Wat Pho

Our guide was delightful. He was truly a walking encyclopedia of Thai and Buddhist history. The number 9 is considered to be very good luck here (so is the number 13) and signifies many positive benefits. Without his guidance, we would have never counted the 99 ornate chedis (of every size, shape, color and motif). We would also have walked right by the “9” of most things (the layers in the umbrella, the lotus flowers going up the stuppa, the demons or men or Buddhas in a row and who knows what else). We also learned that though the primary disciples of Buddha were men, there were also some women.