I love the culture here in Thailand

@faitherz33 and I spent the morning wandering around aimlessly in Bangkok and we ended up at an amazing temple called Wat Saket or Temple of the Golden Mount. It was really by chance that we stumbled upon this temple because when you are walking around here, you really have no idea where anything is, unless you are familiar with the area because the buildings block all of your view of anything else.

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

It was 50 baht each for us to enter the temple area and begin ascending the stairway to the top. It was a pretty magical journey to the top because along the way there were many different Buddha statues and statues representing the various Chinese Zodiac.

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

It was really cool to see all of the different statues along the way up.

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

I really loved the monkey ones, lol. The different expressions were pretty awesome.

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

As we climbed higher and higher up the steps and saw more of the different statues, I started to feel more and more at peace. It is hard to describe the feeling that was overcoming me, but this temple is pretty special.

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

Faith and I were talking later and she said that she must have been a Buddhist in a past life because she felt it as well. As we were there on the temple grounds, we could just feel a strong emotional connection to the area.

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

As we continued up on our journey to the top, we continued to admire all of the different statues and monuments along the way.

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

It was like entering a jungle oasis because of the trees and other plant life, which is a very stark difference to the city that is just right outside the temple grounds.

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

About halfway up, you come to a clearing with some large prayer bells.

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

Both sides of the walkway were lined with the bells and at the end was a large gong that people were ringing before they continued ascending to the top.

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

The gong had a very deep bass sound to it that you could feel in your chest when it was struck.

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

We continued up and came across more prayer bells along the way until we had made it up all 344 steps to the top. It is a fairly easy journey up since the stairs are not steep at all, and there is plenty to stop and appreciate along the way.

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

At the top was the entrance to the temple area. Inside there were people lighting incense, praying and places you can offer different donations to the monks. There was an area where people were buying what looked like care packages filled with snacks and toiletries and then lining up to offer them to the monks.

The monks would then sit with them and they would pray together and I could only assume that the monks were offering them different blessings. It was a very cool experience to witness and out of respect, I did not take any pictures of the monks offering blessings to anyone or anyone praying within the temple.

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

I just read that in November, there is an annual festival that is held at Wat Saket Temple so that is why the there are the flags and other decorations on the rooftop. Along with the festival, there is supposed to be a candlelight procession leading up to the top and it is supposed to be amazing, so @faitherz33 and I will have to make another visit to this temple in the evening before we leave.

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

The roof top was filled with people making offerings and praying. It was a very cool place to be. You could also see a lot of the city from up there.

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

As we made our way down, we admired more of the amazing details of this temple. The Wat Saket Temple or Golden Mount is an amazing place to visit while you are here in Bangkok.

^{Photo taken by me @derangedvisions}

The Thai culture is amazing and @faitherz33 and I are loving it here. I love it so much I haven't really slept since we left the US on Sunday and it is Wednesday night now. I am trying to take in as much as I can while I am here.

I am glad that Steem Fest is in Bangkok this year, so my wife and I could check this place off of our bucket list early. Thank you for stopping by and checking out this post. Stay tuned for more awesomeness that is Thailand.