It's impossible to see them all and it can be difficult to know which ones are worth visiting.
During my time in Thailand, Bali, Vietnam and Cambodia there was only one temple I went back to again and again: Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep.
It's one of the most famous temples in Northern Thailand and is still frequented by local Thai worshipers.
It's located on top of a mountain about thirty minutes outside of Chiang Mai. It can only be accessed by a windy road built through the forest.
The center of the temple is a large gold plated chedi which sparkles in the sunlight and is surrounded by dozens of gold Buddhas.
Surrounding the chedi are areas designated for rituals.
There's a building where the monks who live on the grounds chant each afternoon.
During the day a monk invites worshipers one at a time to come into that same building to speak with him. He then engages in Ancient Chinese fortune telling. First, he shakes a cylinder full of long wooden sticks. Each wooden stick has a number on it which corresponds to a book with fortunes. Whichever stick falls out is supposed to reveal the fate of the person the monk is sitting before.
There's also an area where lotus flowers are purchased. The flower is one of the most important symbols in Buddhism and represents the transcendence of materialism. Many buy these flowers, walk around the chedi with them three times and then leave them at the temple as an offering to Buddha.
Dangling from the roofs of all the buildings are little golden bells purchased by worshipers to bring good luck upon their families.
Just before leaving, many also walk through a line of heavy brass bells ringing one after the next for health and happiness.
No comments:
Post a Comment