Bangkok Day VII - Final day in Bangkok...more temples and lychee

We woke up at 7am and left our hotel at close to 8am...on a slower pace today since it was our last day in Bangkok.

We were walking to the Wat Ratcha Pradit, passing the Thammasat University and coming out on the other side where the market was. Here in the market, we stopped for our very first and last local flavour breakfast. We stopped by in a local Chinese restaurant. However they could not really speak our language. Anyway we have our best breakfast here in Bangkok. I ordered a pork noodle soup or rather a kuey teow soup. The soup was really good...so sweet. It must be prepared with lots of ingredient...lots of those rib bones. The fish cakes and balls were so tender and juicy. This noodle was so satisfying.

yummy noodle soup...

We continued our walk to Wat Ratcha Pradit....Another temptation....I have been mentioning that I wanted to buy and eat more lychees after the bag of sweet and juicy gift from the tourism board but failed to buy any till this very last day of our trip. Finally we bought a bag, almost a kilo for only 40Baht...really very very cheap :D

the Ministry of Defense the Wat Phra Kea and Royal Palace from the City Pillar Shrine

Before reaching the Wat Ratcha Pradit, we stopped at the Bangkok City Pillar Shrine or the Bangkok Lak Muang. It was very interesting that they actually have 2 main gold coated wooden pillars in the main altar. These 2 pillars were believed to house the city spirit deity.

Lak Muang

Wat Ratcha Pradit was an interesting wat. We were in the temple all by ourselves...the high walls, marble pillars, the images of people on the roof, the calm and cool surrounding. This was really a good place to get away from busy Bangkok street and the people. Thought of sitting here for hours to meditate.

white marble walls and pillars
human icon on the roof...rare with the main marble stupa
the greyish white marble...very comfortable to hang around

Then we continued to Wat Ratch Bophit...passing by the most unique memorial I have ever seen...to our surprise, we found a golden pig statue by the riverside which people worship of...the Pig Memorial was actually to mark the quees's birth year during her 50th birthday...interesting to learn that Thais were loyal and respect their royal family members till this extend.

Wat Ratch Bophit was another learning center like Wat Pho. It has school within it's compound. The architecture here were remarkable as well. The wall painting and the extensive carving at the doors and windows were pretty similar to those in Royal Palace. This was a memorial of the highest rank monk. Besides this wat has been famous for it's Gothic style chendi.

similar to royal palace... colourful walls and extensive wood carving on the doors
western style chendi ivory decorated doors to the halls

That was our last temple visited in Bangkok. We rushed back to our hotel on the reverse way we came...passing the Amulet market. This round in Amulet market completed my trip...I managed to add to my coins collection. 400Baht worth of commemorative coins at 500Baht...all in I brought home 33 commemorative coins.

Back at New Siam II, our driver was already there waiting for us. We quickly grab our bags and left the hotel. Our ride to the airport was so enjoyable...enjoyed to finally got stuck in Bangkok's traffic and enjoyed her not so daring and scary overtakes. And not to forget her instant decision to divert to another route after seing a major demonstration in front of the house. All the protestors were in white shirts.

all in white in front of the house

At the airport after checking in our lugguage, we took our lunch at he Black Canyon. I love the Black Canyon in Malaysia and surely not where it orignated....all the food and drinks scored below average. :S Even my favourite Thap Thim Krawp didn't taste good.

After the meal, we cleared our passport and went into the terminal. Just right in front fg our gate, this was where one of the best event of the day took place...our Lychee eating competition. We didn't want to give up our sweet lychee so ended up rushing to finished them up...3 of us took only 15 minutes at max to finish one whole bag of lychees...we were eating at the side, right on top of a rubbish bin...with all the overflowing sweet juices from the lychess dripping down into the rubbish bin....we were eating like nobody's business. :D

Finally got into the gate with the final call announcement on the background...we 3 memang gila makan...anything at all for the lychees.

