@@@ January 15, 2018 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

The beauty of Bangkok is that there seems to be an endless number of interesting places to visit. Today it was Wat Ratchanadda, the Royal Wat. Wat Ratchanadda is a Royal temple best known for the Loha Prasat or Metal Castle, a very unique structure in the Bangkok skyline. In 1846 King Rama III ordered construction of the Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan, as the temple is officially named. When my friend Noom took me here today, the place was under renovation with scaffolding everywhere. However, vowing to return, I took some photos. This temple is under consideration as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Art panels on the magnificent wooden entrance doors

We ended up taking a canal boat ride and some walking along canals. Interesting sights.

 Canal cat

Water monitor lizard ... interestingly camouflaged on the cement embankment 

And other sights ...

Walkway art at MBK Centre 

And finally a visit to Wat Lumpong, Bangkok’s Coffin temple, a favourite of my friend Noom who likes to purchase a coffin for the needy. A brief description of the ceremony involved. You sit down at a table exchange 300 baht (C$11.67) for a certificate and donor paper where you write the donor’s  name and a brief note. The small paper is glued to a wall and the certificate burned and put into an urn. Incense sticks are burned.

And other sights in and around the temple

Disappointing sales volume ...

Water buffalo feeding at the temple