Day 5 12/6/21
Bangkok, Thailand
Frank's Trip
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OBSERVATIONS:
Seeing these various large works it is easy to briefly think that they took a huge amount of effort o construct. But if one takes the time to look a bit closer, something else becomes apparent: Aside from the physical dimensions of these structures, which itself is imposing, when considering their ages and limited construction equipment available during the building this was a massive undertaking. Examining the surfaces and details of the works, it becomes mind-bogglingly obvious that the construction of these objects was only the beginning. The millions of small pieces of glass, stone, ceramics, paint, and other materials that needed to be acquired and then put into place by highly skilled artisans these works become truly astounding. The details found throughout these structures are truly astonishing.
Wat Suthat Thepwararam - A Royal temple of the first grade
Wat Suthat was built as a symbolic representation of Mount Sumeru which is a sacred mountain existing in the center of the universe where God Indra (a great god of Hinduism) is dwelling according to Thai Buddhist cosmology and Hinduism.
Detail of the base
LEFT: Ornate temple door
ABOVE: Detail of carvings of door
Wat Sacket - Temple of the Golden Mount
The Golden Mount is a manmade hill somewhat over 250' high. Getting to the top requires a climb up some 300 steps that encircle the chedi like a loosely coiled snake. It was easy for me to see from the ground that I had no need to climb to the top!
LEFT: View from the river
The detail of this complex is absolutely amazing! All of the detail is done with pieces of ceramic. Among the pictures are close up detail shots of some of this artistry.
I climbed up as far as allowed on the tallest tower. The steps are steep and each step is high - 12"-15" - of course that means there are ewer of them :-) Getting up wasn't so bad. When I got ready to come down... a little different... The steps are much steeper when looking down them and no handrails. For me, a little daunting... but doable... what choice is there?