Arrived home safely at close to 5pm... :D

Bangkok was really a good place for holiday. There were so many places to visit and so many things to do there. Of all the activities in Bangkok, I love the Siam Nirammit, the Tiger Temple visit and the one day get away to Ayutthaya. I can easily spend 1 or 2 more weeks in Bangkok if I have sufficient leave and money. :D

Besides the place and culture, this holiday was excellent for Stella and Phaik were really excellent travel companions. We were all so gila and same pace all the time...when it comes to makan, we 3 were really food critics. When it comes to jalan, we 3 also kuat jalan...not going to waste any single minute but when it comes to relax, we can spend hours chatting while sipping coffee in Starbusks. We were so adventureous and did lots of out of norm stuff. Thanks a lot gals and I look forward to travel with my sister guides again.

Bangkok Day VI - Ancient City of Ayutthaya

As the past 5 days, our day started pretty early. We woke at 6.30am. We caught the bus no# to the Hua Lampong Railway Station. The bus stopped midway where everyone started to disembark...we were puzzled. We tried to ask around and finally found out that we have to get to another bus which will continue on the route. When we were about to arrive at the railway station, the conductor kindly alerted us...and :D that we managed to get to the railway station on time.

can not believe this is taken in Bangkok unless you have experience it yourselves...their buses were old...look at those wooden planks

The railway station was very tourist friendly. They have set up tourist information counter and there were also tourist ticketing lanes. We managed to get our ticket on 2nd class deck to Ayutthaya at 245Baht each. It cost much more than we expected. Phaik read that this route should only cost us 15Baht and this was the reason why we chose to travel on the steam powered train besides wanting to be adventures.

the Hua Lampong Station

The train was scheduled at 8.20 which left us with 5 minutes for breakfast. So we grab a croissant and a ice coffee from the Dunkin Donuts...the croissant was ok but expensive compared to those sold in 7-eleven, the coffee...left us speechless, perhaps sugar was very cheap her :S

We boarded our train at platform 10 or 11...could not recall...the train was old...what could we expect from a steam powered train right? Luckily it was pretty comfortable in the deck. We got our seat in an a/c compartment. As it was a covered space, there was less noise from the engine room...good for Phaik and Stella to get some rest in the train despite the all time shaking seats. For me, this ride was superb, I got to enjoy those green paddy fields.

our 2nd class a/c seats...I am thankful with what we have in Msia

Arriving at Ayutthaya, we first checked out on train schedule for our way back to Bangkok. Then we bargained for our charter tuk tuk. We finally settled at 500Baht for 4 hours...the tuk tuk system here were based on hours not by distance...so you can name the temples that you want to visit as long as it is within the time frame.

In Ayutthaya, we managed to cover a total of 8 temples. We started with Wat Yai Chai Mongkol. The Stupa of Great Victory and the Reclining Buddha were astonishing. The golden cloth wrap around contrasting on the artifact made them stand out from far.

the reclining Buddha in the golden robe

填香油 for the 7+1 days

2 giant Buddha statue next to the giant stupa

Buddha and followers i think...

taking a small statue on the stupa...in macro mode

lots of Buddha around me...may I be blessed!

another shot of Buddha and followers

Stupa of Great Victory

reclining Buddha over the windows to the world

We continued our visit to Wat Phananchoeng. This was the richest temple in terms of religions essence. There were a grand Golden Buddha sitting in the main hall with lots more goddess and deities from the Buddhism, Taoism and Hinduism. We rushed through the whole complex within half hour to maximize our Ayutthaya trip and value for tuk tuk.

Grand Golden Buddha...a very huge statue...look at his hand

zoom in to Buddha's hand

there were thousands of them on the wall...each hole housing 1 statue

the golden robe

there were many safe in temples...puzzle with that they actually stored in...

nice roof deco...this was one of the few temples similar what we have in Malaysiathe great pillar...with 4 goddess

ringing the bell...part of the ritual

Next was the Wat Chai Watthanaram. It was said to be build as according to the Angkor Wat in Cambodia but to me personally I see them differently. The similarities were both were build with a tower stupa in the middle and surrounded by many smaller stupa and the Buddha seated along the walkway with missing heads... The differences were notable to me...the wider and lower steps, less layering, build with red bricks and of course the scale were different....

