Remember that {crazy tuk-tuk driver} that wanted my husband to purchase a custom made suit so he could get a free tank of gas? Well, some of the agreed upon sights that our tuk-tuk driver took us to, and which basically boiled down to us just driving past them and not getting out to actually investigate them, are pictured here.
There was the Democracy Monument which is in the middle of a traffic circle, and where protests for prodemocracy were once held. It is also a monument to remember those who have died during violent times in Thailand.
We drove past the Sao Ching Cha, or Giant Swing, is another religious structure which represents the earth and the seas. The current location of the Sao Ching Cha is not the original location. It was moved and is now made out of six teak wood tree trunks.
There was the Democracy Monument which is in the middle of a traffic circle, and where protests for prodemocracy were once held. It is also a monument to remember those who have died during violent times in Thailand.
We drove past the Sao Ching Cha, or Giant Swing, is another religious structure which represents the earth and the seas. The current location of the Sao Ching Cha is not the original location. It was moved and is now made out of six teak wood tree trunks.
We did stop off at this temple which housed a white Buddha. The grounds were smaller than the grounds we walked through at Wat Pho, and for us, temples start to blend together and begin to look the same after we've visited several of them. At this particular temple, a lady walked through with a woven basket and handed our kids a hard boiled egg. We weren't sure what we were supposed to do with it, and since we weren't sure whether or not it was blessed as an offering for Buddha we did nothing with them.
The final temple that we toured in Bangkok, was the Wat Benchamabophit, also known as the Marble Wat. The temple was originally built and designed for a prince, and the courtyards are made of marble.
While we were walking through the temple, a ceremonial parade passed us through the marble hall. We trailed behind, not knowing what was happening. There were people dressed in their best clothing and carrying sacred objects. The monk was dressed in white instead of the familiar orange robes. Large ornamental umbrellas were used to shield the monk and other significant sacred objects.
After a few minutes of standing at the entrance to the temple doors, a large crowd was also gathered. We stood towards the back to see what would happen. All of a sudden, the monk started throwing colorful objects into the air. The crowd started going wild, grasping for the objects as they fell to the ground. People were pushing other people out of the way so that they could get as many of the objects that were thrown.
Some of the objects fell close enough to our family, and the kids were able to pick a few. The objects turned out to be ribbon intricately wrapped up into the shape of fruit and inside each piece there was one coin with differing amounts in each one.
The final temple that we toured in Bangkok, was the Wat Benchamabophit, also known as the Marble Wat. The temple was originally built and designed for a prince, and the courtyards are made of marble.
While we were walking through the temple, a ceremonial parade passed us through the marble hall. We trailed behind, not knowing what was happening. There were people dressed in their best clothing and carrying sacred objects. The monk was dressed in white instead of the familiar orange robes. Large ornamental umbrellas were used to shield the monk and other significant sacred objects.
After the short processional, the monk dressed in white, stood on the front steps of the temple, and what appeared to be body guards kept bystanders from pushing up on him and crowding him. Every now and then someone from the processional would burst into a controlled yell.
After a few minutes of standing at the entrance to the temple doors, a large crowd was also gathered. We stood towards the back to see what would happen. All of a sudden, the monk started throwing colorful objects into the air. The crowd started going wild, grasping for the objects as they fell to the ground. People were pushing other people out of the way so that they could get as many of the objects that were thrown.
Some of the objects fell close enough to our family, and the kids were able to pick a few. The objects turned out to be ribbon intricately wrapped up into the shape of fruit and inside each piece there was one coin with differing amounts in each one.
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