January 7, 2014 Tuesday

Walked around the north side of the wall/moat today. Along the way, I say a Ford / New Holland tractor dealership … inside the city. The location seems a bit odd to me, but it is real.

Wat Lok Molee

I stopped at Wat Lok Molee, one of my many favorite temples. Wat Lok Molee is just outside the moat, along the north side just a few hundred meters from Chang Puak Gate, in the center of the north side of the wall. The date of first construction is not known, but there is documentation of the temple being here in 1367, so it was built before that, making it quite old.

Almost all Buddhist temples are situated with the main viharn (worship hall) open to the east to the rising sun, with the main chedi directly behind the main viharn. Wat Lok Molee’s main viharn opens to the south, and the very large chedi is just behind the viharn.

The main viharn at Wat Lok Molee is all teak, and this is evident inside.

Here is a view with the large chedi at the back of the teak worship hall. This is much larger than most, but not nearly as large at the old chedi at Wat Chedi Luang, across the street from 3-Sis.

Yes, I was really there…it is not a movie set in Hollywood. I just love the detail of the dragon here.

(OK fashion police, I don’t normally go out and about in a t-shirt; today things just evolved.)

I walked more than I was planning today, and being hot, took a break in the afternoon.

Boutique della Pasta

At dinnertime, I could not get that wonderful ravioli out of my mind, so I headed back to Boutique della Pasta. And this time I took my camera (and I did change out of the t-shirt).

I had basically the same meal, starting with the bruscetta alpomodoro. The bread is ever-so-slightly toasted, and the tomatoes ripe and tasty, mixed with just a hint of garlic, and drizzled with a nicely tasting light olive oil. This bruscetta is among the best I have ever had.

Then I had the “ravioli di magro con man dorle pinoli e uvetta,” or ravioli stuffed with pine nuts and raisin ricotta cheese and almonds with a parmesan cheese/mushroom white wine sauce.

Wow! what a great meal! (I think I said that already.) If I go back, I’ll try something different.