Asian Walkabout

No, we did not wimp out like all the others and take a bus. We walked, and walked , and took wrong turns, and had to ask for directions, and walked some more, refused willing taxi drivers,walked more, got stuck inside a fence with no gate out and walked some more. Went the wrong way then had to retrace our steps. Dodged a couple of large mice(small rats?) scampering across our path as we stood waiting for the light to change at the intersection. After at least an hour and about a gallon of sweat we found the Grand Imperial Palace. We had been trying to follow the map to see the river, not the palace, but oh well. You could buy ice cream there so that cheered us up.


Large statuary in the middle of the road.


Something golden in the distance beckons us.


We finally get inside the palace, eat ice cream, then find out the place is closing in an hour and they don't sell tickets the last hour. Sensing my disappointment, the helpful ticket lady suggested I go around to the next block to another temple that was open later.


So we hiked quite a ways more til we got to Wat Pho, which it turns out is the temple of the reclining Buddha. Yea! All that walking was not for naught!

This guy guards the entrance.


The head of the Buddha


The legs


The toes


The back side of the toes and the whole length!



The soles of his feet look like this. Mother of pearl inlay


Outside were many structures which I believe are called stupas. Cats were lazing around the stupas.


This lovely feline appears to be a Siamese! How apropos.






Some of the stupas were very elaborate and appeared to be made of ceramic.


Close up.


Another area held an assortment of golden Buddhas under red lacquered ceilings.


Thay don't skimp on the roof here in Thailand.


Water feature with concrete pig.


The clouds were building. It looked like a downpour was imminent. We paid a cabbie $3 to take us back to the hotel. It was oh so worth it to ride in the a.c.!
Up to the cooler mountain temps of Chang Mai tomorrow!

Location:Bangkok