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One evening during our stay in Bangkok, someone suggested visiting a temple known for its hundred resident monks. I mentioned that I was more interested in capturing the essence of daily life than seeing a hundred monks in a temple. Amusingly, at 6 a.m. the following morning, just around the corner from our hotel, I stumbled upon…a hundred monks. They were beginning their daily routines at Wat Bovoranives Vihara. It soon became clear that these routines are a vital part of Bangkok’s daily life.
The monks start their day at 4 a.m. with meditation and chanting. At 6 a.m., they gather outside the temple and walk barefoot around the neighborhood, receiving food offerings from the locals. By 8 a.m., they return to the temple and sit together for breakfast.