december-2011

The Temple of Dawn
The icon of Bangkok, the Temple of
Dawn — or Wat Arun as it is known
in Thai — was named after the Indian
god of dawn Aruna. The temple looms
on the Thonburi side of the river and is
covered in thousands of porcelain tiles
over its giant spires. These tiles were
originally used by Chinese merchant
ships as ballast, but found a second
life as adornments on the towers of
Wat Arun. The four smaller pillars
surrounding the huge central one
represent the four continents of Earth.
Sit for a spell under one of the
pavilions and admire the river, the
temple and its surroundings. Friendly
monks will often stop by for a chat —
the young ones are eager to practice
their English. It’s a good way to connect
with the locals and learn about Thai
culture and the people.
B ANGKOK SIGHTSEEING
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Discover Yak Wat
Chaeng, a giant statue
at Wat Arun