Looking down a street from the bus |
Wat Po, home of the reclining buddah |
Reclining Buddah |
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A temple at Wat Po |
On to WatSuthat and Wat Ratchaborphit |
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Boat ride on on Thonburi Klong (canal) and visit to Royal Barge Museum |
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Wat Arun. It's the star of many a "visit Thailand" poster. Perhaps a better known symbol of Bangkok than the Grand Palace. It's Wat Arun, "the Temple of the Dawn." Unfortunately, being a cover model has its drawbacks, and the temple is probably a little too popular for its own good, but it's still such an outstanding monument that it's worth a visit.
The towering prang with its four smaller siblings was started by Rama II in the early part of the 19th century, and completed by his successor Rama III. The temple in which the prang sits is actually much older. It dates from the Ayuthaya period. During King Taksin's reign, just before the founding of Bangkok, the temple served as part of his palace. |
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Wat Arun |
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Boat Ride on Maeklong River and Ampawa Canal |
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Dumnernsadwak Floating Market |
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Rose Garden Lunch and Show |
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Grand Palace |
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For just about 150 years, Bangkok's Grand Palace was not only the home of the King and his court, but also the entire administrative seat of government. Within the crenelated walls were the country's war ministry, state departments, and even the mint. Thai Kings stopped living in the palace full time around the turn of the twentieth century, but the complex remains the seat of power and spiritual heart of the Thai kingdom. |
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Our fearless leader -- Ketsara |
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On the way to Jim Thompson House |
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Service at a wat, I forget which one
Click to hear chanting |
Pak Klong Talard flower market |
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Rice padding enroute to north |
