The first thing on my cards were the Wats(Temples).Started off with Wat Arun on a hot and humid afternoon. Best way to go is by the river taxi on the Chao Phraya River(Just at the exit of Saphan Taksin BTS).Gives you good feel of Thai life style ..People..And a whiz through the main city. You don't feel like being in Venice but it is definitely worth to check out this way. Fast and Economic.
The Feet are done intricately with Mother of Pearl, depicting the 108 forms of godly things birds to umbrellas(Royal Insignia of Thailand).
As evening set, we hopped back by the river again and set to MBK shopping mall. This is a HUGE flea market given a cosmetic makeover. Shopping here is real fun and exhausting. If you are shopaholic, this is one of the place to just do the binge thing in Bangkok. 8-storeyed and numerous stalls .You bet you cant cover them all in single go.It is one of the places in Bangkok to get all the 'real fake' designer stuff.They are just cool.Moneywise too, if you know your bargaining well.
The next day , we set off early morning to Pattaya for a day trip. The Buses out of Ekamai Bus terminal are comfortable and fast 2 Hours,we are the next-most-famous city of Thailand,Pattaya. Though famous for its nightlife, we just confined ourselves to the day to check out the near by islands Ko Lan.It is not that great but worth paying a visit. Parasailing is popular.
Evening was at Mini Siam, a 1:25 scaled miniature monument park with all the Leaning Towers and Mt.Rushmores done well. It has good replication of Thailand on the other side too.So stroll through to feel "It's a small World!".It is good and must visit if you are a photo enthusiast ,you can cover the world in flat 80 minutes with your camera.We hauled over to Bangkok by the night bus.
Bangkok and Gems are synonymous. As much is the quality of the gems, the chances of getting duped by touts is also good enough.Check out the Gem Factory.It is ISO recognized...So prices are bit high but you can be assured that you are getting at least what you think you are buying!
In the temple sits a replica of the Angkor Wat temple. Wow!I almost got the shock. Siam Reap..where Angkor Wat is... literally means 'Thai defeated'. The Thais ruled over Khmer empire for 3 years or so.The Then King Jayavarman-VII defeated the Thais and rebuilt the Angkor Wat. The Thais,on the other hand, built this replica back in their palace grounds as a symbol of their conquest over Khmer empire.What a retribution!They have a replica that inherently points they are defeated.I can cook controversy!!! You begin feeling Thais and Khmer empires had this succession of Hindu Kings. Rama dynasty for the Thais and the Jayavarman (fibonacci) dynasty for the Khmer.The Thais love and revere their King and Queen so much that everywhere I could see people wearing yellow and blue shirts,all in honour of the birthday of King and Queen.
The Grand palace is just adjacent to the temple.The Royal Family does not live here anymore and the interiors are not open to public either.It has Thai and Victorian mix of architecture.
Must to do is to get a snap with the white hat donned soldier who looks like a mannequin .Everyone takes a snap and he does not even twitch or smile!(Of Course! Status Quo is He is in the Army Now!)
A trip to Thailand , with all the shopping binges and temple hopping, is incomplete without getting an authentic Thai massage. It is the sign off for Thailand.A unique experience to get your body twisted out gently like cake dough. For anything more, I leave that to your senses.
I hope you enjoyed reading my travelogue about Bangkok. Do leave your comments.Pulls me up to post more of my jaunts.
Love To Travel and Explore(L.T.T.E. for short)
Sunny