When I was living in Thailand, I wanted to spend a day in Bangkok for my birthday. At this time, I needed it after all the craziness of my arrival there and managing all the papers, and at this time, it was not done yet). I left Pattaya to the airport by bus on Friday (and this is not expensive: 120 baths, which is less than $4 for 2 hours ride). So after a bus ride, the skyline train and the subway, I’ve finally arrived at the Airbnb on the 21st floor. This place had an incredible view of Bangkok with all the lights in the buildings).
On Saturday, I decided to go to the Grand Palace and to see the Wat Pho. I first stop at the Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha), where you can see an impressive 3 meters tall and 5, 5 tonne solid gold Buddha image, gleaming like gold. Sculpted in the graceful Sukhotai style, the model was discovered some 60 years ago beneath a stucco/plaster exterior when it fell from a crane while being moved to a new building within the temple compound.
It has been theorized that the covering was added to protect it from marauding hordes, either during a late Sukhotai period or later in the Ayuthaya period when the city was under site by the Burmese. The temple itself is said to date from the early 13th century.
Then I tried to walk to the Grand Palace, and instead of going to North West, I went to the South. I ended near the river where some people tried to sell me a little cruise on the river for 1500 bahts (totally crazy!!!). I found a touristic boat that was stopping on the main attraction (the flower market, Wat Arun (a fantastic temple that is more white with a lot of mosaics) and the Grand Palace (for 50 baths).
To enter to the Grand Palace, you need to have clothes which covered your legs and arms, and of course, if you don’t have it, you have to buy pants and an appropriate tee-shirt (for a price which is almost five times more than the shop outside ), my tee-shirt was not suitable, so I bought one outside. My first impression was they are just getting as much money as they could from all the tourists (and if you are Thai, you don’t pay the entrance if you aren’t, it is 500 baths ($15). When you enter, the first compound is referred to the Wat Para Kaew (the temple of the Emerald Buddha), the former residence of the thai monarch, the Grand Palace.
This ground was consecrated in 1782, the first year of Bangkok rule. The 94.5-hectare grounds had more than 100 buildings that represent 200 years of royal history and architectural experimentation. You can see covered walls that are decorated with the murals of the Ramakian. It was originally painted during the reign of Rama I (1782-1809), which depicts the Hindu epic, the Ramayana spa 178 panels that describes the struggles of Rama to rescue his kidnapped wife Sita.
Except for an anteroom here and there, the buildings of the Grand Palace are now used by the king only for certain ceremonial occasions, such as Coronation Day, and are mostly off-limits ot visitors. Formerly, thai kings housed their considerable harems in the inter place area, which was guarded by combat-trained female sentries.
The buildings are just amazing, so many colors and details. You can feel it is too much to see at one time (but trust me with this many tourists I don’t’ want to visit that place again). I was lucky because the rain starts (thanks to the rainy season) and it was so much more impressive with fewer tourists, and I finally enjoy the moment there!
Then I decided to visit the Wat Pho (with the reclining Buddha). When I arrived at this place, it was so quiet and almost no people (awesome!!!!). The rambling grounds of Wat Pho cover 8 hectares (with the monastic facilities). The temple compound is also the national headquarters for the teaching and preservation of traditional Thai medicine, including Thai massage, a mandate legislated by Rama III when the tradition was in danger of extinction. The famous massage school has two massage pavilions located within the temple area (and other rooms within the training facility outside the temple).
The Reclining Buddha is modeling around a brick core 46 m long and 15 m high and finished in plaster and gold leaf. Wat Pho’s Reclining Buddha is an imposing reminder of the Buddha’s passing into nirvana (the Buddha’s death). On his feet, we can see the 108 auspicious lak-sa-na, the physical characteristics of the Buddha are depicted on the soles of the feet of the Reclining Buddha.
Then I retook the boat down South on the Mae Nam Chao Praya river (and I even took a local boat for 15 baths ) and back to the Airbnb (with a little confusion with the trains…but I did it!!!)
Then to celebrate my birthday, I went to one of the Rooftop to enjoy the view!!!
Bangkok is a big town with a lot of pollution and not so many parks (only a few where you can see these big lizards ), and it is always so noisy. It was an exciting weekend, but I will probably come back to discover more temples and enjoy other parks.
