Our Thai friends, will be our guide today. She and her sisters pick us at 09:00 at Hotel. Then we ride their car to Vimanmek Mansion Museum (วิมานเมฆ), our first destination today.
Vimanmek Mansion Museum (วิมานเมฆ)
The ticket price is THB 100 for foreigner and THB 75 free for Thai People.
If you went to Royal Palace first, then the ticket can be used to enter Vimanmek Mansion, as well as Museum Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall and Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. It’s a package ticket which valid for 7 days.
We have to wear polite dress (no shorts, no sleeveless clothes). But don’t worry, if you wear short, they sell Sarong, which you can purchased for wear. The price is variety, based on which sarong do you want.
All of our belonging (bags, phone, camera, mineral water), has to be put at Locker and we have to pay the locker. I don’t know the locker fee, because it’s my friend that help us pay. We only can bring money / wallet. And when we enter the building, we have to take off our shoes and put it in the shoes rack.
The Vimanmek Mansion (วิมานเมฆ), is a former royal palace in Bangkok, Thailand. It is also known as Vimanmek Palace. Located in the Dusit Palace complex, nearby Dusit Zoo in Dusit district.
History: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vimanmek_Mansion
The highlight of the Dusit Park is Vimanmek Teak Mansion said to be the world’s largest golden teak mansion, built with nary a single nail. For all its finery, grand staircases, octagonal rooms and lattice walls, which are nothing short of magnificent, it is surprisingly serene and intimate.
Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok/sights/architecture/vimanmek-teak-mansion#ixzz2uaNu0o4K
How to get there by public transport?
Take the Sukhumvit Line and get off at Victory Monument Station (or N3 Station) and go out through Exit No. 3. Walk towards Rajavithee Road and take a taxi, or hop on bus no. 515, 539, 28, or 108, which all pass Vimanmek Mansion.
Credit: http://www.bts.co.th/customer/en/06-travel-palace-02.aspx
Website : http://www.vimanmek.com/
Vimanmek Mansion is a Royal Palace which used as the residence for other members of the royal family. You can see different rooms inside the mansion, along with it’s stuff.
Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall (พระที่นั่งอภิเศกดุสิต).
Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall (พระที่นั่งอภิเศกดุสิต) or the Thai Handicraft Museum is a museum in Bangkok, Thailand.
Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhisek_Dusit_Throne_Hall
Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall exhibits arts and crafts through the Queen’s Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupation and Related Technology. Exhibits include traditional weaving and wood carvings, traditional ‘Mudmee’ silk, and ceramics.
Credit: http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/16734_info_abhisek-dusit-throne-hall.html
Located right next Vimanmek Mansion, you can go here by walking.
Put your belonging at available locker, then take off your shoes/sandals.
Close on Sunday.
Open from 08:30 to 16:00.
Ticket : 50-150 Baht
We can see Thai handicraft inside the museum. It’s unique, and if you like history, you have to visit here too. I think, Just spend 15-30 minutes is enough.
You can’t take picture directly in front of the museum. You have to walk further loctaion to take picture of the building.
Anantasamakom Royal Throne (พระที่นั่งอนันตสมาคม).
Anantasamakom Royal Throne (พระที่นั่งอนันตสมาคม) is a former reception hall within Dusit Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. It now serves as a museum and is from time to time employed for certain state occasions. The Throne Hall is a two storey construction with a large dome (49.5 m high) in the centre, surrounded by six smaller domes.
It was used as the headquarters of the People’s Party during the four days of the 1932 Revolution (June 24-27), which transformed the country’s political system from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one. The first National People’s Assembly convened on June 28, 1932 in this throne hall. After that, it was used as the Parliament House until 1974 when the new Parliament House was opened to the north. However, the old Parliament House is still used for the State Opening of Parliament marking the first assembly in consequence of a general election for the House of Representatives.
Otherwise it is open to the public every day except on Chulalongkorn Day (23 October), the King’s birthday (5 December) and the Queen’s birthday (12 August).
In front of the Hall is the Royal Plaza with the equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).
Visitors to the Throne Hall should be aware that “appropriate address” is required for entry. This means a sleeved shirt (short-sleeves are OK) and trousers for men or long skirts for women – no shorts, ripped jeans, short skirts or sleeveless T-shirts. Women in long trousers are not considered ‘suitable’. Appropriate attire (a sarong basically) can be purchased if need be when you get there.
All cameras and phones must be left in lockers (which are free). There is an entry fee for the Throne Hall, even if you have already paid to enter the Dusit Gardens. A recorded guide is available in several languages.
Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ananta_Samakhom_Throne_Hall
When I came here, the Museum is closed because the next day (August 12), is Queen’s birthday. They was preparing for the party. So we can’t go in the Throne Hall.
Anantasamakom Royal Throne located right next Abhisek Throne Hall. There’s a gate which connected this two museum. But when I went there, it closed. So our Thai friends bring us to in front of the building (in the middle of road), and take picture of the building from outside the gate.
Opening Hours from 9:30 until 16:00, Tuesday to Sunday (ticket office closed 15:30)
Ticket: 50 Baht
Wat Benjamabophit (วัดเบญจมบพิตรดุสิตวนารามราชวรวิหาร).
