Wat Arun - The Temple of Dawn, Bangkok

Ahhh...Bangkok in the rain!What better time to take a boat up the Chao Phraya for some sightseeing?

Well, considering it's the rainy season, we couldn't be surprised that it rained for the entire time we were there.

Of course, that made Spike huddle under the umbrella! No one wants that wet dog smell around.

Ha! I seem to recall you huddling under there, too! (The Captain thinks he'll melt if he gets wet.)

Anyway, let's talk about The Temple of Dawn, Wat Arun Ratchavararam.

 This particular temple, of the 31,000 or so temples in Thailand, is named after the Indian God of the Dawn. Believe it or not, the shape and layout represents Mount Meru, a mountain seen as the center of the Buddhist universe.

So what does it look like? Without flying over it to get the entire temple in a picture, it's hard to capture it all. There is a center part, which is very tall with intricate mosaics and carvings, surrounded by four prangs. Those are the points of the compass. The incredibly steep stairs are only partially accessible.

Which is a good thing in the heat and when it's pouring! The steps are narrow and slick. During the downpour, water ran down them like a waterfall!

So as you walk through the complex, you will see statues. This was the first temple we had seen the crocodiles, but every temple so far has had elephants.

And just like other wats, the area is not just one temple. There are several other buildings surrounding the prangs of Wat Arun. Be sure to explore all of them! And while the Buddha in the temples is always the focal point, be sure to look at the elaborate designs on the walls.

And don't forget to admire the exteriors, too! These are all on the OUTSIDE of a building!

Enjoy this beautiful site. We recommend using the orange flag boat, which is not a tourist boat and only cost 15 baht per person, to get to the Temple of Dawn. You will feel a nice breeze and stop 8 is at the temple dock.

Oh, and watch out for the demon giants! Their battles against the guards of Wat Pho across the river led to so much destruction they were turned to stone to guard the temple gate for eternity.