BANGKOK
WALKING ROUTE IN BANGKOK
- The Democracy Monument
- Royal Pavilion Mahajetsadabadin
- Loha Prasat Metal Castle & Wat Ratcha Natdaram Worawihan
- Wat Thepthidaram Worawihan
- Golden Mount
- Wat Suthat and The Giant Swing.
- Wat Ratchabopit SathitMahasimaram.
The Democracy Monument
It is a monument with four wings of the monument representing the air force, army, navy and police.
Royal Pavilion Mahajetsadabadin
Loha Prasat Metal Castle & Wat Ratcha Natdaram Worawihan
With 36 meters high and 37 metal spires, which means 37 virtues toward enlightenment.
Wat Thepthidaram Worawihan
Some locals could tell you that some temples are closed when isn’t true. They will suggest you to get a tuk-tuk to another temple (probably they get some commission for this tuk-tuk). Trust yourself and the info previously checked by internet, and mort import, follow your common sense.
The Golden Mount
The price is 20 bahts per person. (0.5 euros). The best moment to visit is before sunset. You have to climb up 300 steps to get the top and enjoy the wonderful panoramic 360º view of the city with a height of 76.5 meters. It is open from 7.30am to 5.30pm.
Atop the Golden Mount you will find a kiosk to buy water, orange juice and ice creams! There is also a souvenir shop.
Wat Suthat and The Giant Swing
Wat Suthat is one of the largest and oldest temples in Bangkok.
It is famous for its wonderful roofline, a huge statue of a golden Buddha, excellent frescoes and in front of it a giant swing.
Go behind the big golden Buddha and check its back, wonderful!
Wat Ratchabopit SathitMahasimaram.
It is a little temple not so much important, but walking to here you will pass through some streets where locals are doing daily life.
THE GRAND PALACE
Dazzling and spectacular. From 1782, it was during 150 years the home of the King of Thailand. The architecture and details are amazingly impressive.
Opening hours are daily from 08:30 to 15:30. Admission to the main area where is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Central Court of the Grand Palace is 500 bahts (around 14 euros).
It is important to dress correctly. Men have to wear long pants and shirts with sleeves (no tank tops and no bare feet, so not possible flip flops or sandals without socks. Women have to cover shoulders, non transparent clothes. In case you don’t bring the correct clothes, there is a room next to the entrance where you can get some clothes for the visit with giving a money deposit.
«Advice» Inside the palace area and before the entrance to the most important area there is shop where you should get some water to fight with the heat. We also got some fruit to get energy. Try to go early morning because usually are full of people which isn’t good to take pictures.
WAT PHO – TEMPLE OF RECLINING BUDDHA
Welcome to Wat Pho (วัดโพธิ์), the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Located next to the Grand Palace by 10 minutes walking.
Here, the 46 meters Buddha is laying down waiting for you. Admission is 100bahts (around 2.5 euros) and you can visit any time between 08:00 and 17:00.
It is also a great place to get a traditional Thai massage. Wat Pho is often considered the leading school of massage in Thailand. The large grounds of Wat Pho contain more than 1000 Buddha images in total, most from the ruins of the former capitals Ayuthaya and Sukhothai.
One of my favorite pictures. Big Buddhist monk dressing a little Buddhist monk.
While exploring the temple we found a Buddhist. We stayed listening to the wisdom of the Buddhist monk, talking about reincarnation.
KHAO SAN ROAD
This place is one of my favorites of the world. It is like the gathering spot for all the backpackers in Asia, full of travelers from everywhere around the world, willing to enjoy and have fun! This is also one of the most diverse streets I have ever seen, you can do many things as eat scorpion, drink fruit juices, make tattoos, paint your hair, taste crocodile, have shots, dinner pad thai and much more! At night Khao San Road become a great party in the street. I love Khao San Road!
SCORPION IN KHAO SAN ROAD
Something very curious in Khao San Road is there are scorpions everywhere to be eaten. Will you try?
There are also many other delicatessens. One of best things of travelling is trying different flavours.
Scorpion…YES OR NOT?
VIDEO EATING SCORPION
Will I be able to eat the scorpion? Would you be able to do it? Let’s go !! It feels like crunchy and it tastes like sand and desert
SKY BAR – LEBUA AT STATE TOWER
Where was recorded the movie of Hangover 2. The rooftop has diverse areas and bars. The views at night are not awesome but yes the ambience. The best views here are during the day. The place is expensive comparing normal bars. See ticket. One beer was 400 bahts (10 euros).
WALKING, BOAT AND SKYTRAIN ROUTE IN BANGKOK
From Khao San Road follow this walking route to arrive to the Chao Phraya river and then get a local boat.
One of the most interesting places of the walking route is the Temple of Wat Tri Thotsathep. The main feature of the temple is a 32 meter high, 10 meter wide standing Buddha known as Luang Pho To or Phrasiariyametri. The topknot of the Buddha image contains a relic of Lord Buddha brought from Sri Lanka and took over 60 years to complete.
This colossal Buddha image is believed to have power of bringing merit. Many Thais as well as tourists visit the temple everyday to seek blessings of the Divinity and to make various offerings at the feet of the statue in order to mark their devotion
The normal daily ferry is much more cheaper than the tourist ferries. The price was around 0.2 euros. The journey and views are amazing, and you feel like a local. Once you get to the river ask to the people to get the boat going south the Chap Praya river. The google map below shows the route, where I get the ferry and where I drop off.
Check the schedules and ask the locals.
By the local boat I had a wonderful trip by the river and I stopped at “Central Pier/Sathorn (Taksin)”. Here I got the dark green line (called BTS2) of the sky train at the stop called “Saphan Taksin”. I stopped in the “Siam” stop. See map below.
With the Sky Train you may see how the city flows and its many contrasts.
AYUTTHAYA
Interesting one day trip excursion from Bangkok, to discover the ancient capital of the Siam Kingdom, the former Thailand.