Enlightenment

Monday was day two of our orientation. In the morning we visited the Grand Palace and Wat Po. These trips were so interesting and detailed that I cannot even hope to capture it all here, but I will do what I can (with the help of some links of course!).

Bangkok is the third capital of Siam. Ayuthaya was the first; Thonburi the second. The Grand Palace and grounds are immense. I believe that each King of Siam (& Thailand) added a building there and there is so much to see. Everything is so detailed: there are huge guard statues made of pieces of ceramic pottery, temples covered with gold leaf and mirrors and jewels, the longest wall painting in the world (absolutely fascinating - I could stay there a week just trying to figure it all out - this is just a small portion), a miniature replica of Angkor Wat and Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The palace itself was designed after one of the kings (Rama 1-9) had visited Europe and wanted to base it on a European design, but gave it a uniquely Thai look by adding a Thai roof. It is referred to as the European with a Thai crown. There are also guards outside like those outside Buckingham Palace. Our guide, Jack, told us that they haven't been there that long, but were put there just because England has them.

Wat Phra Kaew is the home of the Emerald Buddha. Not coming from a Buddhist background, my favorite part of Wat Phra Kaew is the fact that they change his clothes each season! Inside the temple was amazing and very ornate. You have to remove your shoes before entering and no cameras are allowed.

There was another temple, which at first I did not think was so exciting, until we were told that the intricate design covering all of the walls wasn't wallpaper, but a hand painting! It was amazing! (I wish I could find a picture.)

The grounds are dotted with stone statues, like Asian gargoyles, that I found quite endearing. When I asked Jack about them, he said that when the Thai were trading with the Japanese, often they would have heavy loads on the way there and much lighter loads on the return trip. To balance out the ships, hundreds of these stone statues were purchased and when they made it home were dispersed around many temple grounds.

After the Grand Palace, we visited Wat Po, home of the reclining Buddha. This Buddha image is huge and it is only the third largest in Thailand. The foot prints of the Buddha are extremely intricately designed and inlaid with mother of pearl and this design is laid out specifically in Buddhist teachings. I can see why most Buddha images are made standing and sitting, feet down! On the way out there are 108 pots where you can donate coins (you purchase the 108 or so coins for a donation) and walk down the line dropping a coin or two in each pot. The sound of 50 people dropping coins in metal pots is really one to hear.

Some things I learned today (for those of you who were already aware of these things, forgive my ignorance.)
1) The "Buddha" image that we have all over the US of the chubby, happy guy, is not a Buddha at all, but a Chinese monk. A Buddha image is much thinner with the flame of enlightenment coming out of his head.

2) Shaking hands in greeting came from the tradition of showing your sword hand to prove that you were unarmed or meant no harm.