November 30 Sunday Wat Paknam Bangkok
STAY: Yellow Ribbon Hills Boutique Suites Bangkok
Short stroll to Nakhon Square
We woke up late, checked out, left our bags with the reception. Started out only by 12 noon
This is the facade of our hotel .
There is a narrow road in front of it but it is surrounded by big skyscrapers .
Pixelated building which looks as if it's been broken
We decided to walk a little bit outside to see what the pedestrian bridge is like . In Bangkok they have built pedestrian overpasses in many places and we don't get to see the zebra crossing. We had been taking grab taxis all the time.We'd seen this pixelated building which looks as if it's been broken in a few places, it has a really clever illusion it is near our hotel probably 500 meters away so we walked towards it. The steps up the bridge are really ergonomic making it easy to climb up or down . It was a good perspective go see the city from above
Chong Nonsi metro station...
Brahma shrine in the square
It has: 10,000 square metres (110,000 sq ft) of retail space (MahaNakhon CUBE and MahaNakhon HILL Retail components); 209 residences serviced by Ritz-Carlton, which, with prices ranging from approximately 42 – 500 million baht (US$1.2–14m), are among the highest prices asked for Thai luxury real estate, freehold or leasehold in Bangkok; The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon, with 155 rooms, to be operated by Standard Hotels; as well as a rooftop observation deck
Son went to exchange some 20usd for Thai money. Proved useless as Wat Paknam museum is free. We then got a grab taxi and went to Wat Paknam
Wat Paknam
Wat Paknam was established in 1610, during the Ayutthaya period, and received support from Thai kings until the late nineteenth century.
By the beginning of the twentieth century, the temple had become nearly abandoned and had fallen into disrepair.
The temple underwent a major revival and became widely known under the leadership of the meditation master Luang Pu Sodh Candasaro, who was abbot there in the first half of the twentieth century. Luang Pu Sodh was known for his charisma and outspokenness. The temple underwent a major change after he became the abbot, from a temple with only thirteen monks that was in disrepair, to a prosperous center of education and meditation practice with five hundred monks (the highest in Thailand at the time) and hundreds of mae chi/nuns. To deal with the problem of local delinquent children causing trouble for the temple, Luang Pu Sodh set up a free primary school. Later, when the Thai government set up schooling all over the country, Luang Pu Sodh had the government take over the school. The temple has a well-known Pali and Buddhist studies institute
Seven years after Luang Pu's death, Somdet Chuang Varapuñño became the new abbot until his death in 2021 aged 96
Paknam means 'river/canalmouth', which refers to the position of the temple located in Phasi Charoen district, Bangkok, at the Chao Phraya River
Bronze Phra Buddha
This Buddha image made of pure bronze was started in 2017, completed in 2021 with cooperation between Thai and Chinese construction technicians. It was finished with the placing of a relic and gold in the lotus bud on the head of the Buddha, and a structure of gold as a "heart" in the left side of the chest.
Named "Phra Buddha Dhammakāya Thepmongkhon", the image is 69 meters (226 ft) tall and 40 meters (130 ft) wide
We then went on to the stupa
The Magnificent Maharatchamongkhon Stupa
.The project of building the huge stupa cost 500 million baht when completed in 2012. The structure is named ‘Maharatchamongkhon’, which means ‘a blessed, great land’The 80-meter-high stupa has a twelve-sided polygon shape with five floors. it includes a glass stupa at the top, along with rooms filled with relics and Buddha images. The structure also contains images of respected monks
We took the lift straight to the top floor
The top floor features a domed ceiling with bright neon-colored images depicting Buddhist cosmology.
There is a green crystal stupa, modeled after the Great Chedi, glowing beneath the heavenly dome painted with stars, galaxies, and Buddhas radiating light.
Adjacent temple Wat Khunchan's Indra can be seen seated on his white elephant
MUSEUM
Museum Collection is Unique. Wat Paknam asked people to donate second-hand items of educational value to their museum. Therefore, there’s an interesting and diverse range on display. For example, you’ll find classic cars alongside traditional Thai artifacts.
This is the Abbott instrumental for the current grandeur of the temple
The monks
There is Another Museum in the ground floor with separate entrance...
Amazing relief work on wood...
Clock with tortoise shell inlay
Furniture
Gold artifacts
Silver
Antique serving tray with hand painted limoges porcelain
Objects crafted from gems like amethyst, agate, crystal etc
Porcelain
Returned home, cooked for the next day as well
December 1 Monday Bangkok, International flight Back home
Checked out
All went smooth at the airport
Amazing vacation!!
Report continues of Houston Holiday lights, newyear eve fireworks, visit to Bishop's palace etc
