Bangkok

1st to 5th August 2007

Wat Phra Kwae

Well I finally made it to Bangkok after an 11 hour flight. Arrived at around 1600 local with another 40 minute wait in a queue to get through immigration and passport control. I decided to go for a taxi to get my hotel. Well it all started out OK until we hit the rush hour Bangkok traffic. It took another 2 hours from the airport before I finally arrived at my hotel - The Viengtai Hotel, just one block from Khao San Road and within walking distance of the Grand Palace - definitely recommend it to anyone coming out to Bangkok.

Anyway, first full day (2nd Aug), I decided to walk to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha). Half-way round my camera battery started playing up and was needing charged. Aaagggh!!! I then decided to walk to the shops to see if I could buy another battery, 40 minutes later I arrived at the shops. Dodging the cars, buses, tuk tuks and mopeds is a dangerous job along with the pollution they chug out, it's a bit like the Wacky races. By luck I managed to find a Canon shop on the way and they had a battery in stock - Yippee!! and it had a bit of juice in it so that I could take a few more pictures.

Mural of Grand Palace

The next day visited the Golden Mount, about 300 steps to the top - glad I had plenty of water with me. The views of the City was amazing. I carried onto Jim Thompson's house, an American who came to Thailand and started the silk trade. After that I hopped on board the Sky Train and MRT (underground - much cleaner and more efficient than London). I booked a package deal to Kanchanaburi, Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang (Laos) all at a very good rate, including transfers, accommodation and some meals.

The following few days I visited a few more Wats and temples - Pho with the reclining buddha, and Ratchabophit and journeyed on a long boat along the Chao Phraya river and the Khlongs - Think James Bond in A Man with the Golden Gun. I also walked along the Khao San Road at night - plenty of cheap stalls , restaurants, clubs etc

Entrance to Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kwae

Anyway that's what I've been upto the past few days in Bangkok, next stop Kanchanaburi and the Bridge on the River Kwai.

I will post some pictures later when I figure out how!!

All the Best

Duncan

Wat Phra Kwae 2

Wat Phra Kwae 3

Royal Pantheon at Wat Phra Kwae

Royal Pantheon at Wat Phra Kwae 2

Royal Pantheon at Wat Phra Kwae 3

Part of Royal Pantheon - Wat Phra Kwae

Emerald Buddha

Grand Palace

Grand Palace 2

Bangkok15

Chao Phraya River

Democracy Building

Wat Ratchanadda

Bangkok skyline

View from the Golden Mount of Bangkok City

Jim Thompson's House

Jim Thompson's Garden

Jim Thompson's House 2

Original artwork for production of silk crafts

Bangkok shopping mall and traffic

Wat Ratchabophit

Bangkok bus - Disney style

Reclining Buddha - Wat Pho

Reclining Buddha - Wat Pho

Reclining Buddha - Wat Pho

Wat Pho

Wat Pho 2

Wat Pho 3

Buddhas at Wat Pho

Main Buddha at Wat Pho

Khao San Road

Khao San Road 2

The Giant Swing

Cruising the Khlongs

Floating Market on the Khlong

Fish on the Khlong

Long boat on the Khlong

Building on the Khlong

Cruising along the Khlong on a longboat

Wat Arun

Veingtai Hotel