Wat Arun " Temple of Dawn" > Bangkok ~ Thailand < 2013 August 12 (4) > (Bangkok - Ayutthaya - Kuala Lumpur)

Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan or Wat Arun, "Temple of Dawn" is a Buddhist temple (wat) in Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand, on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple derives its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun. Wat Arun is among the best known of Thailand's landmarks and the first light of the morning reflects off the surface of the temple with pearly iridescence. Although the temple had existed since at least the seventeenth century, its distinctive prang (spires) were built in the early nineteenth century during the reign of King Rama II.

This Wat or Buddhist temple is an architectural representation of Mount Meru, the center of the world in Buddhist cosmology. In the mythology of Tibetan Buddhism, Mount Meru is a place that simultaneously represents the center of the universe and the single-pointedness of mind sought by adepts. Thousands of miles in height, Meru is located somewhere beyond the physical plane of reality, in a realm of perfection and transcendence. The four-corner prang of Wat Arun, which house images of the guardian gods of the four directions, reinforces this mystical symbolism.

Credit:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Arun
- http://www.watarun.net/

The ticket fee is 50 Baht.
Our Thai friends said, they will wait us at coffee bar right next to Wat Arun. They said, they didn't want to go to the top. Why?
We thought, it must be beautiful from the top.

But....

OMG~ The stair's was steep, and the distance between each step was too high.

Becareful when you climb. But it's worth, because after you arrive at the top, you will see the beautiful scene with view of Grand Palace and Chao Phraya River.

If you bring elder or children, I suggest to ask them to stay at the bottom or wait for you at the nearby cafe.

Don't forget to preparing to go down, because it's more difficult then go up. We have to extra careful. And, once arrive at the bottom, I felt that my leg is stiff. T_T

I think, once is enough to go to the top. Next time, we can enjoy the Wat Arun from the opposite of the river, and enjoy the sunrise. Our Thai friends said, you have to go there at 4 o'clock in the morning to get the sunrise.

And don't forget to enjoy the sunset and the night scene too.
After that, we buy some drink at nearby coffee shop.

cute statue

coffee stan at Wat Arun

Then we ride the public boat which cost only 3 Baht to go back to the opposite of Wat Arun.