The Grand Palace
Sunday May 13th
Jet lag. What jet lag.
We awoke to the mobile alarm's tune at 08.00 as planned and bright eyed and bushy tailed made our way down to the 25th floor where an amazing breakfast buffet awaited us.
The international parade of people was almost as interesting as the array of interesting foodstuff. Mango watermelon and pineapple were the only fruits which we recognised from the array of ten. There was curried broccoli soup endless variations of rice including the fried rice with chicken which I had. There was chicken sausages with fried eggs there were pancakes with maple syrup. It was a truly eclectic feast for the eyes and the palate. One very good thing is that the Thais drink coffee so the coffee is very good. We are looking forward to tomorrow's breakfast already.
After a leisurely breakfast Simon called for a taxi using a phone app called Grab - the Thai version of Uber. The cab arrived in 8 minutes and off we set for the Grand Palace. We drove along five lane highways which are completely grid locked but the driving is calm and there are no loud blaring car horns. It is certainly not Italy.
At the entrance to the Grand Palace we encountered a young official guide, Punch, whose gently persuasive manner succeeded and we hired him to show us around.(Judy was on her day off) We are delighted that we did for we feel that we gained a much better understanding of the culture and the significance of the various sights of the Palace which covers nearly 100 acres. The Grand Palace was stunning - we staggered from one wow moment to another. Punch was very informative without reciting fact after fact. He did tell us that they receive 20 000 visitors a day and that 50% are Chinese. It was very crowded and we were constantly tripping over people taking selfies and pictures of groups in gates but it was impressive and we are glad that we went.
Still basking in our tourist glow we decided that since we were near to the "Mae Nam Chao Phraya" river we should hire a long tail boat for a visit to the Floating market 10kms or so outside Bangkok. Originally the long tailed boats which are a bit like Venetian gondolas were powered by hand but they now have quite powerful engines. We accidentally bargained for the trip. In trying to establish exactly what we were being offered and for how much we eventually reduced the price from 1500 for 1 person to 1200 for all three! It was a brilliant boat trip along the river the through the canals where people lived on houses built on stilts. Fabulous.
As we reached dry land again the rumble of thunder and the occasional flash of lightning sent us into a tiny Thai restaurant of around 20m2 where the food was cooked bu the front door and there was seating for around ten. We ordered in an adventurous manner and enjoyed most of what we were served. It was an interesting experience even if the chrysanthemum juice wasn't entirely a success.
After lunch we "were bumped" as Simon described it. We were persuaded to take a Tuk Tuk to Wat Pho where we could see the "sleeping Bhudda". After much haggling we agreed a fare of 100 baht. It turned out to be about 100 metres away around a corner. We had a good laugh. The sleeping Buddha was impressive. Wat Pho was extensive and impressive. Every time we enter a temple we have to take our shoes off and dress respectfully. The shoes were off and on like the rain in the West of Scotland.
It is day two and we are close to Buddhaed out. By the time we return we will either be Buddhist or Atheist.
As I write this Pauline is taking photos from the 41st floor which we should be able to include sometime soon.
Jet lag. What jet lag.
We awoke to the mobile alarm's tune at 08.00 as planned and bright eyed and bushy tailed made our way down to the 25th floor where an amazing breakfast buffet awaited us.
The international parade of people was almost as interesting as the array of interesting foodstuff. Mango watermelon and pineapple were the only fruits which we recognised from the array of ten. There was curried broccoli soup endless variations of rice including the fried rice with chicken which I had. There was chicken sausages with fried eggs there were pancakes with maple syrup. It was a truly eclectic feast for the eyes and the palate. One very good thing is that the Thais drink coffee so the coffee is very good. We are looking forward to tomorrow's breakfast already.
After a leisurely breakfast Simon called for a taxi using a phone app called Grab - the Thai version of Uber. The cab arrived in 8 minutes and off we set for the Grand Palace. We drove along five lane highways which are completely grid locked but the driving is calm and there are no loud blaring car horns. It is certainly not Italy.
At the entrance to the Grand Palace we encountered a young official guide, Punch, whose gently persuasive manner succeeded and we hired him to show us around.(Judy was on her day off) We are delighted that we did for we feel that we gained a much better understanding of the culture and the significance of the various sights of the Palace which covers nearly 100 acres. The Grand Palace was stunning - we staggered from one wow moment to another. Punch was very informative without reciting fact after fact. He did tell us that they receive 20 000 visitors a day and that 50% are Chinese. It was very crowded and we were constantly tripping over people taking selfies and pictures of groups in gates but it was impressive and we are glad that we went.
Still basking in our tourist glow we decided that since we were near to the "Mae Nam Chao Phraya" river we should hire a long tail boat for a visit to the Floating market 10kms or so outside Bangkok. Originally the long tailed boats which are a bit like Venetian gondolas were powered by hand but they now have quite powerful engines. We accidentally bargained for the trip. In trying to establish exactly what we were being offered and for how much we eventually reduced the price from 1500 for 1 person to 1200 for all three! It was a brilliant boat trip along the river the through the canals where people lived on houses built on stilts. Fabulous.
As we reached dry land again the rumble of thunder and the occasional flash of lightning sent us into a tiny Thai restaurant of around 20m2 where the food was cooked bu the front door and there was seating for around ten. We ordered in an adventurous manner and enjoyed most of what we were served. It was an interesting experience even if the chrysanthemum juice wasn't entirely a success.
After lunch we "were bumped" as Simon described it. We were persuaded to take a Tuk Tuk to Wat Pho where we could see the "sleeping Bhudda". After much haggling we agreed a fare of 100 baht. It turned out to be about 100 metres away around a corner. We had a good laugh. The sleeping Buddha was impressive. Wat Pho was extensive and impressive. Every time we enter a temple we have to take our shoes off and dress respectfully. The shoes were off and on like the rain in the West of Scotland.
It is day two and we are close to Buddhaed out. By the time we return we will either be Buddhist or Atheist.
As I write this Pauline is taking photos from the 41st floor which we should be able to include sometime soon.
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