Monday, December 29 Part 1: Wat Arun

A favorite sentiment is well-said by the following, the last line in the book Up Country by Nelson DeMille:

The journey home is never a direct route; it is, in fact, always circuitous, and somewhere along the way, we discover that the journey is more significant than the destination, and that the people we meet along the way will be the traveling companions of our memories forever.

“The journey is more significant than the destination…” Absolutely! Today in Bangkok was all about the journey.

And here I am, in Bangkok, Thailand, eating spicy shredded chicken tacos at a food truck. Hmmm…and a Coke, too. All right, it is not really a food truck, but a café in the extensive downstairs food court of the upscale Siam Parragon mall made to look like a food truck. And the tacos are very good. As good as any I have had in southern California.

The primary goal today was to visit Wat Arun, formerly named Wat Makok, part of story of how the name Bangkok came about. I met that goal, and made a circuitous journey along the way and after
First I took the BTS Sky Train from Chit Lom station outside the Intercontinental to Saphan Taksin station, down by the Shangri La hotel on the Chao Praya River. Then for 40 Baht (about $1.30), it is onto a boat with 150 other tourists to go up the river to several destinations: the Oriental, the Flower Market, Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha), the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha), and more stops to the north. Wat Arun is approximately across the river from Wat Pho, so to get to Wat Arun, one gets off at Pier 8, near Wat Pho. Then for 3 Baht (10 cents), there is a ferry across the river

Wat Arun is interesting in that the structures appear to be quite old, but the temple is less than 200 years old, much newer than many of the temples in Chiang Mai.  Here the sentries guard the main entrance to the temple grounds.

The structure and style of this chedi (pagoda) reminded me strongly of the construction style of the Angkor Wat in Cambodia (but the Angkor Wat is over 900 years old). Interesting to see. And even though my camera battery became exhausted while at Wat Arun, I do not feel compelled to return. I am happy I saw it,…but I saw it. Aside from my feelings and lack of excitement, Wat Arun is considered important to the Thai people, so much so that it is depicted on the 10 Baht coin.

Next: Bangok Temples and the Journey: Part 2