Sunday Outing - Bangkok

13.10.11:  I finally have a moment to sit and type.  Sorry it’s been so long, I’ve had a lot to do lately.

We went to Wat Phra Chetuphon (AKA Wat Po) in Bangkok last Sunday.  Wow, what a place.  I got pictures of all the surviving statues depicting RueSi DatTon postures.  They are dotted about the temple grounds.  People visit and leave them gifts of flowers and fruit.  There are only 25 left of the original 82 - the rest were stolen or broken.  They are beautifully crafted and I would have loved to have seen them all.

This is one of the postures we practice after class is finished for the day.  It's not an easy one, but is getting easier.  I have spoken to my teacher about continuing to learn RueSi DatTon after I finish my training in December as this is something I very much wish to pursue.  I love Thai Yoga!

I have been to places like New Orleans, which has a history that goes back to the 1600's what with being occupied by the French etc etc etc.  Then I moved to England, and there's some pretty old stuff stacked up there too, and because of that, the English sneer at America's history.  However, Wat Po really drives home the point that when the Anglos were still running around in the mud, stacking stones, hitting each other with sticks and working out the bit about fire there were people on the other side of the world, dressed in woven clothing, studying the human body and documenting their findings.  

Wat Po has a statue of the Reclining Buddha.  He's huge.  

 They built the Buddha then erected the building around him, he's so big.  Inside the building it's very noisy; sounds like a penny slot casino.  We walked around his front and as we turned the corner to go back out we stopped and bought a cup of satang (100 satang = 1 Baht).  The trick is to drop one coin in each of the bowls that line the wall on your way out.  The coins make a noisy clatter as you drop them in - hence the casino-esque noise.  They charge 20 Baht for your cup of coins, and yes, you are being took for the tourist bitch that you are.  I don't mind, I'm grateful for Wat Po and all that it represents, and the Reclining Buddha is dead cool!

I think I need one more trip to Wat Po before I go.  I wish to spend the day there, looking at everything properly.  It's fun going with a group, but you have to keep up all the time and don't get to stop and enjoy.

After Wat Po we went to the JJ (Jatujak) Mall and weekend market.  I didn't see much of the mall as we scooted straight out into the real action.  Everything at the weekend market is for sale, and the prices are always negotiable.  We had fun looking at all the stuff - I've never seen so much stuff!  The market is laid out between two main streets in a grid format.  The alleys are narrow and full of people shopping, browsing, eating, chatting...just living, really.  There were plenty of tourists standing around, panting in the heat.  I said hello to a few of them but they seemed a bit wilted.  

We would charge down an alley, stopping to look, haggle and occasionally buy bits and pieces, then burst out onto the street for some air.  After a few minutes of air one of us would announce "I'm going in!!!" and we'd find another alley.  It was awesome.  Four hours was never enough time.  I tried to get some pictures but there was no point, none that I attempted even came close to depicting the experience.

I was shopping with my Japanese classmate, Miki.  She was like a machine.  I'm not much of a shopper, I usually know what it is I'm after and power shop my way in and out.  If I can do it in under ten minutes so much the better.  Miki led me round that market for hours, bargaining like a pro.  I can fully recommend going shopping with a Japanese girl.  They can work the system.  Miki is so cute as well, which I am positive helps.  

Miki, Lisa and I stopped for lunch...

It had to end, eventually.  We piled onto the Chetawan School van and buzzed back to the school.  I never needed a shower so bad in my life!  I smelled like that market (don't ask me to describe it, just go there and get a few lungfuls for yourself) and my clothing had pretty much fused to my skin.  What a day!