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Published: February 7th 2007
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Reclining Budda
This thing is huge G'day guys,
Things are going great over here. Been doing all the tourist things mostly but also been to a few places that are hidden away. Yesterday (6th) I had know idea what I was doing and rushing around the place to try and get everything done, that doesn't work over here.
Well some interesting things I have seen are Shrines and Temples and plenty of them. This one I went to, well the tuk tuk driver took me there for some reason, was hidden away up this allay and there was 2 budda statues there, 1 the happy budda and the other the lucky budda and there was not another person in sight for an hour. Have know idea why but a couple of locals came and looked at my weird when seen me there. Anyway they said they are each 400 years old and what they mean and all that.
There are shrines all over the place and one I liked was the Erwan Shrine. It is smack bang in the middle of the city and hundreds of people come to have there prayer each day. Even people that just walk past put there hands together and walk
Erwan Shrine
Middle Of The City sideways giving there blessing. I snuck in and had a look at what was going on. I found out why when on there knees why they go down 3 times.. The first is for the Budda, second for the Bible to teach them, third is for monk.. So i gave it a go of course but had know idea if I did it right.
The night was spent at the Suan-Lum Night Bazaar. Just a place with heaps of stalls selling everything imaginable. Didn't stay long as was buggered and getting sick of people pestering all the time. Need to get used to bartering over here. From the tuk tuk to a bottle of water.. Took some getting used to but after been ripped off the 5th time I started to get serious.
Today was spent seeing more of the tourist sights.. Used the public train system, which is easy as, and went to the Golden Budda first. It is around 4 m high and 3 m wide and made of solid gold.. They have know idea how old it is but they transported it to Bangkok around 700 years ago from the second capital Ayutthaya 150K north.
Erwan Shrine
They Light Candles With This... I was thinking that would weigh a fair bit, solid gold 3 by 4 m that long ago. They used elephants I got told. And something funny when they were transporting it they didn't even know it was made of gold and was covered in paint at the time. The wear and tear made it all come off and there was a gold Budda underneath, how stoaked would you be!! Another funny thing.. Over here they called what was on it "seamen" so when the dude said it was covered in seamen I said what?? "You know seamen" he replied. We worked it out adventually but quite funny.
Went to Marble Temple as well and was good as there was only about 5 other tourists there so I hung out with some monks for awhile.. Watched them praise the old monk and have know idea if I was supposed to be there or not. Only non monk in sight I was but snuck a couple of photos.
I could ramble on about temples all day but gets quite boring so to the food... Very nice and cheap. The more I paid for a meal was 2 Aus and
Happy Budda
Had This To Myself For An Hour thats was heaps for even me! Have not and not going to try the street food.. There are some weird things hanging up deep fried on them vendors..
The tuk tuks are great fun.. They go flat out in and out of the traffic but not after they take you to either one or two suits or gem shops so they can get a petrol voucher. They are dirt cheap, about 1.50 Aus for an hour off terror driving.
The city itself is easy to get around.. Don't have to go far to see the worst of it either just over the road from my hotel people sleeping in the streets etc. The city smells terrible at the best of times but getting used to it after a couple of days now... The Thai people are very friendly even when not trying to sell your something.
Thats all for now going to the floating market tomorrow...
Slugger
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Mum
non-member comment
Great first effort
Good morning, this is a great first real effort on the "blog" I hope this keeps up. You will have to get spell check happening, or send a copy to me to spell check for you. ha ha. Do you know that if you rub "Budda's" tummy it is good luck. I don't know if it is every Budda or just a smiling Budda. Perhaps you can find out. Anyway have fun and keep safe. Mum (and the old fart as well) xxx