Bangkok, Thailand … our 2nd day and temples galore

November 2nd, 2018

A great breakfast highlight is a rice soup with pork balls & eggs with 3 types of meats including a sweet sausage. Sunny, 28C as we head out for the Pak Khlong Flower Market about a 30-minute walk. On the way we stop in to get a SIM card for our “new” smartphone> we are moving up in the tech world…..after settling out what we need, they insert the card and presto >>> IT DOES NOT WORK….apparently the phone is locked contrary to what the techie in Canada told us…..ARRGH!!!

Anyway, we continue on, and the flower market is huge….mostly flowers for offerings, religious decorations etc. Lots of hustle and bustle and a type of market we have never seen before:

From here it is a short 10 minute walk to Wat Pho –  Temple of the Reclining Buddha , one of the oldest in Bangkok built and completed around 1700. Home to more than one thousand Buddha images the most visible being the reclining Buddha at 150 feet (46 m) in length. The temple is considered the earliest center for public education in Thailand. It houses a school of Thai medicine, and is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage which is still taught and practiced at the temple.

After getting our tickets 200 THB (8 CAD) for us both, we join the lineup for the Reclining Buddha….

There is more to this complex which is quite large with many chapels, shrines and 91 chedis (or stupas) decorated in ceramic pottery flowers and colorful tiles. After the overly crowded circuit of the Reclining Buddha, the rest of the site was very relaxing and enjoyable……

Across from the wat we lunched at a tiny resto called Sixth: room for about 5 tables inside >>> spring rolls, cashew chicken for Annie and the green curry for yours truly > outstanding , with drinks  345THB (14 CAD).

Refreshed we are ready for more as we head for the ferry dock to cross the Chao Phraya River to see the iconic Wat Arun. The river runs fast, teeming with various boats and churning waves from the boat traffic…it is a short but neat ferry ride of less than 5 minutes…no worries we are in the big red & white boat (2nd pic below)….

Wat Arun, Temple of Dawn, is named after Aruna, the Indian God of Dawn. Sitting majestically  on the side of the Chao Phraya River, it consists of a massive elongated prang or Khmer-style tower characteristic of Thai temple architecture, surrounded by four smaller prangs. The 79 meter high tower is decorated with ceramic tiles and fragments of multi colored porcelain which had previously been used as ballast by boats coming to Bangkok from China.

This is again a fair-sized complex and the tower is surrounded by temples and chapels, some which are very ornate …..

 

You are allowed to climb part of Wat Arun which gives one a nice perspective of the tower itself and great views across the river ….

 

We retrace our steps, and linger by the water….where the activity is non-stop…

…then take the ferry to “our” side of the river…..with some nice views of downtown , in the distance..

……… it has been fun, but the sun has done its work and it is time to call it a day……we hail a tuk tuk guy, hand him the map, name and address of the hotel > much animated discussion, more drivers, and alleged experts join in, with consensus finally reached that they know how to get to the hotel ….yes, we are “hidden” on a main street. That part over, he quotes us a price of 250 THB, I grasp my head, roll my eyes and make choking sounds….ok, ok he suggests 150 THB,  we finally agree that 100 THB is the right price, some sighing on his part, but OK, we are good to go….btw this is a fair price as we had checked with the innkeeper. A bit of a song and dance but necessary unless one wishes to pay the sucker “tourist” price, which you will to some degree anyways.

Back at the Inn, a quick shower, some interneting, a bracing scotch & branch and we head for “backpacker country”…..the Khao San Road area. On the way there was a huge convoy “secret service” Yukons, police vehicles, motorcycle cops  and military, perhaps something to do with the Thai billionaire owner of the Leicester Football Club who died in a helicopter accident a few days ago and is being buried tomorrow. After walking further up the road more military and some very colorful troopers ….

…..in any event we finally got to Khai San Rd, and not surprisingly it was as advertised: bars, bars, restobars, massage parlors and street food….

We pounded back a few beers, checked out the scene and bought a few munchies, then slowly hoofed it back to the inn, not really our speed but if you don’t check it out you will never know….tired, but a good tired !!