Wat Suthat, Wat Intharawihan & Wat Po

From Wikipedia:  A wat is a monastery temple in Cambodia, Thailand or Laos. The word "wat" (Thai ÇÑ´) means "school." Strictly speaking a wat is a Buddhist sacred precinct with monks' quarters , the temple proper, an edifice housing a large image of Buddha, and a structure for lessons. The term is frequently used more loosely, even for ruins of ancient temples.

Wat Suthat, Giant Swing Buddhist Temple, Bangkok

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So for the first few days I was in Bangkok I chilled at my hotel.  It had a great restaurant, good internet connection and a bunch of pool tables.  I went sight seeing a little (May 7-9) but only a little and only in the evenings. 

Here are photos of three of the temples I went to see Wat Suthat, Wat Intharawihan & Wat Po.  I visited them all again in the daytime, you can see those pics in another entry.  Bangkok has over 700 Buddhist temples, I saw about 8 of them.  These were the ones I picked out of the lot, they are all famous for something and most are in close approximation to the Kings Palace which affords them a little more grandeur than the local neighborhood temples throughout the city.

Inside the main temple hall

Wat Suthat is known for the huge red swing outside.  The swing was used in ceremonies, but was taken down because of so many injuries.  The structure that held the swing is still there though.  When I visited this temple there was a service in progress.  I stood in the back for a while, but then I found a seat and joined in staying for the rest of the service.  Really beautiful temple.  Here is more info on it:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Suthat

Wat Intharawihan has one of the more impressive Buddha images in it, er rather outside it.  It's huge and though it isn't detailed and made with as much skill as many of the other Buddhas, the sheer size of  it is really impressive.  http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/thailand/bangkok/

Luckily I happened in here during a service

Wat Po is the biggest temple I've ever been to, it just keeps going and going.  You walk around a corner and there is another football field sized area to tour.  There are a whole bunch of different buildings, housing all kinds of different relics.  I visited the Temple and the big reclining Buddha statue on these ground another day, but this day I saw a funeral service and walked through all the million (ok dozens) of stupas all over the grounds.  More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Pho

I stayed for the better part of an hour

After a bit I got the confidence to sit

After the service

Wat Suthat, the Buddhas out on the grounds

Wat Po, stupas outside at night

Wat Po - A funeral service

Wat Po, Many stupas on the grounds

Wat Po, a beautiful golden doorway into the temple

Wat Po, a garden on the grounds

Wat Po, Garden close-up

Wat Po, yellow door

Wat Intharawihan

5 -postcardof a monk at Sukathai

Just the feet for scale

Wat Intharawihan at night

plaque at Wat Intharawihan

View of Bangkok from The Baiyoke Tower II