Three years ago I found myself in Bangkok, at the tail of a stay in Laos, where I was traveling and volunteering. A few days in Bangkok was more than enough for me. I shoved around with my cousin to a bunch of sites, mostly in the middle of downtown. We had a tuk-tuk driver take us a few places he claimed were his favorites. He took us here, saying it was the King Rama IX’s favorite temple, where the King would come to pray when he was younger. The complex sits on the river, with a short dock and a clear view of the Rama VIII Bridge.
Of all the Buddhist temples I saw in Southeast Asia, this may have been my favorite. The decoration is superb and its a truly breathtaking sight.
All of this is written as the Prime Minister of Thailand has just issued a state of emergency as the Red and Yellow Shirts face off in political protests, which unfortunately seem all too periodic in this otherwise peaceful and beautiful country.
Nikon D90, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X
@ 11mm, f/5.6, 1/40s, ISO 400
Alex Krengel 