Wat Bang Phra

Wat Bang Phra

Wat Bang Phra

On my recent trip to Bangkok one of the main objectives was to visit Wat Bang Phra and get a Sak Yant tattoo, also known as a sacred tattoo. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending how how you look at it, we arrived at Wat Bang Phra just 2 days before the huge tattoo festival was to take place. This meant that the normally quiet Wat had a few hundred people in attendance on the day which would be a lead up to the some 40,000 people that would be attending the tattoo festival on the weekend.

Wat Bang Phra is renowned as the place to get Sak Yant or sacred tattoos and they are given daily by the monks at the Wat. On this day and the week preceding the Tattoo festival many people come to have tattoos done as well as have previous tattoos re-blessed or recharged. To Thai people these tattoos don’t just represent traditional Buddhist images but they believe them to hold power and protection over the wearer. Once the Sak Yant is given the monk then blows a blessing into the tattoo bringing it to life and giving it power.

Most Sak Yant wearers return to Wat Bang Phra or other temples yearly to have their tattoos re-blessed by the monks. For a more detailed look at the Sak Yant including video please look at Sak Yant Thai Tattoo.

Well, as I said this was a very busy week for Wat Bang Phra and it didn’t look like getting my Sak Yant would be in the cards this trip but we spent an amazing morning walking around the Wat and through the throngs of the faithful taking a lot of pictures. I need to  thank Catherine, my gracious host,  from Women Learning Thai and her driver Khun Pissout for taking me to the Wat and for a wonderful day of sight seeing.

My next trip to Bangkok will hopefully find me again at Wat Bang Phra and getting a sacred Buddhist tattoo but until then you can enjoy the photos below and over 200 pictures of this trip in the Wat Bang Phra Gallery.

Wat Bang Phra Photos

Wat Bang Phra Wat Bang Phra Wat Bang Phra

Wat Bang Phra Wat Bang Phra Wat Bang Phra

Wat Bang Phra Wat Bang Phra Wat Bang Phra

Wat Bang Phra Wat Bang Phra Wat Bang Phra

Wat Bang Phra Wat Bang Phra Wat Bang Phra

Wat Bang Phra Wat Bang Phra Wat Bang Phra

Wat Bang Phra

 

talensig

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9 Responses to Wat Bang Phra
  1. Catherine
    April 4, 2011 | 3:56 pm

    Excellent, you got a pig pic :-)

    I didn’t expect there to be so many people at the temple – but maybe I should have? It was a great day nonetheless.

    I’m now off to see the rest of your wonderful Wat Bang Phra photos… (I can’t resist good pics!)
    Catherine recently posted..Teaser- The Interpreter’s Journal- How it StartedMy Profile

    • Talen
      April 4, 2011 | 4:25 pm

      Cat, I think we both should have expected that many people…oh well, next trip we will get the tattoo work done :) There is a picture of your ass in the mix of photos as well :P

  2. Catherine
    April 4, 2011 | 5:16 pm

    Talen. Sweetie. I know the lens you brought and I’m seriously doubting it was big enough for my butt ;-)
    Catherine recently posted..Teaser- The Interpreter’s Journal- How it StartedMy Profile

    • Talen
      April 4, 2011 | 6:04 pm

      Had two lenses and I can change em fast :P

      Nah, no ass pics but I did inadvertently got a back of the head shot :)

  3. Catherine
    April 4, 2011 | 6:12 pm

    Well, I’d say that I have a big head too… but… :-D

    I hope you didn’t get your latest illness from drinking that naff water? It was nasty looking stuff. And it had chewy lumps to boot!
    Catherine recently posted..Teaser- The Interpreter’s Journal- How it StartedMy Profile

    • Talen
      April 4, 2011 | 7:00 pm

      Cat, the chewy clumps added texture :) nah my recent illness is just as it seems…my tonsils exacting revenge.

  4. Snap
    April 5, 2011 | 9:57 pm

    Talen, wonderful photos…I especially like the one of Rahu (third one down on the right) Interesting story attached that character. I can’t wait to see the photo of Catherine’s ass, just as interesting I bet!

    • Talen
      April 6, 2011 | 2:57 pm

      Snap, Rahu is one of my favorites and indeed an interesting story. Evil demons corrupted my computer files and stole Cat’s ass…pity.

  5. Clement
    April 22, 2011 | 9:23 pm

    Greetings from Hong Kong.

    I am planning to go to Wat Bang Phra to have tattoo in coming May. May I know how you get there from Bangkok? Also, how much will they charge for the tattoo?

    Regards,
    Clement