Lampoo Ocean

  Bangkok is full of contrasts — golden temple spires rising beside steel-and-glass towers, busy streets just a few steps from quiet riverside alleys. Along the western bank of the Chao Phraya River stands Wat Arun, or the Temple of Dawn, a landmark whose beauty changes with the light. Its central spire, covered in tiny porcelain tiles and seashells, catches the sun at every angle. The effect is most breathtaking at sunrise, when the first light turns the mosaics into a shimmering palette of gold, cream, and pastel. The origins of Wat Arun go back to the Ayutthaya era, when it was known as Wat Makok, named after the surrounding village. In 1768, after the fall of Ayutthaya, King Taksin established Thonburi as the new capital. Arriving at the temple at dawn, he was so moved by the way it glowed in the early light that he renamed it Wat Chaeng — the Temple of the Dawn. The temple’s famous central tower took shape during the reign of King Rama II and was completed under King Rama III....