Wat Pho : The Temple of the Reclining Buddha
Bangkok, Thailand
It was about to rain when I reached the Wat Pho also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. The scent of incense greets as I walked through the walled complex. Tiptoed stealthily as I passed a small shrine with worshipers knelt, holding lotus buds as they say their prayers. I ended up in an open yard where tourist and locals are hanging out. I walked passed a gate with giant stone statues on each side. Colorful mosaic Chedis caught my attention, intricately decorated towers pointing to the cloudy sky.
As I walked towards the main temple of the Reclining Buddha it started to drizzle and by the time I deposited my shoes to enter the Wat, raindrops started pouring on the leaves of the bodhi trees and on the stone tiled floor of the yard.
Huge square pillars hold the temple. Its enormous interior is decorated from floor to ceiling. Within the pillars is the 15 meters by 46 meters Reclining Buddha. Covered with gold plating on his body, his eyes and the sole of his feet are decorated with mother of pearls. Visitors taking pictures are figuring out ways on how to include the whole Buddha in their LCDs as they take their turn along the wooden barricade that protects the statue.
On the far side of the Wat you will hear the sound of coins dropping. Bronze bowls lined up on the corridor as visitors drop their coins in the bowls for good fortune.
I read that you can ask for fifty wishes as you drop the coins one for each bowl. As soon as I reached twenty five on my wishes, I have to repeat all of them just to complete fifty wishes. |
Before I reached for the exit, I sat on the floor and rested my tired feet and sweaty back on the cold wall of the Wat while I browse through the pictures of the LCD on my camera.
Rested, calm, listening to the fleeting moments of my surrounding. Sounds of naked feet walking, murmuring voices of visiting souls, jingling coins on bronze, scent of incense, the taste of the humid air and the sound of fainting rain...
I took a deep breath, looked at what is ahead of me… It was a beautiful sight...
looking forward for another blissful day….
Rested, calm, listening to the fleeting moments of my surrounding. Sounds of naked feet walking, murmuring voices of visiting souls, jingling coins on bronze, scent of incense, the taste of the humid air and the sound of fainting rain...
I took a deep breath, looked at what is ahead of me… It was a beautiful sight...
looking forward for another blissful day….