Bangkok is full of surprises. One big surprise was Wat Pathum, a royal temple. It turns out that there is a really quiet, peaceful temple surrounded by Siam Paragon, Central World, and located in one of the busiest shopping districts in the city. I was impressed, but not surprised by the golden Mercedes parked outside the temple. Given the neighborhood and that this is the temple associated with Pathum Palace, the residence of HRH Princess Sirindhorn, I can only imagine that this is where the Bangkok elite come to make merit.
I had no idea that all this was here! Behind the main wat building was an extensive and quiet garden with fountains, small prayer pavilions, and shrines.
Another new temple that I had never visited before was Wat Hua Lampong. Also a royal temple, but very different from Wat Pathum, Wat Hua Lampong offers a really unique method of making merit.
Devout visitors can donate money towards the purchase of wooden caskets used for cremation ceremonies. These will be used for people who don't have any money or families to take care of their funeral arrangements. Inside, after paying B100-500 (up to you) for a donation, a merit-maker will burn incense at six different stations before finally burning the donation receipt in a metal bowl.
Though that part of the temple is very plain and simple, the main wat building is very elaborate and beautifully decorated. I don't know how many temples there are in Bangkok - hundreds, most likely - and each one is so different from the others! It's fun to visit them, because even though I don't understand everything that's going on there, the sights, sounds, and smell of incense really makes me feel like I'm in a faraway and distant land. I don't think Thailand will ever stop being exotic and magical to me.
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