Bangkok--Wat Arun, Temple of the Dawn

We finally made it to the site that has created so many dawn and dusk silhouettes.

I was grateful I did not have to come here at dawn!

Here, we discovered that the tower was decorated with cut plates and other decorative pottery!

And, there were steps. Lots of them.

The stairs to the first platform were very normal.

There, we saw 4 smaller spires housing statues.

Then we ascended the next flight of steps which were steeper, but still very manageable.

But when we got to the third and steepest flight of steps, we realized we were in for a thrilling climb!

This last stage was tiring and vertigo inducing, even for Monica who is not afraid of heights!

Aria is stealing a peek down the steep incline while Ian is commiserating with other winded tourists.

Ian knows no stranger.

The view up there was worth the climb.

On the back side of the temple, we saw a complex of buildings that are still likely used by monks.

We took numerous images of the building before descending.

"This is your captain speaking. Thank you for flying Wat Arun Airways (aka WAA!). We have begun our descent. Please face the stairs, with hand on the railing. Move one foot or hand at a time, and do NOT look down! We will be on the ground shortly, and thank you for..."

"WAA! I told you NOT TO LOOK DOWN!" Oops, too late!

See them human labor laws in Asia are just not the same... we see here how them buildings are held up!

I wonder who the employee of the month is?!!

Aria: "Dad, I am so, like *gasp* glad I made it down from that tower!"

"Hey Ian, whatcha lookin' at?"

"Oh nothing..." Ian says as he scratches himself...

Dwarfed by the tower.

What *we* just climbed!

It was getting late, and we had to meet uncle Heng for dinner.

~ Shien