Preserving For Posterity At Wat Paknam In Bangkok

Since Wat Paknam has been around since the 1500s, it has collected a few items along the way. Many things are on display in a museum area of the complex, a sort of personal Smithsonian-like romp through its own Wat history.

Welcome, come and see the treasures.

How did the Buddhist VIPs move around? Way back when, a nice pair of bullocks. More recently, a bullock-colored Mercedes Benz.

Plenty of classic Indiana Jones-like cabinets into which to peek.

Other exhibits, not so valuable. Old office equipment, as if the Wat could never throw anything away. Building big for the future, a massive 226 foot tall sitting Buddha taking form.

Back inside, more preserving today for tomorrow. And checking your messages.

Magical Wat Paknam In Bangkok

Wat Paknam is a major Royal Wat just across the Chao Phraya River from downtown Bangkok. It's been around since about the 1500s and enjoys major support from the Buddhist community. It shows in the sprawling complex, big museum with Wat artifacts and a massive Buddha statue currently under construction.

The unique, square-tiered main Stupa.

How rich is the place? Well, leave your gold leaf on a Buddha statue. So much bling, some Buddhas are still wrapped up.

Inside the main stupa is where it gets trippy. There's an amazing dome that's truly cosmic.

Inside another temple, a more traditional prayer space. Nice wall murals. Back at the dome, quite the light show.

Worth more than a moment of gazing and gawking. World's most impressive black light poster?