Beautiful temple... can't help but compare it to...
I had the interesting experience of visiting Ho Phrakeo in Vientiane before seeing the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Thailand. It's amazing how two buildings with the same purpose can be so completely polar opposite. The differences between the two are immense.
You'll find that Ho Phrakeo is a quiet, dignified stone building rich with carvings and surrounded by simple, yet lush landscaping of native flowers and trees. There is an overlying feeling of serenity and quiet to the temple grounds that makes it an oasis in the middle of the city of Vientiane.
As a side note, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha has a Disney-ish feel to it, with glittering buildings in all different styles, topiaries, and swarms of pushy tourists. Make sure you take a big dose of patience and a bottle of water when you go visit that one.