After days of endless planes, trains, buses, taxis and tuk-tuks, I woke up in Ayutthaya city, the capital of the former Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand).
A 7am meandering walk down the "sidewalks" of Ayutthaya brought me unexpectedly to Wat ('Temple') Boromphuttharam. July through October is rainy season (aka fewer-tourists-season) in Thailand. The time of year paired with the time of morning left this temple completely deserted. It's gates, however, were warmly open to welcome in local Buddhists.
I crept in, shyly at first, drawn through the treed grounds by flashes of yellow through leaf and brick.
This quiet morning temple was my first glimpse of the subtle and refined beauty of Thai Buddhist culture.
The roof, having crumbled away long ago, opens the temple to the sky. The morning light pours in, casting dramatic shadows across rough brick walls.
A delicate cotton string connects the Buddha's hand to an offering of marigolds and chrysanthemums.
Other offerings range from figurines and woven leaf sculptures to sugar cane and eggs.
Elegant yellow and gold cloths are gently tied around the Buddha to denote his sacredness and bring good fortune.
In the traditional style of the region, the temple is made of brick layered with cement. Repair and preservation attempts result in the structure's striking patch-work facade.
There is a singular and inspiring beauty in a building whose purpose in design is still being fulfilled after hundreds of years of use.
Thai temples are not relics. They are functional and cohesive necessities for Thai culture and society. It took me months to realize it but that is the true beauty of Thailand. What has been labeled 'ancient' elsewhere is, in these spaces, still alive.
by Sarah Bond-Yancey
For more views of incredible Thailand, check out the complete Wat Boromphuttharam album.
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