Wat Benjamabophit (วัดเบญจมบพิตรดุสิตวนารามราชวรวิหาร) is a Buddhist temple (wat) in the Dusit district of Bangkok, Thailand. Also known as the marble temple.
It is one of Bangkok’s most beautiful temples and a major tourist attraction. It typifies Bangkok’s ornate style of high gables, stepped-out roofs and elaborate finials.
Credit:
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Benchamabophit
The temple is beautiful. For landscape photographer, enjoy this place.
Ticket Fee: 20 Baht
How to go there?
Wat Benjamabopit is one of the few places that is difficult to get to by public transport alone. We suggest taking the Chao Phraya River Express boat to Tewet pier and the grab a tuk-tuk to Wat Benjamabopit.
The other option is to take the Skytrain to Phyathai station and then find a taxi on Sri Ayutthaya road to take you to the temple.
(http://bangkokforvisitors.com/districts/dusit/wat-benjamabophit/)
After eating lunch, it’s time for shopping. And because today is weekend, we go to Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Chatuchak weekend market, is one of the world’s largest weekend markets covers area of 70 rai (27 Acres) altogether divided into 27 Sections, contains more than 15,000 booths selling goods from every part of Thailand.
Chatuchak Weekend Market,is very popular shopping centre to Thais and has become a popular place to tourists and foreigners who stay in Bangkok, has over 200,000 visitors each day(SAT-SUN) 30% is foreign. There are almost everything can be found here at a bargaining local price (not a tourist price), and most vendors actually come from local factories, like antique wood carving, clay handicrafts, local souvenirs from every parts of Thailand, Buddhist amulets, wooden funitures, hand made decorated flowers, plant, ceramic wares, dools, Thai Bejarong, Chinese wares, graden decorated plants, stones, trendy fashions, silk, hill-tribe outfits, fluffy dogs and more miscellaneous, etc.
Services in Chatuchak weekend market
Media Center, open Wednesday to Sunday 8.00 am – 20.00 pm.
Banks provide foreign exchange deposit.
Electric train around Chatuchak weekend market, service time Saturday – Sunday: 10.00 – 17.00.
Chatuchak Weekend Market is open
WED-THU (Plants & Flowers) 6.00 am – 6.00 pm.
FRI (Wholesale day) 6.00 am – 6.00 pm.
SAT-SUN (Miscellaneous) 6.00 am – 6.00 pm.
For further information:
– http://www.chatuchak.org/
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatuchak_Weekend_Market
We go there by car. But our Thai friends said, that if we want to go here by BTS or MRT, you can stop at MRT Kamphaengphet station. It located in the back of the market.
But if you want to go from the front side, you can go to MRT Chatuchak Park or 5 minutes walk from BTS Mo Chit station.
And the Chatuchak Park is so large. I don’t know how large is it, but when I saw it, I thought that I prefer stop from MRT Kamphaengphet Station.
It’s not enough for 1 day to explore each place. I thought, I only walk for 1/4 area. And the hot weather didn’t help at all. It’s too hot. But the stuff here is so cheap. If you really love shopping, I think you have to spend whole weekend in here.
Because it’s too hot, we decided to end the shopping at Chatuchak, then go to shopping mall. We plan to go to Central Plaza Grand Rama 9. But our Thai Friends said, it’s too far. So they took us to Central Plaza Lardprao. It’s near Chatuchak, 2 station from Chatuchak. Stop at MRT Lat Phrao.
Central Plaza Lardprao (เซ็นทรัลพลาซา ลาดพร้าว or เซ็นทรัลลาดพร้าว)
Central Plaza Lardprao (เซ็นทรัลพลาซา ลาดพร้าว or เซ็นทรัลลาดพร้าว) is a shopping complex, owned Central Pattana. The complex opened in 25 December 1982, and was the first inegrated shopping complex of Central Pattana. It is located on Phahonyothin Road at the end of Lat Phrao Road in Chatuchak District, Bangkok.
Central Plaza Ladprao was under major renovation in February to August 2011 due to closure of CentralWorld.
The shopping mall is anchored by a 41,000 square metres (440,000 sq ft) Central Department Store,[8] a Tops Market supermarket and a nine screen 3,000 seat cinema by SFX Cinema, a 565 room Sofitel Centara Grand hotel and the Bangkok Convention Centre or BCC. The shopping mall has approximately 350 stores
Credit:
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CentralPlaza_Lardprao
– http://www.centralplaza.co.th/en/branch-detail.aspx?id=1
Address: 1693 Paholyothin Road, Jatujak, Bangkok 10900 Thailand
Tel.: +66 (0) 2 793 6000
Fax: +66 (0) 2 514 1341
After eat dinner, our Thai friends took us to Union Mall. Located right next Central Plaza Lardprao.
Union Mall
Address : 54 Lat Phrao Rd, Chom Phon, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand 10900
Web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Mall
The mall opened on February 2006. It has 8 floors with a total of 150 000 square meters of space. Furthermore, it houses some 1240 booths and shops and entertainment services.
You can stop at MRT Phahon Yothin, between MRT Chatuchak Park and MRT Lat Phrao.
It’s a cheap mall too. You can bargain in here. If you bought more than 1 items, then it will be cheaper than buy 1 item only.
This is the last place that we visited this day. Time to sleep and gain more energy for the next day.
Cheerful Traveller's Diary 
