Around The World w/Scott 2011: March 2011

Thursday, March 31, 2011

These are the days of My Life - Bangkok, Thailand 3/31/2011 Lumphini Park

Let me be the first to confuse by saying this blog is from yesterday and yet i am still a day ahead of you...so Happy April fools day in advance. It is 10:36am, 01 April, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand. I was up early today (6;00am)...Why? because I set my alarm misusing military time which i have set my phone to to begin to complete my submersion into the culture. So no cheating with the I-phone clock. You say but 6:00am is 6:00am even in military time....enough said...I don't do math or numbers or military time or Celsius, or meters/liters. Why didn't the US go metric way back when i was a young developing mind....too late now but got me up really early to see the sunrise...well maybe tomorrow as today is another grey, smoggy, pollution filled day here in Bangkok.

After the early risers full continental american breakfast (eggs/toast), coffee, juice; no rice surprise for me for the next 10 days, I returned to Lumphini Park where I was pleasantly surprised to have found MY PEOPLE! More in a minute. The park is surprisingly busy early in the mornings and later after work (5-8pm when the park closes). The usual joggers/walkers/tai chi chuan practitioners/break dancers/badminton players it was way too early...so I just walked and admired.

Lumphini Park is named after the Buddha's birthplace in Nepal...I'll have to locate it when in Nepal in a few months. Bangkok's main greenbelt sprawls around two boating lakes (Yeah it is quite a big park); dominate on the Silom Road corner is a statue of Rama VI. Thailand is one Rama (King) after another since the beginning of time. The guide book says " the superstitious can be seen consuming fresh snake blood and bile to keep ill health at bay, purchased from stalls along the park's northern edge. Needless to say i ain't going to the northern edge....if the snake blood is fresh then so were the snakes relatively speaking and my Arachnophobia tendencies will suffice to write not witness this remarkable demonstration.

Another strange interpretation of volleyball is called takraw (a type of volleyball in which the hands may not be used). It is a mix of hacki-sac, badminton and soccer. the players are very good but it gave me a headache to watch.

And Now what you have all been waiting for.....My People! Que the music....and Aerobics to the fastest beats per minute that this ole girl could hardly keep up. The lady in pink...I called her Lila but who knows what she said to me in Thai....I just jumped in and was a White Boy in Thailand sensation. All the little old ladies came over to shake their groove thangs with me...it was sooooo awesome. As I later went up and thanked the instructor (up on the stage) she said they exercise daily and she was humored by my ability to pick up so quickly her routine. It was dancing with the oldies but at about 12billion rpm's....the instructor could not even keep up with the beat. I wandered toward the exit gate to Lumphini Park only to find yet another aerobic group starting up so yes gang i had a 2 hour basic aerobic workout with the locals. great fun and will be there at 5:00pm -7:00pm daily to exercise.

My Thai Champion Lila in pink,,,motioned for me to join. There are close to 150 people in this park moving and grooving to the aerobic beat.

Lila getting her groove on....I am behind her and about 50 are further behind me. Something you don't get at LA Fitness.

The instructor on the stage belting it out in Thai...You Go Girl!

My second class, there are five instructors on the sidewalk and another 10 on the other side. there were quite possibly 150 exercise participants....Oh did I mention this is free. just show up ready to party. the music here was a little more in step with the steps and oh course the calling of the moves in Thai?!?!? you watch and join...the girl in the black leotard and orange tank kept me going she smiled every time I added my own high impact steps....gotta bring to Thailand via Texas

These are the days of My Life - Bangkok, Thailand 3/30/2011 Wat Arun

The Wat Arun is right across the river (Chao Phraya) from the Wat Pho. The Temples themselves as as different and fascinating as night and day. Wat Arun, named after Aruna, The Indian god of dawn, owes it's name to the legend that, in October 1767, king Taksin arrived here at sunrise from the sacked capital of Ayutthaya. He soon enlarged the tiny temple that stood on the site into a Royal Chapel to house the emerald Buddha. Rama I and Rama II were responsible for the size of the current temple; the main prang (tower) is 79 m (260 ft) high and the circumference of its base is 234 m (768 ft). In the 19th century king Mongkut (Rama IV) added the ornamentation created with the broken pieces of porcelain. The monument's style, deriving mainly from the Khmer architecture is unique in Thailand.

Ceramic details: Much of the colorful porcelain used to decorate the prangs (towers) was donated by the local people. The flowers depicted are said to evoke the vegetation of mount Meru, home of the gods.

Central Monument of Wat Arun:
The monuments design symbolizes Hindu-Buddhist cosmology. The central prang (tower) is the mythical Mount Meru and it ornamental tiers are worlds within worlds. The layout of four minor prang (towers) around the central one is a symbolic mandala shape.

Symbolic Levels:
The Traiphum (base) represents 31 realms of existence across the three worlds (Desire, Form and Formless) of the Buddhist universe.

The Tavatimsa Heaven (central section), where all desires are fulfilled, is guarded at the four cardinal points by the Hindu god Indra.

The Devaphum (top) is the peak of Mount Meru, rising above four subsidiary peaks. It denotes six heavens within seven realms of happiness. Indra's weapon, the vajra or thunderbolt, is at the crest (top).

Small Cove:
On the second level of the central prang (tower) are many small coves, inside which are Kinnari, mythological creatures, half bird, half human.

Decoration of the Four Minor Prangs:
Inside the Niches of each minor prang are statues of Nayu, the god of wind on horseback.

Stairs of the Central Prang (Tower):
The steep steps represent the difficulties of reaching higher levels of existence. Fortunately the restoration work was not in progress and visitors are allowed to climb half way up. NOT for the faint of heart or those with a fear of heights or STEEP steps. It is like climbing the sheer face of a mountain with only a hand rail. Totally worth it!! Fear Factor rating by a wimp like me = 8+

Bodhi tree, Buddha's tree of enlightenment

King's; Temple's, Thai Flags

Deity accepting offers, I wish I had extra arms reaching out to accept offerings

Intricate stone design

From the bottom to the top

porcelain tile inlay

Nayu, the god of wind on horseback

Kinnari, mythological creatures, half bird, half human

Architecturally amazing, whatever you do don't think about structural soundness at a time like this.

Breathtaking views

Just hard to get enough, it is so amazing, pinching myself!

Big ole Texas Howdy

On the banner that is strung all around the Temple tower

Do you remember "Stairway to Heaven"? Watch your step; each is about 1.5 feet down and only about 3 -4 inches deep. Hug the banister and don't look down!!!

Intricate details

Check out the stairway over my right shoulder. Been there done that...own the t-shirt!

Better stairway shot, elevator going up/down.....NOT!

Even the Monks get in on the ritual of difficulty reaching new heights.

River crossing is an adventure in itself.

My monks, I paid their boat fare as they were very kind and encouraging on my descent. Baht $50 = US$1.65. Experience; PRICELESS!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

These are the days of My Life - Bangkok, Thailand 3/30/2011 Wat Pho

I asked myself why do all these sites of interest start with Wat...answer it is temple in Thai. So today I visited Wat Pho. Per the travel guide it is officially known as Wat Phra Chetuphon. Bangkok's oldest and largest temple also Thailand's foremost center for public education. Wat Pho is a traditional medicine center which the famous Institute of Massage is a part. The temple houses a 46-m (150-ft) reclining Buddha. The reclining Buddha has intricate mother of pearl images on the sole of the feet representing the 108 lakshanas, which are the auspicious signs of the true Buddha. The temple is decorated with porcelain ceramic designs. There is a Bodhi Tree which is said to have been grown from a cutting of the tree under which the Buddha meditated in India. Are you ready for this?