Behind this languid smiling man are the mosaic covered walls of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The row of bells at the top of the picture tinkle in the light breeze. The Emerald Buddha was originally in Chang Rai and then Chang Mai in northern Thailand. It was captured by Laotian invaders and taken to Vientianne in the sixteenth century only to be recaptured and taken to Bangkok two hundred years later. It wears three different robes that are changed by the king, one for each season, rainy, hot and cool. When we were there it was about to be changed from rainy to cool. Just 30 degrees C and humid. The Buddha is not actually emerald but a large chunk of jade. Photography is not permitted inside the sanctuary where the Buddha lives so this is as close as we get photo wise. If you want to see him you have to go there :)