Temples of Thailand

ancient thai Temples through a western lens

Visiting temples in Thailand constructed a clearer sense of what the word "spirituality" means to me. The magic that occurs when the sun catches the tiles is indescribable; the mystery that presents itself when attempting to fathom the construction of these places of worship is ineffable.

Wat Pha Sorn Kaew, a mosaic temple pictured several times here, was quite literally breathtaking. This relatively new temple (opened in 2004) is located in a province called Petchabun that does not exist in the guidebook. To say it is off the beaten path is an understatement - a pilgrimage site would be more accurate. We spent five hours exploring this wonder and even got trapped at the top while waiting for a monstrous storm to pass. When the skies cleared, animals flocked to the temple in masses. Peacocks appeared seemingly out of nowhere and began calling to each other in their high-pitched, sing-song way. It was a fairytale of majestic proportions and a day I will never forget.

Other temples pictured here include Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Wat Arun and and Burmese-style temples close to the Myanmar border.