The central stupa soaring over 66 metres at Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan, simply called Wat Arun, calls for my attention. In broad daylight, fragments of seashells, porcelain and tiles shine from its body. Adorned with characters from Therawada Buddhism, the pointy stupa attracts tourists in hordes from Bangkok every day. However, the ‘tourist spot in Bangkok’ is just a secondary identity; primarily Wat Arun, also known as the ‘Temple of Dawn’, is a religious complex revered by the Thais. Racing back in time The area of Thailand has been continuously inhabited since the last 20,000 years, but the ‘Thai’ identity and civilization is recent. The term ‘Thai’ is coined from…