BASKING IN THE SUN OF BANGKOK
Bangkok – Day 4
Grand Palace
Grand PalaceAfter the same old hotel breakfast – (the pastries are delicious!), we headed to the Grand Palace. Ah Lek took us around and gave us a brief history of the majestic building.
It rained for the first time, after 4 days we were at Pattaya/Bangkok. We walked around Grand Palace in our rain coats and using umbrellas.
The Grand Palace complex was established in 1782 and it houses not only the royal residence and throne halls, but also a number of government offices as well as the renowned temple of the Emerald Buddha. It covers an area of 218,000 square metres and is surrounded by four walls, 1,900 metres in length.
After King Rama I’s ascension to the throne in 1782 the palace was built. Prior to this, the royal palace and centre of administration had been located in Thonburi, on the west side of the Chao Phraya River. For various reasons, the new king considered the former capital to be unsuitable and decided to establish a new capital on the other side of the river. By his royal command, a new palace was built to serve not only as his residence but also as the site of some administrative offices. The royal compound has been known since then as the Grand Palace. The two earliest structures erected within the complex were the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall and the Phra Maha Monthian.
We were not allowed to photograph the Emerald Buddha’s Shrine. One thing amazing about this Emerald Buddha is that, the fact it was carved from a block of green jade and was first discovered in 1434 in a stupa in Chiang Rai. At that time the image was covered with plaster and was thought to be an ordinary Buddha’s Image. Later, the abbot who had found the image noticed the plaster on the nose had flaked off, revealing the green stone underneath. The Abbot initially thought the stone was emerald and thus the legend of the Emerald Buddha image began.
(an excerpt taken from the Guide to Grand Palace – where you would get a copy if you visit the Grand Palace – and paid 250 baht for the entry fee).
They even made three seasonal costumes (summer, rainy season and winter) to clothe the Emerald Buddha.
Again, I didn’t have enough time to take pics in the Grand Palace. @#$%^&*
I frantically took pictures due to time constraints and was told to wait at the Emerald Buddha Shrine in 10 minutes’ time. I exceeded the time limit, and went back 10 minutes late. To my horror, no one was waiting at the designated area. I thought I was screwed big time and hastily made my way out to the external compound of the Grand Palace.
I switched on my cell phone in hope that my tour leader would give me a call, but was bombarded with useless messages the night before. I kept my phone off most of the time since an asshole, knowing that I am overseas, would call me from Malaysia just to escalate my phone bill. @#$%^&*
It was then, I got the text message from my sister about the suicide that I stopped looking for them. I sat down momentarily under the shade of a tree, overlooking the majestic Grand Palace and wept.
Cha-Tu-Chak
We were each given 200 baht as lunch allowance. We decided to eat first before we go on a frenzy shopping spree.
Cha-Tu-Chak, with 9,000 stalls and shops, you would get ANYTHING you want from here at a fraction of a price.
I didn’t buy much apart from some small souvenirs for friends. Actually, I was in a solemn mood since I had gotten the suicide news.
I decided to give the balance of 388 baht to Ah Lek as a token of appreciation to have caused him so much agony for asking too many questions.
I bought myself 1 bottle of Raspberry Absolut Vodka, 1 Jack Daniels’, 1 Bombay Sapphire and 2 Johnnie Walker. I bought 2 packs of ciggies for dad.
This sums up my memorable trip to Bangkok-Pattaya. I enjoyed it tremendously despite the lack of time to take pictures. Since I had made myself a Thai friend, I will definitely make my way to Bangkok again, one fine day.
Trip Package: RM1,300/-
Shopping allowance: RM475/-
Tips to Ah Lek: RM38/-
Booze + ciggies: RM482/-
Time spent with closest buddies: Priceless
It rained for the first time, after 4 days we were at Pattaya/Bangkok. We walked around Grand Palace in our rain coats and using umbrellas.
The Grand Palace complex was established in 1782 and it houses not only the royal residence and throne halls, but also a number of government offices as well as the renowned temple of the Emerald Buddha. It covers an area of 218,000 square metres and is surrounded by four walls, 1,900 metres in length.
