Temples and Wahts and Buddhas and Monks and

So here's the thing, there are temples in Thailand. Like a lot of temples. Like on every street corner. Here's the other thing, they are all beautiful. They are shiny and colorful and filled with people and vendors and children and monks and they are everything you picture in Thailand. I could show you ten million photos of temples but yes, I am gonna say it, wait for it, once you see one temple, well...BUT this one is beautiful. Seriously the amount of detailing in the gingerbread factor is so lovely.

This is a seriously old one as in 700 years old when Buddhism was first introduced to Thailand. Before that they were probably a form of Hinduism which is the oldest religion in the world and the one all came from. I'm sure a theologist would hate me spelling it out that simply to people but I was teaching an eight year old about Buddhism/Hinduism and Confucism just today so pardon me for the simplification. I truly get this is a complicated and yet beautiful religion where nobody ever yells and everyone buys fresh fruit, cookies and flowers everyday of their lives to honor a higher power. You can see in these temples how first a temple is made with brick, then covered in mortar and then painted which has come off after the ridiculously hot and rainy summers here.

And this is a modern dragon in front of a modern temple. What I cannot capture without a 5 story building directly across the street from this compound is that it is huge. All of these buildings and about 15 other temples are on the same grounds. Old with new and small and weird out buildings that we cannot tell what they are for but probably rooms for monks to live in and possibly classes to be taught in. Wahts are actually a compound of Buddhism. They are recreational as well. A place for Thais to come and visit friends and burn some incense. As there is no set times for "church", people come and go at all times of day and weekends. It truly is the community meeting place similar to a European plaza or promenade. It is beautiful as well as a necessary part of our society.

Lastly, our kids have visited many a temples now along river canals and in cities. They are quiet like churches at home but somehow more relaxing than a church. There are not so many rituals that you feel uncomfortable in a temple and as long as you act respectful, all seem to be welcome. Usually there are some people sitting on their feet in front of some flowers they brought or perhaps sittng quietly and contemplating. I could spend hours in a temple if it weren't for the rugrats we bring along that see the carpet as an awesome opportunity for a wrestling match. I have no idea what they wil absorb about Buddhism or Islam when we go to Malaysia but I hope they simply remember that they were beautiful and peaceful.