Bangkok- the word is enough to present a myriad of thoughts. Spirituality to Kings. Of Wats and Monks. Of Tuk-Tuks and Sleaze.Of Shopping and bargaining.Of MBK and Chaatuchak.One city that I waited for two and half years to explore ,just being an hour-haul from Singapore.This is a city that still adores and reveres its glorious history.A fusion of a Royal kingdom and a Modern city.Crazy,Noisy,Vivacious. Land of Happiness.Land of the White Elephants.Truly an experience to indulge.
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.
Wat Arun looks splendid on its own.Separated by the Chao Phraya River from the other Wats and the Grand Palace, it overlooks them gracefully as a testimony to the history of the 'Krung Thep'(as is bangkok known )
This was the first temple built to portray the glory of the Rama dynasty.What remains of the temple is grey structure bedecked with Chinese ceramic art over a phallic stupa.Truly a fusion between Chinese and Khmer architecture. The architecture is very similar to what you find around in this region. Temple with Tiers symbolising the concept of King being the incarnation of god or maybe even, the stages of ascension to spirituality.Hailed as the Temple of the Dawn ,an evening under its tutelage is spiritually endearing.We could get up the temple till the second level .
The top two levels are closed .You can bet the view would be absolutely stunning.Good to hire the guide(which we did not do as we entered through the "Exit" and exited through the "Entrance").
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This was the first temple built to portray the glory of the Rama dynasty.What remains of the temple is grey structure bedecked with Chinese ceramic art over a phallic stupa.Truly a fusion between Chinese and Khmer architecture. The architecture is very similar to what you find around in this region. Temple with Tiers symbolising the concept of King being the incarnation of god or maybe even, the stages of ascension to spirituality.Hailed as the Temple of the Dawn ,an evening under its tutelage is spiritually endearing.We could get up the temple till the second level ..jpg)
The top two levels are closed .You can bet the view would be absolutely stunning.Good to hire the guide(which we did not do as we entered through the "Exit" and exited through the "Entrance").Right across ,just like a "SIAM"ese twin,is the Wat Po. You need to shuttle between the river on another separate taxi. This one hops between Wat Po and Wat Arun. Wat Po , more known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, houses a majestic Buddha resting with a peaceful smile on his right hand.
The Feet are done intricately with Mother of Pearl, depicting the 108 forms of godly things birds to umbrellas(Royal Insignia of Thailand).
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The Feet are done intricately with Mother of Pearl, depicting the 108 forms of godly things birds to umbrellas(Royal Insignia of Thailand).
Being the Queens birthday week and a full moon day,we(My Mom and ME!) got lucky.The monks just finished their prayers for the Queens wellbeing in the sanctum sanctorum which houses the Golden Buddha .Pardon me. I can get exhausted with superlatives here. It is truly divine. A smiling Golden Buddha perched upon a high majestic throne lit around with oil wickers.
It pulls you to a different dimension of happiness.This part of the temple is only accessible to the monks. This is the most enthralling part of the trip.
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!
It pulls you to a different dimension of happiness.This part of the temple is only accessible to the monks. This is the most enthralling part of the trip.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!
The afternoon was at the complex of Wat Phra Keo(Temple of Emerald Buddha) and the Grand Palace of the Royal Thai Kingdom. The Wat Phra Keo is medley of architectures. You find Indian,Chinese,Khmer, Burmese,Thai styles mixed very vividly. Look Left..It is Thai.. Look right..It is Chinese.. Look ahead..It is Khmer.
As most temples in Bangkok, this is stunning too and more well maintained. The Main temple has three huge entrances done in three different styles and the motley is perfect.The mirror filigree work is one to check out on the main temple.The Emerald Buddha is not -very-big and open to public on all days.This temple is specially adored by the King.And the only one in Bangkok(or maybe Thailand) where no monks reside in the temple!
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!)
The next day was Saturday and the best place to check out is the WORLD'S LARGEST FLEA MARKET,Chaatuchak. It is enormous,32 acres of shopping .Crowdy,Noisy,Dusty and Mad shopping. Bargain like you never did. Shop till you die. This is the experience you will never ever get anywhere in the world. From antiques to household decoratives..To real fake designer clothes . From Pets to what-not in this market .Open only on the weekends,It is no exaggeration that you would find half the populace here on the weekend.Had a binge shopping experience from morning 8 till 6PM.For a shopaholic this is the Mecca of Southeast Asia.
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
PS: Of course, Try The "Vehicle of the Nation".Tuk Tuk. I missed out one on bargain.
And More!;)
And More!;)
