See, I\u2019m rather hard on headphones. Finally, while at Hawaii The Big Island, I just decided that, basically, if I can\u2019t properly care them, then I don\u2019t deserve<\/em> to own Sennheisers. Now, my will has been broken \u2013 though at least I\u2019ve developed a plan by which I hope to make this the longest-lasting pair ever. I will notify you if that happens.<\/p>\n I failed, however, getting\u00a0 my camera repaired. Found a guy who said he could do it, but wanted 1,000 Baht for the job. Too steep for me; so the camera will alas continue to serve up the flawed images.<\/p>\n Some other goals have been fulfilled, some not. You\u2019d never believe how difficult it is to find unwaxed\/unflavoured floss in Asia! Checked every single shoppe in Siem Reap, for example; and so far no luck in Bangkok.<\/p>\n Anyways, continuing the project of getting \u2018round by bus rather than subway\/skytrain has proved fruitful, if time consuming. I love riding the buses in this city, even if traffic is often at a complete standstill, and the buses seem rarely to end up where I\u2019d expected them to.<\/p>\n I did to-day, Friday, finally make it to Wat Arun. This is one of the most famous temples in the city, but I\u2019d not previously managed to take it in. In a word: \u201cWow.\u201d In two words: \u201cGod damn<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n How to explain? It\u2019s kind of impossible to do so in words. But I\u2019m rather crestfallen, to be honest, at how poorly the pictures tell the thousands of words they\u2019re alleged to be able to tell. At any rate, I suppose they may give some sort of impression.<\/p>\n It\u2019s as though it\u2019d been designed by little kids, with materials sourced from the Ben Franklin (or perhaps even the Goodwill). And the effect is so stunningly incredible that one\u2019ll be practically holding one\u2019s breath for the duration of the visit.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t know why the Temple\u2019s shrine near to bowled me over upon first glimpse \u2013 certainly, nothing one will see in this photo can explain it. But, it did.<\/p>\n Also a Chinese temple on the grounds, the inside of which is so beautiful one wants to just weep and weep. \u2026And then weep some more upon opening up the photographs. Oh, well; here\u2019s one that\u2019s okay.<\/p>\n And then<\/em> there\u2019re the Prang rising up.<\/p>\n Trust me, they\u2019re so gorgeous glimmering in the noonday sun, camera be damned! But to get in for a nice gander, it means forking over 50 Baht\u2026and following the rules.<\/p>\n Really, \u201cDo not dangle any doll,\u201d is one of the four most important messages to impart? Weird, yet somehow fascinating. In order to come all up into the Prang, must navigate stairs from right out of the Angkor handbook.<\/p>\n Yikes!; but it\u2019s worth the terror, as the view from up there is fairly enormous.<\/p>\n And here\u2019s the Grand Palace. (I\u2019ve yet to visit; someday, I shall.)<\/p>\n You\u2019ve seen chickenboy aplenty; but only in Arun (that I\u2019ve seen) will one see chickengirl.<\/em><\/p>\n Can one get a sense of just how tall<\/em> is the Central Prang? Probably not; but I can assure you that it\u2019s way<\/em> the fuck up there.<\/p>\n Walking around up there is one helluva experience.<\/p>\n![\"arun2\"](\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/arun2.jpg\" "\\"arun2\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n