Blogs and Photos from Thailand

Thailand Stories



The Metal Castle in Bangkok

Posted on August 19, 2010

When I drive down Ratchadamnoen Klang Road towards the Democracy Monument, I often noticed this strange structure in the grounds of Wat Ratchanatdaram. It is marked on some tourists maps as simply “The Metal Castle”. It is really a remarkable structure. …

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: The Metal Castle in Bangkok at My Thai Photos by Richard Barrow

Luang Pho To in Bang Phli

Posted on July 29, 2010

One of the most revered Buddha images in Samut Prakan Province is Luang Poh To which can be found at Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai. During the annual Rub Bua Festival, usually in October, a replica of this image is taken out on a boat on the Samrong Canal for local people to worship. …

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: Luang Pho To in Bang Phli at My Thai Photos by Richard Barrow

Birthdays in Thailand

Posted on July 16, 2010

As part of the celebrations for their birthday, many Thai Buddhists will go to their local temple to offer alms to a monk and to then receive a blessing in return. Monks are also often invited to mark other anniversaries. This week, my school celebrated 55 years and so twenty monks were invited. After …

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: Birthdays in Thailand at Richard Barrow’s Life in Thailand

Buddhas at Wat Yai Chai Mongkon

Posted on April 05, 2010

One of the most impressive temples in Ayutthaya is this one called Wat Yai Chai Mongkol. Like many of the others, a lot of the buildings and Buddha images were destroyed by the Burmese during the sacking of the city in 1767. However, the big chedi still remains. The remainder, like …

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: Buddhas at Wat Yai Chai Mongkon at My Thai Photos by Richard Barrow

Reclining Buddha in Bangkok

Posted on March 30, 2010

The Temple of the Reclining Buddha is just south of the Grand Palace in Bangkok and most tourists visit both in one day. The full name is Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan, but most Thais just call it Wat Pho. The temple is one of the oldest …

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: Reclining Buddha in Bangkok at My Thai Photos by Richard Barrow

Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai

Posted on March 01, 2010

One of the most beautiful and also important temples in Lamphun Province in Northern Thailand is Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai. According to legend, the Lord Buddha himself once came to this area to collect alms. A local Lua tribesman offered him some “samor”, a kind of fruit. The Buddha predicted that a man would later erect a …

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai at My Thai Photos by Richard Barrow

Sacred Stone Balls at a Thai Temple

Posted on February 15, 2010

The grounds of a Buddhist temple in Thailand have a variety of buildings of all shapes and sizes. At first glance their use might seem to be random. But, there is one building, called the “phra ubosot” which is not only the most sacred but also has distinguishing features that makes it…

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: Sacred Stone Balls at a Thai Temple at Richard Barrow’s Life in Thailand

Washing the Feet of Buddhist Monks

Posted on February 04, 2010

In Thai society, the head is considered both clean and sacred. In contrast, the feet are considered dirty. It is considered an insult to wave your feet at someone while sitting down or use to your feet to push something to one side. In…

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: Washing the Feet of Buddhist Monks at My Thai Photos by Richard Barrow

Scattering of Ashes

Posted on February 03, 2010

This is a picture of a Thai family scattering the ashes of a deceased relative in the Gulf of Thailand. Traditionally, Thai families either keep the ashes at home, at the temple or scatter them on the waters or a combination of all three. Many people travel to Paknam in Samut Prakan to scatter ashes at the mouth …

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: Scattering of Ashes at My Thai Photos by Richard Barrow

Reclining Buddha in Angthong

Posted on January 24, 2010

This large Reclining Buddha can be found at Wat Khun Inthapramun in Angthong Province in Central Thailand. It is 50 meters long. Some guidebooks mistakenly say that it is the longest in Thailand. However, I know one at Wat Bang Phli Yai Klang in Samut Prakan that is 53 meters. This Reclining Buddha is believed to …

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: Reclining Buddha in Angthong at My Thai Photos by Richard Barrow

Phra Pathom Chedi

Posted on January 13, 2010

Phra Pathom Chedi is located in Muang District, Nakhon Pathom Province, 56 kilometers west of Bangkok. The pagoda is the largest structure of its kind in Thailand. It rises more than 120 meters into the air with the radius of the base of 233.50 meters. The present chedi was built in the …

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: Phra Pathom Chedi at My Thai Photos by Richard Barrow

Making Good Luck for New Year

Posted on January 01, 2010

Judging by these photos that I took early this morning, not everyone was nursing hangovers after welcoming in the New Year at midnight last night. Like thousands of other local people from Paknam, I was up early at 6 a.m. to head down to the City Pillar where the main road through town had been closed for a merit …

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: Making Good Luck for New Year at Richard Barrow’s Life in Thailand

The Three Headed Elephant

Posted on October 28, 2009

The giant three-headed elephant at The Erawan Museum is the largest of its kind in the world. It is about 50 meters high which is the same as a 50 storey building.

Novice Monk Parade

Posted on October 24, 2009

Young Thai boys, freshly shaven for their ordination as novice monks, parade through the town to announce to the spirits at the City Pillar shrine that they are about to be ordained. More at www.ThaiBuddhist.com Original post blogged on www.mythaiphotos.com .

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: Novice Monk Parade at My Thai Photos by Richard Barrow

Novice Monk Ordination for H.M. The King

Posted on October 20, 2009

During the school holidays in Thailand, it is common for Thai students to ordain as novice monks for a short time. In the olden days, before there were government schools, poor boys would ordain in order to get an education. However, these days, their parents want them to ordain for a short…

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: Novice Monk Ordination for H.M. The King at Richard Barrow’s Life in Thailand

Novice Monk Ordination for H.M. The King

Posted on October 20, 2009

During the school holidays in Thailand, it is common for Thai students to ordain as novice monks for a short time. In the olden days, before there were government schools, poor boys would ordain in order to get an education. However, these days, their parents want …

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: Novice Monk Ordination for H.M. The King at Richard Barrow’s Life in Thailand

Acting Supreme Patriarch of Thailand

Posted on October 16, 2009

This morning in Samut Prakan we had the rare honour of a visit by Somdet Phra Phuttacharn (Somdet Kiaw) the abbot of Wat Saket in Bangkok. However, this is no ordinary monk as he is the Acting Supreme Patriarch of Thailand. He is effectively the leader of all Buddhist monks in Thailand. He came to Samut Prakan to open a…

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: Acting Supreme Patriarch of Thailand at Richard Barrow’s Life in Thailand

Candlelight Procession at Phra Samut Chedi

Posted on October 12, 2009

On the evening of the fourth day of the Phra Samut Chedi Temple Fair, it is traditional for the local people to come together to take part in chanting and a candlelight procession around the pagoda. This happens every year and it is always a beautiful sight. The best …

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: Candlelight Procession at Phra Samut Chedi at Richard Barrow’s Life in Thailand

A Foreign Monk in Thailand

Posted on September 17, 2009

This is continuing my interview with Peter Robinson, who is probably better known in Thailand as “Phra Farang”, the foreign monk. (Click here for part one.) Peter spent ten years as a monk before finally disrobing in order to spend …

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: A Foreign Monk in Thailand at Richard Barrow’s Life in Thailand

An Interview with "Phra Farang"

Posted on September 16, 2009

One of the best books about Buddhism in Thailand is undoubtedly “Phra Farang: An English Monk in Thailand” by Phra Peter Pannapadipo. Even if you are not interested in becoming a monk yourself, his vivid description of his ten years as a…

Written by: Richard Barrow

Read more: An Interview with "Phra Farang" at Richard Barrow’s Life in Thailand