Every now and then we get to thinking about all the things that people who spend two weeks in Thailand have seen that we haven’t. Like the Reclining Buddha of Wat Pho, or the (in)famous Khao San Road. So we decided to head on over to the area most popular with tourists and check it out. We started with Wat Pho which was, as expected, rather spectacular. Even with all the snap-happy people from tour bus groups crowded into the barely-big-enough hall that houses the Buddha. And the constant tinkling noise from people dropping coins into the row of brass(?) pots just adds to the atmosphere.

After wandering around the grounds a bit we ventured out with no clear destination in mind. We eventually decided we were near enough the ‘giant swing‘ marked on all the sightseeing maps to go check that out. We really weren’t expecting all that much and were rewarded with…not much. There’s a reasonably big arch, painted red. I guess it used to be used in an impressive ceremony but nowadays it just presides over a roundabout. Our walk through the enormous candle and golden Buddha statue seller district was rewarded, however, when we happened on the wat across the street from the giant swing.

Wat Suthat is much smaller than some others, but really not a lot less impressive. And the THB 20 entry fee is far less than foreigner prices elsewhere. It was starting getting late in the day so the lighting and quiet atmosphere made everything seem a bit more…something. something good. There’s a pretty large Buddha statue inside, with the usual high ceilings and elaborate decoration but you feel a lot more at leisure to just sit and experience the atmosphere than you do when there’s a queue forming behind you…

Our other project for the day had been to figure out how to take a so-called ‘local bus’ to/from the area, and this was a most successful venture. A very affordable mode of transportation, if slow, and it helps to know where you are going.

Khao san and it’s backpackers can wait for another day.

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