Bangkok "The City of Angels" !
Trip Start
Sep 04, 2007
1
110
123
Trip End
Sep 01, 2008
Bangkok,
Thailand
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Upon arriving in Bangkok, we learned that it's also known as the City of Angels! Wow! Here we thought Los Angeles has that distinction! A hectic 40 minute taxi ride from Suvarnabhumi Int'l Airport got us to the Holiday Inn Silom, our accommodation for the next three nights!
Yesterday, after checking into our hotel, we had enough daylight to walk down Silom Road and explore the Bangrak area around our hotel. Walking down Silom Rd to Charoen Krung Rd gave us a sense of what the next three days would bring! The sidewalks were crowded and streets somewhat chaotic with motorbikes weaving in and around vehicles, jostling for a better position!
Today, we left our hotel for a short twenty minute walk down Surasak Rd and then Sathorn Nua Rd to the Central Pier on the Chao Phraya River
Silom Rd & Charoen Krung Rd.
. The Chao Phraya River plays many roles in Thai life and is regarded as the principle artery of the nation. As it flows, the river carries with it the history and culture of the country!From the Central Pier, we boarded the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat. This would take us to nine different piers, providing access to Bangkok's most famous attractions many of which are in the Rattanakosin Island historic area! Old temples, palaces and communities along the Chao Phraya River banks tell us the river has provided livelihood for the people and led to the birth of a civilization!
We traveled along passing The Oriental Pier (#1), The Si Phraya Piers/River City Shopping (#3), Ratchawongse Pier/China Town (#5), Memorial Bridge Pier (#6) before disembarking at The Tien Pier/Wat Pho (#8). From this pier, it was only a short walk to the Wat Pho, Bangkok's oldest temple built in the 16th century and features the largest reclining Buddha and the largest collection of Buddha images!
Within walking distance of the Wat Pho and Chang Pier (#9) is the Grand Palace. Set over nearly 220,000 sqm, it's the former Royal Residence and is recognized of one of the most stunning architectural feats in Asia
Oriental Pier on the Chao Phraya River !
! It was all a bit overwhelming as we walked around gaping at the maze of temples, museums and gov't buildings. Proper clothing was required to gain entry to the Palace and respectful behavior was expected as a sign of respect for Thai culture!Wat Phra Kaeo or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha adjoins the Grand Palace on the common ground encompassing over 100 buildings, representing 200 years of royal history. From the Palace, it was a short walk to Pier #9 to catch the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat back to Central Pier passing the Temple of Dawn on the west bank, one of Bangkok's most famous landmarks!
From the boat, we could see the many canals or klongs that intersect the Chao Phraya River. These canals represent a lifeblood for many districts, providing the only means of transportation in a waterworld far removed from the heat and traffic congestion of modern Bangkok! No cars here! Just small canoes with a single paddle tied up in front of their homes on stilts! The local people live, eat, bathe and wash in the canals. Such is their way of life!
In the evening, we walked from our hotel down Silom Rd to the Patpong Night Market. Here, the market vendors enticed everyone to their booth to buy merchandise ranging from cheap watches, jewellery, clothing, sunglasses and even sex shows! Being late in the evening, we decided to catch one of Bangkok's infamous tuk-tuk's. These drivers are crazy but given it was a short ride, the frenzy only lasted a few minutes! And the price was right!
All in all, we experienced a full day of Bangkok culture.
Cheers, Rick & Elsie !