panaroma view of Wat Chai Watthanaram

thanks to the smoke from open burning...this photo turned out so fake...seem like 3 of us standing in front of a poster

lots of smoke

a close up shot minus the smoke...blue sky and green grass

the beheaded Buddha along the way

another shot of the main phrang

me...

poor beheaded Buddha

The forth wat for the day was Wat Lokaya Suttha. This was the only none paying wat around for there wasn't much left in the wat other than a huge reclining Buddha made of brick. Anyway glad that we were here for this was the only reclining Buddha which we can capture as a whole. As most sculpture were indoors, their full view were blocked by pillars and etc.

the reclining Buddha

We then rushed to Wat Phra Mongkol Bophit. This temple was last restored in year 1957 where the current main building was build to cover one of the largest bronze Buddha statue in Thailand...surprised to see the bronze statue which now shiny gold. It was now covered with golden leaves since year 1990.

Giant golden bronze Buddha

Emerald Buddha

giant Buddha head covered with gold leaves...every patch are generous gift of devotees

Next to Wat Phra Mongkol Bpphit was the Royal Palace cum Wat Phra Si Sanpet. This was one of the largest wat complex around. Wat Phra Si Sanpet consisted of 3 stupas and these were the best preserved artifact in this whole complex. Though it was under the hot sun, we could still make some stupid move there...we tried shooting ourselves in the sky with timer and failed very badly...nothing turned out right...exhausting but FUN!

in the royal palace

the Wat Phra Si Sanpet

the east stupa of Wat Phra Si Sanpet

the door is really huge...high walls and doors

the stupa was really very big compared to our size...wonder how build them centuries ago

Wat Maha That was the temple which we have the highest expectation. We have seen photos of the famous tree root covering buddha statue head and have been anticipating for something really huge...something like in Ta Phrom in Cambodia but it turned out less as expected. The size of the buddha head was approximately 30cm width. Though it was small, it was still a great wat to visit to. The temple was huge and house many better preserved stupa and phrang. It has also many beheaded Buddha along the walkway.

remaining parts of Buddha statues

only 1 head left...thanks for keeping Buddha complete

lots of giant trees in the temple complex

the center of attraction...

i guess this can not be seen years later...

me at the magical view

trying to push it straight...but helpless

thanks to the restoration worker...this site can last for many more years or decades

after restoration process

Our last temple in Ayutthaya was Wat Ratchaburana. This was a smaller wat compared to the Wat Maha That next door. However this temple was better preserved. This was the only temple in which we were allowed up the phrang. Besides, there was a passage way down from the top of the phrang....but we were too tired for that.

from the main entrance

sister guides in Wat Ratchaburana

i think that was garuda

from the top...

love this photo very much

Finally we were back in the railway station at 2.30pm...we really maximize our 4 hours tuk tuk tour round Ayutthaya. We were very hungry. We quickly walked to the 7-eleven across the road...ting ting...our lunch was ready. For lunch we have green curry chicken rice and pork rice with a giant Melon slurpee.

our yummy lunch...looks ok but tastes good

Back in railway station, we bought our ticket back to Bangkok at 3.30pm train. This round we were smart to demand for cheap tickets. Finally we paid 20Baht per person...this was like one twelve of what we paid to get there. The ticket was on 3rd class or the economic class....no a/c and without numbered cushion seat.

The train finally arrived at 4pm. It was quite crowded. I have to stand for a while before I managed to get a seat. Anyway great to have experience traveling the local do. Got to see how the locals made living on the train, school children exciting after school hours and Bangkok traffic...even trains were jammed...too many heading into the station at that hour.

We finally arrived in the Hua Lampong station at close to 6pm. The station seemed to be more crowded now. Many tourists were seating on the a/c waiting hall floor. For 3 of us, we rushed to the MRT station and headed to the Silom station.

We have our dinner there in a restaurant which seem good but turned out to be rather so so. After the filling but less satisfying meal, we went window shop at Silom Complex.

Back in our room at about 9pm. Then out to a nearby massage center and got a full body massage for 180 Baht for one hour. It was so cheap and we enjoyed it very much. Slept early....

We enjoyed our short trip to Ayutthaya. This was really a world heritage city. So much to see...every streets we past seemed to house either a luxury new temple or ancient artifact...

rare sight...