Wat Traimit & the Golden Buddha

At one end of Bangkok Chinatown (Yaowarat) is Wat Traimit with its 15 ft. Golden Buddha, claimed as the world largest weighing 5.5 tons (@ 83% pure gold) !

The Golden Buddha is housed in an altar atop this new chapel completed in 2010. Each morning tourist buses filled the temple car park by 9 a.m.





















Believed to be cast in 13th century, imagine its worth at today's gold prices (US$43,045/Kg)!
Assuming it to be metric ton, works out to US$43,045 x 5,500 x 0.83
Wow! That is US$196,500,425. With gold prices on the rise against a weakening dollar, it will exceed the US$200 million mark in near future.

Of course gold is prominent everywhere within its compound. This pair of Buddha statutes in the front court caught my attention as I entered; one of Sukhothai style while the other with Indian features.
















The temple is clad with white marble that adds an elegant contrast to gold. Couldn't wait to see the 'real suff' within.





















There it is. Prayers led by a monk with devotees making their wishes behind.










































Up close to the Golden Buddha.





















And a little bit more.





















That's as far as I can get with camera zoom.





















Some historical background to the Golden Buddha:
http://bangkokforvisitors.com/chinatown/wat-traimit/index.php

On the roads in Thailand

Some fun recollections of traveling around in Thailand

Truck space stretched to the limit!





















Big job for a small truck.





















Tire tube was her life jacket on the job collecting oysters on coastal shores.

















Monkey business - trained monkeys pluck coconuts.
















No seat belts?

















Pet dog enjoying the breeze of the ride.