Shokhothai - A Diamond Island in Town Square
I’m moving north from Bangkok with several stops along the way. Perhaps no surprise, but Buddha and Buddhism is everywhere! Oh, the temples! By my reckoning, much more visible than in India and Nepal.
Arriving in Sukhothai at orange-dusk last night, I was later washed-over by the brilliantly lit sight of the moated Wat/Stupa in town. You can approach it over four lantern-lit bridges coming from the four directions. It was stunning at night and, after the magic and adventure of morning and checking out tomorrow’s cute little guesthouse (with the weed store next door); and a fine latte with an oat-coca biscuit - and definitely the heat if the day - my trusty shoes walked me over the north bridge to the Stupa where I found a shaded stone bench awaiting me..
It’s a wholly holy peaceful scene. Not a soul about. I wish I had brought my inflatable meditation cushion. Around the far side, there is hubbub. It’s all quietly done, but they’re setting up for an event, rolling out tons of gold carpets as if setting up for a meditation event. I decided to slow down (☺️), wait around.
At least I thought I was paying attention. My siteline is purposefully obscured by a Buddha statue and overhanging tree. I didn’t want to intrude. I did hear the bong-bong of a gong, but not like there was a mad-scramble or anything. There couldn’t have been more than 20 people, and 1/2 of them seem to be workers. And I did hear another bong-bong on the gong, and then it was over! They were rolling up carpets, scraping plates with food. And now, it’s entirely emptied out, purely serene again except for one puttering boat and a barker’s voice ringing out insistently, likely a tour guide telling his stories. Did I miss something?
Arriving in Sukhothai at orange-dusk last night, I was later washed-over by the brilliantly lit sight of the moated Wat/Stupa in town. You can approach it over four lantern-lit bridges coming from the four directions. It was stunning at night and, after the magic and adventure of morning and checking out tomorrow’s cute little guesthouse (with the weed store next door); and a fine latte with an oat-coca biscuit - and definitely the heat if the day - my trusty shoes walked me over the north bridge to the Stupa where I found a shaded stone bench awaiting me..
It’s a wholly holy peaceful scene. Not a soul about. I wish I had brought my inflatable meditation cushion. Around the far side, there is hubbub. It’s all quietly done, but they’re setting up for an event, rolling out tons of gold carpets as if setting up for a meditation event. I decided to slow down (☺️), wait around.
At least I thought I was paying attention. My siteline is purposefully obscured by a Buddha statue and overhanging tree. I didn’t want to intrude. I did hear the bong-bong of a gong, but not like there was a mad-scramble or anything. There couldn’t have been more than 20 people, and 1/2 of them seem to be workers. And I did hear another bong-bong on the gong, and then it was over! They were rolling up carpets, scraping plates with food. And now, it’s entirely emptied out, purely serene again except for one puttering boat and a barker’s voice ringing out insistently, likely a tour guide telling his stories. Did I miss something?
