Bangkok....part 1

Yes...you guessed right....there will be a second part also....just too much to write and add photo-wise...so will have to do 2.....

The hotel we chose was in the Pratunam district....Novotel Platinum....so central...great location...the airport link is a 10min walk, the river taxi stop is right outside....and the large fashion malls are also around the corner...as for the temple sites...a tuk tuk ride will take you right there.....at night....just outside the hotel are tons and tons of food stalls and tables and it is awesome...loved it...and yes of course we ate there...what a question...you have to eat there to get the experience....but lets start at the beginning....so my mom and i arrived late afternoon from Manila and kim would join us the next day....so what did we do the first day.....we took a tuk tuk and went to Wat Pho aka temple of the reclining buddah....also known for being the birthplace of traditional thai massage....here is a pic of the famous tuk tuks.....

So the first thing we did was to get ourselves a local guide, inside the temple (wat) that would explain some of the history to us.....here is a pic of me at the entrance

I must say in hindsight...it was the best decision to take a guide...i would not have known and appreciated so much....the first thing he asked me was...what day i was born....thursday....apparently my lucky colour is orange and my buddah is the meditating one...and i am peaceful, calm and honest...interesting....at the entrance there were 4 domes...each one of the first four kings paid for one...they are covered with chinese porcelain...impressive...the first image was just wow...gold domes...mosaic everywhere...colourful roofes...beautiful....then he showed us the traditional thai massage house where there is a well known school....we also visited places where people paid to have their ashes buried...inside buddahas....it was all so fascinating...loved it...it is the oldest temple in Bangkok and has over 1000 buddah images...here are some pics before i get to the famous one....

Wat pho houses the famous reclining buddah which is 46m long and 15m high...so impressive...wow....the feet of the buddah display 108 auspicious signs by which the buddah can be identified....from lotus flower, to horse to elephants etc....really beautiful....of course when you go inside these temples you have to have your shoulders and your knees covered....however...they are very good and have surongs for visitors....here some pics...the third pic is of the 108 auspicious symbols....

Here is a pic inside the temple area.....

After that my mom and tried a snack from street food...deep fried pork balls.....very nice...here a pic....

Ater that.....off we went to the hotel to change and down we went to the lobby for happy hour....half price cocktails...bellinis with peanuts and cashew nuts...what better way to start off our night.....view from hotel lobby stunning...so we loved it....and yes...i do have some pics...

Dinner....street food....grilled, salted fish, the famous green papaya salad and we were happy...we sat on plastic chairs and tables with toilet rolls as serviettes...what an experience...but just so much fun....food was excellento...little hot for my mother who was just gulping water and i was adding more chillie...hehe...divine...and yes...it i do have pics....and you know...so cheap...amazing...the second pic is the fish and the extra chillie sauce...so yummie....

Evening ended with some more Bellinis and then bed time...tomorrow another culture day in which, i was guessing, i would learn more and thus have to absorb more info....Grand Palace it was....which includes the temple...wat phra kaew....temple of the emerald buddah....but i think ill leave this for the next blog....there might actually be three parts to Bangkok......cheers for today....

 

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