Bangkok City Tour D4 # Thailand

Today, our first visit place is The Grand Palace.

The Grand Palace (พระบรมมหาราชวัง)

The Grand Palace (พระบรมมหาราชวัง – Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang) is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782. The king, his court and his royal government were based on the grounds of the palace until 1925. The present monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), currently resides at Chitralada Palace, but the Grand Palace is still used for official events. Several royal ceremonies and state functions are held within the walls of the palace every year. The palace is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Thailand.

Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Palace

The Grand Palace is divided into three main zones:
– The Outer Court, home to royal offices, public buildings and the Temple of Emerald Buddha;
– the Middle Court, which is where the most important residential and state buildings are;
– the Inner Court, which is exclusively reserved for the king, his queen and his consorts.

Getting there?
One of the easiest, and most pleasurable, ways is taking the BTS skytrain to Saphan Taksin station, located a top Sathorn “Central” Pier. From there, take a Chao Phraya River Express boat to Chang Pier, and then it’s a short walk to the Grand Palace’s main entrance.
Opening hours: daily from 8:30am to 3:30pm except during special royal ceremonies.

Entrance fee is 500 Baht.
It’s inclusive of access to :
> Wat Phra Kaeo,
> The Royal Thai Decorations & Coins Pavilion and Queen Sirikit Museum of Textile, which are located within the Grand Palace compound,
> Vimanmek Mansion Museum on Ratchawithi Road.
Additional 100 Baht for a rental personal audio guide in English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese or Mandarin.

So this is why I suggest you came here first then the other’s palace. Because the ticket is inclusive. Don’t forget to take a brochure about grand palace based on your language.

Visitors are required to dress appropriately. These following clothes are strictly not allowed as outer garments for both ladies and gentlemen:
>>> Shorts
>>> Mini-Skirts
>>> Short Skirts
>>> Tight Fitting Trousers
>>> See-Through Shirts and Blouses, as well as culottes or quarter length trousers
>>> Sleeveless Shirts or Vests
>>> Sandals (without ankle or heel straps)
>>> Rolled-up-sleeved shirts
>>> Sweatshirts and Sweatpants
>>> Wind-Cheaters
>>> Pajamas
>>> Fisherman Trousers

Credit:
– http://www.tourismthailand.org/See-and-Do/Sights-and-Attractions-Detail/The-Grand-Palace–52
– http://www.grandpalacebangkok.com/

We parked the car a little far from Grand Palace, and the usual Parking Car already full. So we parked the car at a building car parking. It’s near Khao Shan Road. Then we ride Tuk-Tuk. It cost 50-60 Baht from there to Grand Palace.

When I came here, it’s Queen’s Birthday. So there’s a ceremony party inside the Grand Palace. But the tourists still can enter the site.

And when I came here, there’s so many people. Just imagine, only when you want to entering the entrance, you have to queue almost 45 minutes. Too many people come here. And we can’t took a good picture with many people surround.

Chakri Mahaprasat Throne Hall, middle court of Grand Palace

After walk around the Grand Palace, time for boat touring the Chao Phraya River. It’s private boat, maybe only for 10-15 people.

The Chao Phraya (แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา) is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand.

Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chao_Phraya_River

We road the boat at the pier in front of The Grand Palace. I didn’t pay attention of the pier number.

There is Chao Phraya Express Boat, that serve at public tranport. You can see the schedule and fares in here: http://www.chaophrayaexpressboat.com/en/home/

Here’s some scenery that we can took on boat.

After bout touring, we go to Wat Arun.

Wat Arun ” Temple of Dawn”

Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan or Wat Arun, “Temple of Dawn” is a Buddhist temple (wat) in Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand, on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple derives its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun. Wat Arun is among the best known of Thailand’s landmarks and the first light of the morning reflects off the surface of the temple with pearly iridescence. Although the temple had existed since at least the seventeenth century, its distinctive prang (spires) were built in the early nineteenth century during the reign of King Rama II.

This Wat or Buddhist temple is an architectural representation of Mount Meru, the center of the world in Buddhist cosmology. In the mythology of Tibetan Buddhism, Mount Meru is a place that simultaneously represents the center of the universe and the single-pointedness of mind sought by adepts. Thousands of miles in height, Meru is located somewhere beyond the physical plane of reality, in a realm of perfection and transcendence. The four-corner prang of Wat Arun, which house images of the guardian gods of the four directions, reinforces this mystical symbolism.

Credit:
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Arun
– http://www.watarun.net/

The ticket fee is 50 Baht.
Our Thai friends said, they will wait us at coffee bar right next to Wat Arun. They said, they didn’t want to go to the top. Why?
We thought, it must be beautiful from the top.

But….

OMG~ The stair’s was steep, and the distance between each step was too high.

Becareful when you climb. But it’s worth, because after you arrive at the top, you will see the beautiful scene with view of Grand Palace and Chao Phraya River.

If you bring elder or children, I suggest to ask them to stay at the bottom or wait for you at the nearby cafe.

