Despite the grey skies which prevailed during our visit, Bangkok’s Wat Pho complex showcased its kaleidoscopic colors.
The temple complex was founded in 1781 and houses more than one thousand Buddha images. It’s best known for housing the famous Reclining Buddha statue.
Photography & text © Tricia A. Mitchell. All rights reserved.
Tricia A. Mitchell is a freelance writer and photographer. Born in Europe but raised in the United States, she has lived in Valletta, Malta; Heidelberg, Germany; and Split, Croatia. An avid globetrotter who has visited more than 65 countries, she has a penchant for off-season travel. Tricia has learned that travel’s greatest gift is not sightseeing, rather it is the interactions with people. Some of her most memorable experiences have been sharing a bottle of champagne with distant French cousins in Lorraine, learning how to milk goats in a sleepy Bulgarian village, and ringing in the Vietnamese New Year with a Hanoi family. She welcomes any opportunity to practice French and German, and she loves delving into a place’s history and artisanal food scene. A former education administrator and training specialist, Tricia has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in international relations. She and her husband, Shawn, married in the ruins of a snowy German castle. They’ve been known to escape winter by basing themselves in coastal Croatia or Southeast Asia. Her writing has appeared in Fodor’s Travel, Frommer’s, and International Living. View more posts
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Travels With Tricia
Beautiful photos of a beautiful place!
Thanks – so happy that you found my site so that I could discover yours! Wishing you fantastic and continued safe travels through Europe. Until next time!
Trish:
As always, your photos are spectacular!
Greetings, Mary Ann :-) I was struck by the fact that even though the day’s weather was gloomy, the architecture shone through in such a vibrant manner! Here’s hoping that you’re having a relaxing and happy weekend. Shawn and I will be in touch shortly. We’ll likely be heading to Cambodia tomorrow.
Tricia, this photo is absolutely beautiful! Great work
Thanks, Victor! Enjoyed stumbling upon your images from Cambodia as that is where we are headed next. All the best…
Woah – this is a kaleidoscope of colours. Great shots all round, and I love the photo of the cats. The third shot is spectacular. What detail!
Marina, I was also delighted to capture those felines on film – animals are so tricky to catch! And the colorful cut glass work is incredible, isn’t it? We visited a temple undergoing renovation the other afternoon, and it was fun seeing how the glass pieces all fit together. I left with a greater appreciation for the beautiful temples — just as I had more respect for Thai cooks after we went to cooking class. Making the green curry paste alone was quite a task, but one that was rewarded with a tasty lunch after our dishes were finished!
wait – have you posted on the cooking class yet??
Coming soon! :)
Tricia! I am posting on Inspiration: Rain and hoped I could use one of your shots (with credit and ping to you). Could I use the one with the cats? Thanks! PS This is an example of a post though I think you’re familiar with it anyway :) http://wp.me/p1YdU5-ck
Hello Marina,
I haven’t forgotten your or Victor’s kind nomination – have been traveling so much as of late! :) Yes, you’re certainly welcome to use the Thai kitties. How fun! More soon…
Great, thanks! I think you have as much time with The Versatile Blogger award as you require. Keep on enjoying and blogging about your travels!
:)
the post is live! thanks for allowing me to use your pic :)
Tricia, I just wanted to say that sometimes when I need inspiration and light in my day, I visit your web site and get lost in your beautiful photography and words. Guess what….! I will be traveling to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam this February!!!! :)
That’s so kind of you to say, Alli. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face. :)
You must be ecstatic at the idea of visiting Southeast Asia in a few months! I’ve visited that region twice in Jan/Feb, and the weather was quite pleasant then. (I’ve heard it becomes very hot thereafter.) How long will you be spending in the region? I miss the quick-to-smile faces of the many people we met there. Such beautiful memories…
My pleasure! :) I will be in the region for about a month total. I am most looking forward to Laos and Vietnam, I think. Witnessing the giving of alms in Laos and the food and Halong Bay in Vietnam.
During my first trip, I was also there for about a month, making it to Thailand for a few days, then Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Each country had something great to offer, but it was the interactions with the people that made our time there special.
The almsgiving ceremony in Luang Prabang is nice, but just be prepared for large crowds of people, and some that aren’t being very respectful of the ceremony – perhaps because they’re not familiar with the cultural dos and dont’s when interacting with Buddhist monks (which are posted throughout the city), or perhaps because they just wanted the perfect close-up photographs. We enjoyed the food everywhere during last year’s trip, and only had food poisoning once. Not bad for 4 months in the region. :) I miss the spicy nature of the food and all of the unusual fruit.
How do you think you’ll get from country to country – by bus, plane?
Thanks for the heads up regarding the ceremony in Luang Prabang. I will be getting from place to place via overnight train, bus, and plane! How did you guys travel throughout?
Alli, I’ve pretty much done the same blend, but not the train in SE Asia. We rode a few overnight buses through Vietnam, Thailand and Laos, and once I flew between Vietnam to Laos. Lots of tales from those overnight buses (a passenger locking herself in the on-board restroom after 10 hours of usage, a broken recliner seat with a spear-like projection popping out of the chair during the ride, and meeting many friendly, curious locals squished in beside us). You’ll definitely come home with a lot of stories. :)
Beautiful photos!
Thank you, Millie. Though not always welcomed when traveling, rain can add a nice, moody quality to images. Have you been to Bangkok?
Yes I have! Though only for a few days. We fly into Bangkok in Nov :)
We embarked on our ’round the world trip in November too, and found it a great time of year to be in the region. You must be counting the days!
8 weeks 3 days 1 hour ;)