Adventures of a Wandering Thirtysomething

It’s mesmerizing to see Asian temples and palaces for the first time. The gold glistens in the sunlight, almost twinkling at times. Colors and intricate designs surround you on all sides as spires and peaked roofs reach to the heavens. And the deeply devoted followers of Buddhism pour in with flowers, incense, money and many prayers of offering.  

Having been to The Vatican, Versailles, Notre Dame, Buckingham Palace, Neuschwanstein Castle and several other structures of royalty and religion in Europe, it was something of a thrill to take in architecture of the same era but of a completely different culture and people.

The similarities are few, but unmistakable: grandiose, ornate, powerful and awe-inspiring. Beyond that, it’s strikingly different. Wat Pho and the Grand Palace in Bangkok are extremely colorful. If the structure isn’t awash in gold, then it incorporates red (considered to be a lucky color), green and blue. Intricate carvings and mythical characters adorn every building, swan tails sprout from the rooftops, and the spires often look like expertly decorated cakes instead of stone. Compare this to the whitewashed or muted colors and classical, almost somber architecture of buildings in Europe and it’s clear who has a bit more creative panache.

Touring the temples and palaces was at once chaotic and peaceful. Though there are masses of tourists there – mostly from around Asia coming to pay homage to the famed Buddha of Wat Pho – the pushing, shoving and otherwise obnoxious behavior experienced on other travels was nonexistent. People are generally polite, respectful, focused and fairly predictable in what they’re there to achieve.

It was an inspiring experience. The temples, the monks chanting, and the devotion of the Buddhist people was an uplifting and even spiritual experience. The vacation zen is certainly working.