Royal Monastery of the Emerald Buddha
This is one of the most venerated sites in Thailand where people convene and pay their respects to the Lord Buddha and his teachings. The Emerald Buddha is enshrined on a golden traditonal Thai-style throne, known as a Busabok, in the ordination hall. It is clad in one of the three seasonal costumes (summer, rainy season & winter). The Emerald Buddha is actually carved from a block of jade and was first discovered in 1434. We were not allowed to take any photographs in the hall and everyone had to take their shoes off outside before entering.
A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy.... ... read more 
