Wat Arun is far less touristy than Wat Phra Kaew. When we went there it was deserted. It's also far more substantial: the glittering fantasyland of the temple complex seems garish and shallow compared to this masterpiece, made from shards of porcelain that had been the discarded ballast of ships from China.

Thanks to the artwork of Shawn Bridges (not that one!), we were reminded that this temple has a greater theological meaning as well: those broken bits were considered trash by some. But to see the beauty in those shattered shards, and then by putting them together the right way make them into a vast temple! We spent an afternoon marvelling, and pondering the work of God's hands in our broken lives.

Did Maurice Sendak visit this temple?

Click on these to get gorgeous huge detailed pictures of this amazing place. Yes, that's Catherine in there.