I was fortunate enough to be invited to attend the Royal Barge Procession in Bangkok last week on what was, unfortunately, a very overcast day. It was the first time the event has been held for five years, and was part of the celebrations to mark the king’s 85th birthday.

The Royal Barge Procession is one of the country’s grandest ceremonies but is rarely held and reserved for auspicious occasions. The ancient tradition, which is thought to date back to the 14^th century and the Ayutthaya period, died out in 1932 with the dissolution of Thailand’s absolute monarchy. However, it was revived in 1959 by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth king of the Chakri dynasty and the longest reigning monarch in Thai history.  During this time the event has only been held on 16 occasions.

The grand spectacle includes 51 historic barges and the 44-metre royal barge, known as the Narai Song Suban or golden swan which was constructed for HM King Bhumibol in 1994, all manned by 2,082 oarsmen.

The procession travels along the Chao Phraya, also known as the River of Kings, carrying the revered Buddha image, Phra Buddha Sihing, and members of the royal family stopping at Wat Arun where they present offerings of saffron robes, food and other necessities to monks.

Throughout the year, the collection of exquisitely carved boats can be seen at the Royal Barge Museum at Bangkok Noi.

Despite being based in Bangkok, I rarely find time to photograph the city. That has got to change as I recently signed a contract to do a book on the magical metropolis, know to locals as  Krung Thep. With the deadline clearly visible on the not too distant horizon, I forced myself away from the desk and spent an enjoyable morning in Chinatown and relaxed evening in a bar opposite Wat Arun. I can’t tell you how good it is to have a job that allows me to enjoy a beer and eat while working.

Wat Arun is one of the most photographed landmarks in Bangkok. The name means Temple of the Dawn, and the structure is comprised of one elongated prang or Khmer-style chedi surrounded by four smaller ones. The main tower is 82 metres high and features ornate decoration with mosaics made of porcelain and broken bone china. Unlike many of Bangkok’s other temples, this one looks better from a distance, especially when viewed from across the river. Despite its name, the best photographs of it are taken at sunset. Wat Arun is open every day from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Get off at Tha Tien Pier and take a ferry across the river.