Results 1 to 12 of 12
  1. #1
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    15,842

    Bobcock at Wat Arunrajawararam Rajaworamahavihara (Wat Arun, Wat Chaeng)

    For those who are not familiar with Wat Arun it is the Khmer style chedi on the Thonburi side of the river, opposite Wat Pho.

    Close up it has great character, the decorations being made from old crockery that was used as ballast on Chinese merchant ships.

    The chedi is 81m high.

    This time I was allowed to climb up to the third and highest level of the prang. This is the first time that I have seen it open since I first went there in 1987. Good views over the surrounding area.
























  2. #2
    Developing Member

    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Last Online
    12-08-2014 @ 12:20 PM
    Location
    Rama V
    Posts
    1,337
    Applause! Some really excellent photos, I have been here 11 years and never been there yet - it is now on my list

  3. #3
    Member
    alphagirl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Last Online
    17-08-2009 @ 06:47 PM
    Location
    The Dirty Lou
    Posts
    256
    Beautiful!
    I want to see that.

    Wat Arun (วัดอรุณ), also known as the Temple of Dawn, is an iconic temple at the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, right next to the Navy Base. This is a royal temple in the highest rank and it is by far the most visited tourist attraction in Thonburi. It is easily accessible with the 3 baht ferry boat from Wat Pho in Rattanakosin. Ferries take off about every 10 to 15 minutes and operate daily from 06:00 till about 22:00. Walking around the temple gardens and looking at it from a distance is free, but if you want to enter the temple compound and climb the steep stairs, it costs 50 baht (for foreigners at least). Entering the complex can be recommended, as otherwise you won't see the small porcelain pieces it is decorated with. The temple grounds are opened from 07:30 till 17:30. Thousands of foreign tourists visit the temple everyday, many of them by canal tour early in the morning.

    A temple has occupied this site since the Ayutthaya Period. It was first named Wat Makok, which means "Olive Temple", named after the many olive orchards in the area. After the fall of Ayutthaya, General Taksin was at war trying to conquer Siam back from Burmese armies. When he arrived in Thonburi in the morning, he reputedly saw this magnificent temple during sunrise. Since then, the temple got the name Wat Chaeng or Wat Arun, which means the Temple of Dawn. Wat Arun served as King Taksin's royal temple and was inside the Wang Derm Palace grounds, his personal residence. In the Thonburi Period, Wat Arun housed the recaptured Emerald Buddha for several years, before it was moved to the Grand Palace in Rattanakosin in 1785. In the Rattanakosin-era, Wat Arun lost its special status to Wat Phra Kaew in the Grand Palace, but it remained one of the most iconic temples of Thailand. It is featured prominently on 10 baht coins and as the logo of the Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT).

    The magnificent main prang is in Thai called the Phra Prang Wat Arun. Overlooking the Chao Phraya river, it is not only the symbol of Thonburi, but a world-famous landmark and one of the most photographed icons of Thailand. The prang was originally built during the Ayutthaya Period and is in a classic Ayutthayan style. It was reconstructed and enlarged during the reign of King Rama II, and was completely finished in the reign of King Rama III. The height is reported by different sources to be between 66 and 86 metres. It was the tallest structure in Bangkok until the advent of the modern skyscraper. The main prang and its four satellite prangs are beautifully decorated with colourful broken Chinese porcelain pieces. It is believed that these broken porcelain pieces come from Chinese trade ships that were shipwrecked at sea.

    Steep steps lead up to two terraces that surround the prang. From there, you have a nice view of the Chao Phraya River with the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and even downtown if you look far enough. Beside the famous central prang, be sure to take a look at the main chapel, the image hall, the Chinese style bell tower, and the open pavilions overlooking the river.
    Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair or fucking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back.

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    59,983
    great pics mate!

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat
    Whiteshiva's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Last Online
    13-11-2023 @ 06:03 AM
    Location
    Nontaburi
    Posts
    4,633
    Quote Originally Posted by Bobcock View Post

    How did you do that?

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat
    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Last Online
    08-09-2014 @ 10:43 AM
    Location
    Simian Islands
    Posts
    34,827
    Quote Originally Posted by Whiteshiva
    How did you do that?
    There's a thread in the Photoshop forum about that.

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    15,842
    As Marmite said, I did a thread on it in the Photshop section. Called my favourite tool.

    This pic was dedicated to KingWilly as he pointed out how good it is for monks robes.

    This was not a particularly great shot, but the robes colour was just perfect.

  8. #8
    Thailand Expat
    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Last Online
    08-09-2014 @ 10:43 AM
    Location
    Simian Islands
    Posts
    34,827
    Quote Originally Posted by Bobcock
    This pic was dedicated to KingWilly as he pointed out how good it is for monks robes.
    Nearly every tourist shop sells pictures like this.

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    15,842
    I've seen a few, some are very good, I'd just never done one myself as I hadn't photographed any monks before.

  10. #10
    Member
    sccrhound's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Last Online
    14-07-2019 @ 01:20 PM
    Location
    Outside NYC
    Posts
    889
    My Contribution

  11. #11
    Member
    sccrhound's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Last Online
    14-07-2019 @ 01:20 PM
    Location
    Outside NYC
    Posts
    889
    Another


  12. #12
    Member
    sccrhound's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Last Online
    14-07-2019 @ 01:20 PM
    Location
    Outside NYC
    Posts
    889
    One more


Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •