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As it happened, our own departure was now halted for more than an hour at the passport check window. The lines were extraordinarily long. I had never seen such a time-consuming control of the departing passengers’ passports.

Photo essay: Bangkok, Thailand

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...and female kinnorn --mythical creatures living in the caves in the foothills of Mount Krailas, the abode of the gods.

Photo essay: Bangkok, Thailand

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Next to them, there were several graceful sculptures of male.

Photo essay: Bangkok, Thailand

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More such demons held up the Gold Stupa (chedi) on their outstretched arms in the courtyard of the Temple.

Photo essay: Bangkok, Thailand

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Giant yaksa demons --mythical gods who had been enemies of religion before converting to Buddhism after hearing Buddha preach -- stood guard at the inner perimeter to prevent the entry of evil spirits.

Photo essay: Bangkok, Thailand

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The murals inside the hall of the Temple, Ron said, “are about the stories of Buddha before he became Buddha”.

Photo essay: Bangkok, Thailand

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Photo essay: Bangkok, Thailand

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There were cooking pots and facilities next to the main chapel

Photo essay: Bangkok, Thailand

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“That lion we brought from Cambodia and the Cambodians are not happy about this.”

Photo essay: Bangkok, Thailand

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There were also some buildings in European styles. One was a mixture of European and Thai motifs.

Photo essay: Bangkok, Thailand

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The multi-colored mosaic tiles of the many pillars were dazzling.

Photo essay: Bangkok, Thailand

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The gold of gilded Stupa.

Photo essay: Bangkok, Thailand

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Photo essay: Bangkok, Thailand

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Photo essay: Bangkok, Thailand

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An exhausted elderly seller of sandals was taking a nap, spread on the pavement just a few hundred yards from the Palace.

Photo essay: Bangkok, Thailand

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