Chiang Mai personalities

This adorable girl interviewed me for a school project to practice English.  She asked questions like "What is your favorite Thai food?  and "How do you like the weather here?" Afterwards she was so excited she was jumping in the air. 

I had a "monk chat" with this young man.  He asked questions like "How do you teach morals to children?" and "What is the difference between morals and ethics?"

Monk giving blessings

Lunch time at the temple. 

Laundry at the monastery

My tuk tuk driver  Check out her T-shirt

This boy is hitching a ride - hanging on to the tuk tuk

Asian men have great hair

The king is revered.  His image is everywhere.  Every day at 6pm we stand to hear a song in his praise.  He's aged and has been in the hospital for two years - a shame as he might be able to quell the present unrest. 

Street side 

Sukhothai - More Buddhas

Sukhothai was the capitol of Siam from 1238 until late in the 14th century.   This is said to be the golden age of Thai civilization - the art and architecture are the most classical of Thai styles and continue to endure today.   The Buddhas of this era include the walking Buddha and many examples of Buddha subduing Mara - the latter as in the first two photos. 

The lotus shaped stupa behind Buddha is unique to Sukhothai 

Ayutthaya - Buddha Remains

Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam for over 400 years starting in 1350.  Wat Chaiwattanaram is one of the best preserved temple sites.  The Thais conquered Angkor and many Khmer influences can be seen such as in the layout of the  temples  (central temple surrounded by 4 temples, 3 progressively higher tiers, inner and outer walls with gate heads at the cardinal points).  

The prang (shaped temple) at the center is a Khmer shape while the chedis that surround it are Thai. 

Prang is brick construction and was once covered in stucco with Buddha in the niches and on the landings

Typical chedi

The Burmese sacked Ayutthaya in 1767 and looted and burned it. Hundreds and hundreds of broken and headless Buddhas remain and can be found on pedestals and walkways 

No one knows how Buddha's head got in the tree - maybe the Burmese abandoned it

Other Buddhas at Ayutthaya

Today Thais put gold paper on Buddha for luck 

Angkor Superlatives

The Angkor temples are literally heaven on earth. Superlatives don't begin to address the enormity and magnificence of the sites.  There are hundreds of temples and at one point more than a million people lived in the area. 

The gods make their home here.  The sites vary but in most we gain access by crossing moats and traversing two sets of double walls with elaborate gate heads at the 4 cardinal points.  Inside the walls are courtyards and temples all symmetrically arranged.  Four temples surround the highest one.  Progressively steeper stairs lead to the highest temple where Vishnu or Shiva or Buddha reigns. 

The temples have a poetry and sublime magnificence that is simply staggering.  Really all I can say is come visit. This spot is truly one if the wonders of the world. 

Banteay Srei Is my favorite.  Dedicated to Shiva, it is said to be carved by a woman because the carving is so refined. 

Pre Rup - 5 lotus towers on the uppermost of three tiers

Lotus tower.   Typically there are doors and stairs on 4 sides.  Doors are either blocked with this patterned motif or they are open and there is a god inside.  

Ta Som entry

Integral trees

 

Bayon - where 216 faces of the god-king look down on us

Four sided towers with god king faces

Angkor Wat - looking back at an entry gate

Inside the outer wall

Bas reliefs line the full length and height of the walls

Vishnu at right entry portico.  He once occupied the highest temple - now Buddha has the spot

Steep steps lead to the highest level

A view of an entry to the inner wall

Apsaras -heavenly nymphs 

Doors lead to doors

Typical details - door

Typical Angkor corbelled arch. The Khmers did not use a keystone or flying buttress. 

Mr Tchi, my tuk tuk driver, took me everywhere