Bangkok (THA)

11.12.2019 - 15.12.2019

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and a city full of contrasts.

After my stay in Koh Kood, I took a few days to explore the city.

On my first day there, I planned to visit the most famous attraction in Bangkok - the Grand Palace. It was December 12th and I quickly found out that something was different on that day. A big event prevented me from even getting to the palace. I only found out what kind of event it was in the afternoon.

So my sightseeing tour of Bangkok started at Wat Pho. This temple houses the famous reclining Buddha statue. The statue is impressively large, measuring 46 meters long and 15 meters high. The complex is also very beautiful.

Afterwards, I wanted to visit Wat Arun - the Temple of Dawn. It is located on the other side of the river. But when I arrived at the pier, where the ferry usually departs, I unfortunately found out that it was not running that day. When I finally arrived near Wat Arun (by metro and on foot), there was a long line and everyone had to go through a security check. I didn't feel like doing that, so I went back to the hostel. There, I finally found out what was going on in Bangkok that day - the coronation celebration of the king. It was a mega-event where the king traveled from the Grand Palace across the river to Wat Arun. There was a procession with 52 boats and over 2,000 naval officers. Unfortunately, I didn't see the whole thing.

The next morning, I went to the Grand Palace. It was already very crowded. The main attraction there is the Emerald Buddha, a jade figurine about 60 cm tall. However, the figurine is so far away and inconspicuous that it can easily be overlooked amidst all the hustle and bustle. Taking photos of it is also not allowed. Because of the crowds, I quickly left the Grand Palace and went to the next attraction.

I went back to Wat Arun, this time by ferry across the river. Unlike many temples that are golden, this temple is decorated with porcelain mosaic.

On my last day, I visited Lumphini Park - a large park with a few lakes.

Finally, in the evening, I visited the Golden Mount - a temple located on an artificially constructed hill, offering a panoramic view of the city.