Merry Christmas

 Christmas day, and in the absence of any sprouts or figgy pudding, we went to visit a temple.

Incredibly, it's one we've never been to before, Wat Suthat. 

It's one of the eight first class Royal temples in Thailand. (Their definition not mine)

It was actually very nice. Some lovely murals and a massive Buddha (under which are the ashes of King Rama VIII), but unfortunately (or not) for you, there was a full on chanting session in progress which made getting pictures awkward.  (We tried to join in with the chanting, but as we knew neither the words nor the tune, we failed miserably)

I did get some pictures of the outside however.

Our route back to the hotel took us along a street known locally as 'Temple Supplies Street'.

And, yes, it's an accurate name.

Rather like the streets surrounding the Vatican, (but not in any way Catholic.  Or Roman)  it's the place to go when you're kitting out your Temple.. 

Our final stop of the day (before the pub, obviously) was to a Chinese Temple.

Totally bonkers.

Merry Christmas!