat Arun วัดอรุณ, Temple of the Dawn.
Wat Pho's วัดโพธิ์ Ubosot
Thailand Land of Smiles - Exploring Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์ The Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Part 1)
14 September 2009
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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.
