wat | Nomadic Notes Travel Blog

Written by James Clark on June 17, 2011 · 2 Comments

[Wat Srisuphan, Chiang Mai - Thailand]

In a distinct change of pace from the uniform Thai wat style, Wat Srisuphan is covered in pure silver.

Walking Buddha at Wat Sa Si at the Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand.

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai – Thailand

Wat Phrathat is an impressive Buddhist temple on Doi Suthep, a mountain that overlooks the city of Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Wat Bupparam, Chiang Mai – Thailand

[Wat Bupparam, Chiang Mai - Thailand]

There are seemingly as many Wats as there are Songthaew (public pick-up taxi) in Chiang Mai.

Now if only there was a 7-Eleven somehow in the frame, and this would have been the quintessential Chiang Mai photograph.

The Bangkok 9 Wats in One Day Challenge

Written by James Clark on April 26, 2010 · 2 Comments

Bangkok’s reputation as a traffic clogged megalopolis overshadows the fact that Bangkok has more temples than any capital in Southeast Asia.

Bangkok is the seat of Thai Buddhism, and the grandest wats in Thailand are in the capital.

A popular way to visit the wats is to visit 9 temples in one day. In Thai the number nine also sounds like progress, so it has become a tradition for Thai’s to visit 9 in one day to bring good luck for the new year.

There are probably closer to 900 than 9 wats in Bangkok, but this is the 9 as listed at www.9wat.net, by the Amazing Thailand office.

I have seen other tour companies offer a different variation of wats to the one listed here. I personally would add Wat Traimit to the list, afterall how can you go past a Wat with a 5.5 tonne 3.5 metre tall solid gold Buddha?

Most of the 9 Wats can be found in Ko Rattanakosin, which is the oldest part of Bangkok. This area has the most interesting historical sights, and it is nearby to the Banglamphu area, where Khao San Rd can be found.

Each wat has its own motto, and I have kept the translation as is.

Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)
Motto: Endless Wealth and Prosperity