Dear DGHS Girls
I will be starting work at a new school tomorrow and will continue to run Gadd's Classroom as a blog. The content will now simply be more grammar and conversation focussed.
Please keep looking at this blog though as I will update you on life in Thailand here rather than on Gadd's Classroom.
Temples and other things:
Yesterday I went to the
Wat Benjamabophit.
It is the temple that you can see on the 5 baht coin.
The temple is much older than it looks and was restored by King Rama V when he broke down two other temples to build a new palace.
It is a beautiful temple indeed. The exterior is clad with Carrara marble from Italy. Most of the outside is a bright grey but the inside has stone of many other colours. Everywhere you look it is decorated.
The floor has marble of different colours in intricate patterns and the ceiling is a dark red and covered with gold patterns and flowers in relief. The walls have all been hand-painted and the detail is astounding.
As I am sure you all remember from Grade 9 LO, Buddhism has no God but reveres the Buddha. The main Buddha image in this temple is quite large, set back in the cross-shaped temple and outlined by fire. The image is made from bronze but covered in real gold leaf - can you imagine that in SA!
Thanks to www.dreamstime.com for the photo - I don't like taking photos in temples.
When you go to a temple it is very important that you show the proper respect to the place, the monks who live and work there and other worshippers who made be there as well. You must wear a shirt that covers your shoulders (has sleeves) and is not cut too low in front or at the back. You must also preferably wear a floor-length skirt - you have to cover your knees but three-quarter pants are not enough! At some temples they will lend you a sarong if you are not wearing the correct clothing and if your shirt is inappropriate they won't let you in.
You can wear your shoes around the outside but as with most houses in Thailand you MUST take your shoes off before entering the temple building. Do not ever face the bottoms of your feet towards the Buddha - it is very, very rude indeed.
The temple is much older than it looks and was restored by King Rama V when he broke down two other temples to build a new palace.
It is a beautiful temple indeed. The exterior is clad with Carrara marble from Italy. Most of the outside is a bright grey but the inside has stone of many other colours. Everywhere you look it is decorated.
The floor has marble of different colours in intricate patterns and the ceiling is a dark red and covered with gold patterns and flowers in relief. The walls have all been hand-painted and the detail is astounding.
As I am sure you all remember from Grade 9 LO, Buddhism has no God but reveres the Buddha. The main Buddha image in this temple is quite large, set back in the cross-shaped temple and outlined by fire. The image is made from bronze but covered in real gold leaf - can you imagine that in SA!
Thanks to www.dreamstime.com for the photo - I don't like taking photos in temples.
When you go to a temple it is very important that you show the proper respect to the place, the monks who live and work there and other worshippers who made be there as well. You must wear a shirt that covers your shoulders (has sleeves) and is not cut too low in front or at the back. You must also preferably wear a floor-length skirt - you have to cover your knees but three-quarter pants are not enough! At some temples they will lend you a sarong if you are not wearing the correct clothing and if your shirt is inappropriate they won't let you in.
You can wear your shoes around the outside but as with most houses in Thailand you MUST take your shoes off before entering the temple building. Do not ever face the bottoms of your feet towards the Buddha - it is very, very rude indeed.
Hello Miss Gadd.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very interesting place! Hope you're enjoying it!
Nechita.
DGHS Grade 10.