THAILAND: Temples - From Old to New

Sukhothai, which means “dawn of happiness”, is about a 6-hour drive north of Bangkok. It was the first capital city of Thailand and its glory days date back to 700 years ago.

Sukhothai Historical Park is just outside the current city of Sukhothai. It is an archaeological site containing the ruins of the original Sukhothai.

One of the temples, Wat Si Chum (Temple of the Bodhi Tree), was constructed approximately 700 years ago. 

The Phra Achana is the largest Buddha image in Sukhothai with the Buddha seated and 15 metres/49 ­foot high and over 11 metres wide. 

The sitting Buddha peers through the slit. 

THAILAND: Buddhist Monks

Buddhism is the most popular religion in Thailand, with around 95% of its population adhering to the Theravada tradition. 

Monks are some of the most highly respected people in Thai society. 

They are easily distinguished by their bright orange robes. 

Buddhism is such an important part of Thai life that every man in Thailand is required to become a monk for a period of time before the age of 20. 

Though the expected time length is about three months, some will stay as little as a day or two. 

The majority of monks remain for at least a few weeks, although some choose to remain in monkhood for the rest of their lives. 

THAILAND: Tuk-Tuks, Chinatown, CNY and Bail Money

A visit to Bangkok is not complete without a ride on a tuk-tuk.

To get around quickly and weave around the congested traffic a tuk-tuk is the answer. 

A Tuk Tuk is a motorized rickshaw that has three wheels and is open-air. 

The standard Tuk Tuk consists of a seat in the front for the driver and a bench in the back for passengers. They can accommodate two to three people.

THAILAND: There are Just a Few Palaces and Temples in Bangkok

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is home to over 10.5 million people in the metropolitan region.

There are Buddha images or shrines of all sizes throughout the city, and, the country.

While we were in Bangkok we visited a couple of the must-see highlights; the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha), and Wat Pho (the temple with the Reclining Budha).

The temples are much more than tourist attractions. Buddhism is an inextricable part of daily life in Thailand. 

THAILAND: A Walk Down Memory Lane

In 2006, while living in Houston, Texas, we hosted an exchange student for a year. 

It was a new experience for us to be "parents" and we jumped right in with an 18-year-old teenage girl from Thailand. 

It was also a new experience for young Nang to be living away from her family, freinds and the country and customs she grew up with. 

It was a year of a lot of firsts for all of us and it would be safe to say we learned, made mistakes and figured it out as we went along.

After 17 years apart we had the pleasure of reuniting, and this time in Bangkok, Nang's home town.