On our way to the airport for our flight to Laos, we took a detour to visit this temple that Nolan insisted was a must-see. We’re pretty glad for his insistence as it was quite the sight, and also a unique experience!
Felix is checking out a picnic table built into this contraption.
On entering the temple grounds, you can test your aim: hit a jar for treasures, the bell for fame, and the dragon’s mouth for power and support. This is the pathway to the temple entrance, where a Bhikkhunis (female Buddhist monk) gave us each a red ribbon on which we wrote our family name and names of our parents. She then gave us each a garland of marigolds (they symbolize good luck and prosperity in Thailand) to offer to Buddha at the top of the temple. At the entrance, a white Buddhist monk gave us some tips about what to expect. The first was to say the prayer posted above the doorway. It has been helpfully translated into English. The monk volunteered to do the translation but the temple officials were happy with google translate. Entering the dragon. The building is 17 stories high – 80 metres to coincide with Buddha dying at the age of 80. The dragon rising is supposed to symbolize a human’s journey from sorrow to happiness.Travelling through the dragon’s body. The fans along the way definitely helped with our overall happiness!Encouraging signs are provided every few levels.The monk also warned us that a new Buddha statue was being installed today, and we might encounter the group on the way up.Almost there!One more level after this!
Opportunities for donations are scattered throughout Level 16 and the very top.
Donations here will help you recover from disaster, and give you a strong body.Donations here are for prosperity in your business as well as forgiveness.Dragon claws up top.Dragon feet and claws on ground level.
The views and breeze from the top were incredible!
At the very top, we were to walk around the Buddha statue three times clockwise and pray for specific things on each round. First time around, you pray for your ancestors, second time around, you pray for the most important person in your life, and the final time, you pray for children to love their parents. You then place your garland by the Buddha statue and tie the red ribbon on the railing. Lastly, you touch the dragon’s beard and make a wish. When the railing gets full, the monks take them down and pray over them in another location …. after that not sure what happens to them.We were in a rush at this point as we had to get to the airport, but we managed to see the Golden Buddha in the building adjacent to the Dragon Temple.We were the only ones here.This is the interior of the building to the right of the Golden Buddha.
On our way out, Neil snapped these photos of other statues in the vicinity.
We rushed back to the parking lot where Nolan was flying his drone. This is what Nolan captured with his drone.
Video editing by Nolan.
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3 thoughts on “Dragon Temple (Wat Sam Phran)”
I had a chuckle over Nolan putting the money in the Buddha’s belly button.
I had a chuckle over Nolan putting the money in the Buddha’s belly button.
Wonderful
Great colours in the drone shot