Don’t forget to preparing to go down, because it’s more difficult then go up. We have to extra careful. And, once arrive at the bottom, I felt that my leg is stiff. T_T

I think, once is enough to go to the top. Next time, we can enjoy the Wat Arun from the opposite of the river, and enjoy the sunrise. Our Thai friends said, you have to go there at 4 o’clock in the morning to get the sunrise.

And don’t forget to enjoy the sunset and the night scene too.
After that, we buy some drink at nearby coffee shop.

Then we ride the public boat which cost only 3 Baht to go back to the opposite of Wat Arun.

Wat Pho (วัดโพธิ์)

Wat Pho (วัดโพธิ์), is a Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the Rattanakosin district directly adjacent to the Grand Palace. Known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan (วัดพระเชตุพนวิมลมังคลารามราชวรมหาวิหาร). The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.

Wat Pho is one of the largest and oldest wats in Bangkok (with an area of 50 rai, 80,000 square metres), and is home to more than one thousand Buddha images, as well as one of the largest single Buddha images of 160 ft length:[10] the Reclining Buddha (Phra Buddhasaiyas ะพุทธไสยาสน์). The Wat Pho complex consists of two walled compounds bisected by Soi Chetuphon running east–west. The northern walled compound is where the reclining Buddha and massage school are found. The southern walled compound, Tukgawee, is a working Buddhist monastery with monks in residence and a school.
Credit:
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Pho

WatPo Thai Traditional Medical and Massage School
Welcome to the original Thai medical and massage school.Here the place where the heritage of Thais’ wisdoms in traditional medicine have been instructed and developed through a long and continually practical implementation.

Conform to the harmony living of human and nature including with a delicate and gentle character of traditional Thainess, Thai traditional massage and medicine is a folk medicine that have been broadly satisfied from time to time. Moreover, WatPoThai massage becomes one of the most world-wide recognized therapeutic and relaxing massage style.

Credit: http://www.watpomassage.com/2014/

The reclining Buddha is so big. We have to put our shoes / sandals inside the bag that they provided before entering the area. The ticket fee is 50 Baht. Open daily from 08:00 to 17:00 with a break on 12:00 to 13:00.

After walk surround, then we drop by Massage Room, to try Thai Massage. We try it for 30 minutes. But many people say, that it’s better if you try for 1 hour.

Before you got the massage, you have to queue. First, you registered, then you will got the queue number. That time, I spend 1 hour and half to queue.

While we traveling at Bangkok, we ride almost all public transportation. Private Car, Rent Car, Tuk-Tuk, and Boat. Now, we ride the bus back to car parking.

If our Thai friends didn’t accompany us, maybe we won’t ride the bus. Because we don’t know what bus number should we ride. Actually, we planned to ride Tuk-Tuk back to Parking Lot, but they said that Tuk-Tuk can’t pass the road back. Only one way road. So we ride the bus.

We ride the bus from Wat Pho to Khao Shan Road. Our parking car near Khao Shan Road.

Because It’s Queen’s birthday, so for Thai Tradition, at Queen’s birthday, they eat dinner together with their mom. So Our Thai Friends send us to Central Plaza Grand Rama IX.

Picture Credit: http://www.centralplaza.co.th/grandrama9/index.php

We ask them to drop us here because the mall near our hotel. We can use MRT, only 2 station from MRT Huay Kwang. If you want to go here, just stop at MRT Rama 9 exit 2 at level B Central Plaza Grand Rama IX.

We walk around the mall for a while. Then go back to Hotel.

Once arrive at MRT Huay Kwang, then we remember The Mansion 7 just nearby. So we drop by The Mansion 7 first to take some photos.

From the www.bangkok.com, I read that Mansion 7 is a Mall. See this information:

Mansion 7 is a theme mall with a bizarre twist. It’s dark, creepy, and ‘haunted’ by a legend about its late owner’s daughter – so the story goes. The ghost resides in the Dark Mansion, the mall’s main attraction, while the neglected garden awaits you with unique shops and restaurants. From the main entrance on Ratchadapisek Road, Mansion 7 stands like a giant nest with a claw waiting to gobble up passers-by. Upon entering, the Neglected Garden greets you with a fascinating range of shops and eateries. Beyond the garden is the playground zone, a large fairground space lit by a blood-red moon, surrounded by more theme restaurants and bars. The main highlight, the two-storey Dark Mansion or haunted house, awaits at the far end with its curiously creepy façade – and occasional shrieks and screams from those still ‘trapped’ inside.
(http://www.bangkok.com/shopping-mall/mansion7.htm)

But when I came there, our Thai friends said that Mansion 7 is a night club. And open from 18:00 to 02:00.
Address: Ratchadapisek Soi 14

Web: http://www.themansion7.com/

We can hear the loud music from the front side.

Actually, the guard didn’t let us take picture at first. But because the language barrier, so he know that we are foreigner then let us to take picture.