03.28.06
Thailand: Temples and churches
I spent my first day in Thailand looking at one Wat after another. While the temples are impressive I found myself tired of them after just a few. Some consideration on the subject and I realized that what I was missing was anderstanding of what I was seeing. Rows and rows of Buddhas (literarily, some Wats have dozens of them lined up) loose any meaning when you cannot tell the difference between one station and the next. Sure that one has his right hand up while the next one has his left hand up, but so what? I figure if I visit Thailand again I will have to spend some time learning about the religion it’s icons and their meaning. One thing I can comment on: For the first time in my life I have seen temples so elaborately decorated as to rival the great cathedrals of Europe.