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Wat Phra Sri Ratana Mahathat, Phitsanulok

I wanted to be amazed.
So I left the city and headed for the 700-year old ruins of one of Thailand’s early civilizations – Sukhothai

But even before getting there, I sit stunned at the foot of a more contemporary splendor.
I’m glad I saved my first time to enter a Wat for the Phra Buddha Chinarat. It is the second most important Buddha image in Thailand. It’s important because of something about its form. Something about a bursting halo that turns into serpents, haha.
But of course for me, I was just astounded by the look of everything. That it was gold. That it loomed huge, dominating the whole temple. That it sat against a deep blue that set off its golden hue. That black and gold pillars led you to it, after following a marble path of ivory and black.
And to add to the 'cinematic-ness' of my entry – really, whoever makes these Buddhist temples knows how to make a good first impression on a visitor – I swear, a dove swooped towards me. I stopped dead in my tracks and had to stifle a shriek.

Later, sitting on the floor in front of the Buddha, trying to be unobtrusive to the Thais who were actually worshipping, I figure it must be so annoying for them. This having to pray while ugly white tourists monkey around the temple, crack jokes, laugh out loud and take photos complete with flash.

But I guess, being Buddhist and all, they know how to be unperturbed. They must learn, not just from the golden Buddha with the bursting halo, but from the Mae Nam Nan - the river flowing past the Wat. As I walk back out into the morning sunlight (no diving doves this time) and sit under the shedding trees, I see in the river the same serenity the Thais have - their lives flowing untroubled and calm.