After King Rama I’s ascension to the throne in 1782 the palace was built. Prior to this, the royal palace and centre of administration had been located in Thonburi, on the west side of the Chao Phraya River. For various reasons, the new king considered the former capital to be unsuitable and decided to establish a new capital on the other side of the river. By his royal command, a new palace was built to serve not only as his residence but also as the site of some administrative offices. The royal compound has been known since then as the Grand Palace. The two earliest structures erected within the complex were the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall and the Phra Maha Monthian.We were not allowed to photograph the Emerald Buddha’s Shrine. One thing amazing about this Emerald Buddha is that, the fact it was carved from a block of green jade and was first discovered in 1434 in a stupa in Chiang Rai. At that time the image was covered with plaster and was thought to be an ordinary Buddha’s Image. Later, the abbot who had found the image noticed the plaster on the nose had flaked off, revealing the green stone underneath. The Abbot initially thought the stone was emerald and thus the legend of the Emerald Buddha image began.
(an excerpt taken from the Guide to Grand Palace – where you would get a copy if you visit the Grand Palace – and paid 250 baht for the entry fee).
They even made three seasonal costumes (summer, rainy season and winter) to clothe the Emerald Buddha.
Again, I didn’t have enough time to take pics in the Grand Palace. @#$%^&*
I frantically took pictures due to time constraints and was told to wait at the Emerald Buddha Shrine in 10 minutes’ time. I exceeded the time limit, and went back 10 minutes late. To my horror, no one was waiting at the designated area. I thought I was screwed big time and hastily made my way out to the external compound of the Grand Palace.
I switched on my cell phone in hope that my tour leader would give me a call, but was bombarded with useless messages the night before. I kept my phone off most of the time since an asshole, knowing that I am overseas, would call me from Malaysia just to escalate my phone bill. @#$%^&*
It was then, I got the text message from my sister about the suicide that I stopped looking for them. I sat down momentarily under the shade of a tree, overlooking the majestic Grand Palace and wept.
Cha-Tu-Chak
We were each given 200 baht as lunch allowance. We decided to eat first before we go on a frenzy shopping spree.
Cha-Tu-Chak, with 9,000 stalls and shops, you would get ANYTHING you want from here at a fraction of a price.
I didn’t buy much apart from some small souvenirs for friends. Actually, I was in a solemn mood since I had gotten the suicide news.
I decided to give the balance of 388 baht to Ah Lek as a token of appreciation to have caused him so much agony for asking too many questions.
I bought myself 1 bottle of Raspberry Absolut Vodka, 1 Jack Daniels’, 1 Bombay Sapphire and 2 Johnnie Walker. I bought 2 packs of ciggies for dad.
This sums up my memorable trip to Bangkok-Pattaya. I enjoyed it tremendously despite the lack of time to take pictures. Since I had made myself a Thai friend, I will definitely make my way to Bangkok again, one fine day.
Trip Package: RM1,300/-
Shopping allowance: RM475/-
Tips to Ah Lek: RM38/-
Booze + ciggies: RM482/-
Time spent with closest buddies: Priceless
Comments
Kat | Homepage | 09.16.05 – 1:34 am | #
sounds like a great trip still. glad that you had fun, and a lot of quality time with your good friends.
emma | 09.16.05 – 2:03 am | #
whoa,
Your photography skillz are amazing!
Great picture blog.
mob1900 | Homepage | 09.16.05 – 4:24 am | #
thanks gina for this blog. i will be going on a company to bangkok on 30th september and all this information would be really useful.
victoria | 09.16.05 – 12:02 pm | #
wow, ramai buat trip ker Bangkok plak!!!, cool
VJ | 09.16.05 – 1:27 pm | #
glad u hv discovered a gem near u, instead of the overated sinagpore.
ps: who is wy? i think she commented in my blog once…i noticed coz, i dont get many visitors anyway, hehe.
keatix | Homepage | 09.16.05 – 4:17 pm | #
Kat: Yes, never ever go on tour package in Bangkok. It is a good place for you to get lost in and absorb the culture and opportunity to take nice shots at your own leisure.
emma: It was an indeed fun trip. Actually, it doesn’t matter where you go. It is the company that counts.
mob1900: This is just a result of 10 mins’ picture taking time. Imagine if I have the entire one hour.. the effect would be better. Sigh.
victoria: No problem. Glad I could be of help.
VJ: I think Bangkok government should pay me something for promoting their city!
keatix: Singapore is a nice place too. A bit metropolitan. Not many places to take cultural pictures. As for Bangkok, the architecture is unique and magnificent.
I am alright. Was a bit lost when I first got the text. I just don’t know what to do.
Gina | Homepage | 09.17.05 – 1:27 am | #
Ooops.. WY is one of my best buddy. A girl. Single and available. Interested? e-mail me, I will give you the details. *wink*
Gina | Homepage | 09.17.05 – 1:28 am | #