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River Kwai Jungle Rafts Flotel

During the history tour in February of this year, we spent one night in/on a flotel. This is a hotel that is constructed on rafts which are tied to the River Bank. The entire hotel; including kitchen, dining room, lounge, massage parlor, guest rooms with porches and patios, were all on a series of rafts that are tied together and connected with a series of interconnecting bridges and walkways. Our stay at the River Kwai Jungle Rafts Flotel was a great experience. As evening came, lanterns were hung along the walkways and in each guest room. As you may have guessed by now, there is no electricity and no noisy generators. Just the calm quite of the jungle and the rocking of the rafts as boats go by on the river. This was the first time most persons on the tour had slept under mosquito nets and taken that cool refreshing shower with cold river water. (All had been warned to shower before the sun went down.) The entrance to the Flotel is by boat and ice is brought in to use in ice chests for food and beverages. Cooking is done using woks on charcoal fed hibachis. The rooms were plain but comfortable with two large beds to a room, running (river) water, western style commodes and closet space. Of course the best part was the outside decks front and back. The private back deck had room for only a hammock while the front deck was more like a porch with planters and beautiful hanging baskets with all types of gorgeous flowers and plants, plenty of benches and tables and of course more hammocks. As you stepped off the porch onto the walkway that connected all the rafts, you could take another step and be on your own sun deck, again with plants, flowers and lounge chairs. The river was safe for swimming and was enjoyed by many of the guests who would walk to one end of the flotel, jump in the river, and float to the far end of the flotel which was nineteen rafts downstream. While this was a wonderful experience on the history tour it is the exception and not the rule for most of our tours. On most tours we stay only in western style hotels with three to five star ratings

Back in Bangkok

Well, I made it up country to see my adoptrd Thai father Phii Klong. He is now 93 and has serious health problems but it was wonderful to see him again and share a meal with him. I came back to Bangkok and was waiting for the tour to start, but since no one can fly in, had to cancel it. I will remain here (thats for certain) to see what transpires and then return to the states as soon as possible, The situation here will run its course. Everything seems normal and one would not know there is any trouble except for the news. The weather is excellent and the food fantastic so I will enjoy my stay.

Bangkok

Wow, it is so wonderful to be back to the City of Angels. Here for a few days before traveling to Ubol Ratchatani, to see if all is well there. I will try and update every few days but this is not for certain. I am trying out new hotels, different web connections and with a new computer. Vista seems nice but I am still learning to use it.

On vacation

Sorry for no posts recently. I am vacationing and enjoying time with my family.

The Thai Temple

      

       Many times we have heard of the famous Thai Temples, like Wat Arun, Wat Pho, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, etc. These beautiful temples are wonderful to see and visit, but there are many outstanding temples in Thailand that are almost completely unknown to most tourists. Some of the most interesting temples are outside Bangkok, and there are many styles and types of temples in all parts of Thailand. What I am talking about in this blog is the Thai Wat or Buddhist Temple.

                                         

        The wat is the center or focal point of almost every village. When I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the 1960’s in the northeast (Isaan) part of Thailand, my counterpart and I would always go the home of the village head man and the temple on each visit. In most cases these were very small monasteries and not the ornate temples that one sees in Bangkok or other large cities. Every wat that I remember had a least a sermon hall, but most are a collection of buildings, shrines and monuments and the courtyard is many times enclosed by a wall. Not all wats are used for religious ceremonies, as some are only used as monasteries.

                                                       

  
        In Thailand, there are over 31,000 Buddhist temples. All temples are divided into two main categories: Royal Temples and Common Temples. There are about 200 Royal Temples, which means that they were either built by members of the royalty or as the case of Wat Arun, or they have come under the sponsorship of the royalty.

                                                          

 

Wat Arun

     

Wat Arun is one of the best known landmarks in Bangkok. It is actually on the Thonburi side of the river and predates the present Chakri dynasty. First known as Wat Makok (Olive Temple), it was originally built during the Ayutthaya period of Thai history. Thonburi was a stop on the Chao Phraya ( River of Kings) for the ships of many nations to obtain provisions and replenish supplies. It is said that King Taksin arrived at the temple just at dawn and went to pay homage to the relic inside the pagoda. When Taksin crowned himself king and placed his capital at Thonburi, he renamed the temple Wat Chaeng –The temple of Dawn.

       It was during the Chakri dynasty that the name Wat Arunratchawararam Ratchaworamahavihara ( variously translated as “the Temple of Dawn” and “Temple of the Dawn”) was used. The name was for the Indian God of Dawn, Aruna. Wat Arun, as it is commonly known today, has a long history which has become intertwined with the present Chakri dynasty. During the reign of Rama I and continuing to and including the present King, Rama IX, Wat Arun has enjoyed an important part in Thai history.
                                                  
When Rama I moved the capitol across the river to Bangkok, he had disestablished Wat Chaeng as a royal temple. Still, it was a popular temple with the people and successive kings of the Chakri dynasty began to support the temple. King Rama II (1809-24) started the enlargement of the central prang (a prang is a Cambodian style pagoda) and is said to have designed the Buddha image that today resides in the Ordination Hall (Bot). Rama III (1824-51) continued the work on the central prang and today it is in excess of 60 meters tall. This towering prang and its four smaller ones represent Mount Meru, or the center of the universe in Buddhist cosmology.

       The core of the prang is made of brick and is covered with plaster or stucco. Into this plaster is set bits and pieces of Chinese porcelain and glazed ceramic tiles. The entire complex, including the statues, is covered with these brightly colored materials. Seeing the site from the river is magnificent and is truly beautiful. The grounds of this temple are very well kept and walking around looking at the various smaller prangs, statues and murals is a worthwhile endeavor. However, understanding a little of the symbolism of the structure makes it even more enjoyable.
                 1) The main prang is represents Mount Meru
                 2) The four smaller prangs represent the winds, with a statue of Phai (the god of the winds ) on his horse in each prang
                 3) The square on the first terrace, formed by the four smaller prangs, has pavilions in the middle of each which contain images depicting the four stages of the Buddha’s life. (birth, meditation, preaching and enlightenment)
                 4) These pavilions guard the stairs which lead to the second and third levels of the large prang.
                 5) The second terrace has four statues of the Hindu god Indra riding on Erawan.
                 6) The two demons that guard the entrance are from the Ramakien. The Ramakien is Thailand’s national epic, which is derived from the Hindu Indian Ramayana epic.

This beautiful temple, named for the dawn, is especially beautiful at sunset when you are across the river in Bangkok.