Wat Phra Kaew
finally...some sights from bangkok
21.03.2008
My first time in Thailand, I had literally one night in Bangkok.
This time I took at least a full day. Heeding the suggestion of the lovely Thai lady I met on the plane, I decided to go to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, or Wat Phra Kaew, considered the most sacred temple in Thailand. With this significance comes measures to keep it that way. One must wear long pants and have his or her shoulders covered properly, a fact I learned the hard way. There are long skirts and uniform-looking shirts for rent.
It is indeed impressive...there are mosaics made of mirrored glass adorning most buildings, gold sparkling stupas (also known as chedis). There are guardians and Thai mythological statues scattered throughout. There is even a scaled model of Angkor Wat. Most importantly, there is the Emerald Buddha (actually made of jade). It has a long history, originating in Cambodia, given as a gift to a Thai king, robbed by Burmese invaders, resurfaced in Thailand and moved from Thai city to Thai city, seized by the King of Siam, returned to Thailand, and is still claimed by many Laotians to have its proper place in Vientiane. It's actually quite tiny (between 60 and 75cm, or 23-29in) and hard to see...
Less talk, more pictures...
And some pictures from around Bangkok....
Posted by lrbergen 16:18 Archived in Tourist Sites | Thailand
Hey speaking of honeymoon destinations, my friend Marc, from Auckland city, NZ was telling me you can catch ferries to populated islands like Waiheke and Great Barrier. Waiheke is basically a blend of forest, beaches & vineyards, while Great Barrier has the kind of rugged, untouched beauty. Awesome places for a getaway - so relaxing.
25.03.2008 by muskan