Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn

The Temple of Dawn, Wat Arun, is one of the most famous and iconic temple in Bangkok. The full name of the temple is Wat Arunratchawararam Ratchaworamahawihan (วัดอรุณราชวรารามราชวรมหาวิหาร). Located on the bank of the river, this temple is easily accessible by ferry (highly recommended for sight-seeing and avoiding the city's traffic). As the name suggests, the temple is open to visitors early in the morning, the best time of the day to see the temple.

My first visit to the temple was a few years ago. Here are some of the photos for your viewing pleasure.

Ayutthaya, and the on-going flood

Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam (now Thailand). As of this writing the historic city is now flooded. As weeks of heavy rains caused the river to overflow, the threat of damage to numerous temple ruins and historical sites concerns me deeply. Before this incident I had a chance to visit Ayutthaya, and the city still had a very strong sense of history that resonated with the people of Thailand. That trip made me very proud to be a citizen of Thailand.

Here are some of the photos from the trip, taken at a happier time. Hope the flood will be over soon.