Model of Angkor Wat
We just survived another interesting (aka terrifying) van ride through Bangkok. Perhaps the driver didn’t fully realize he was driving a 10-passenger van. Instead, he acted as though he was driving a scooter – cutting
in and out of 3 lanes of bumper-to-bumper traffic, taking short cuts through narrow city streets, and even driving on the wrong side of the road to pass multiple vehicles. But, as I said, we survived the ride. That’s a good thing because
now we can share what we saw this morning.
We were picked up at 7AM for a guided tour of the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew). We were the
first people on the van and we traveled on to pick up 8 other passengers (one from the U.S. and seven from Japan). Our guide, Shitkanth (Thai with an Indian name), had a very heavy accent. It was difficult to understand him, and Steve (even with
the help of his hearing aid) had to depend upon me to translate. The Japanese tourists seemed to have less difficulty – their sound system must have some similarities, but Tony (the other American, from Atlanta), Steve and I had to listen very
carefully just to understand half of what Shitkanth told us. This included Tony following Shitkanth’s directions for renting long pants. You heard that right – Tony had to rent long pants. He was wearing shorts and that
is prohibited at the Grand Palace and the temples. Therefore local vendors outside the Palace gates rent long pants. We all chuckled, as poor Tony had to don hideous black pants with orange and yellow flames all over them. Tony was
a good sport. In fact everyone on the tour had a great sense of humor.
The beauty of the Grand Palace cannot be described. The outside of the buildings (some in gold leaf and some in small pieces of glass) were remarkable.
It was the official residence of the Kings of Siam (Thailand) until from 1782 to 1925. It is still used for ceremonies and official business. There are several buildings on the grounds including a residence used for visiting dignitaries.
There is also replica of Angkor Wat (the largest Hindu temple complex in the world). There is a building just to house the King’s golden throne, and a building in which part of the King and I was filmed. But, the largest and most elaborate
of the buildings houses the Emerald Buddha. The murals inside reminded me of the inside of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. In fact Wat Phra Kaew is considered the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand and it is a pilgrimage site just as the Vatican
is for Catholics. The one problem was the heat. In fact, we were hoping to leave the group and go it alone to the Reclining Buddha, but Steve (of all people) was suffering from dehydration and I didn’t want to be left alone in Bangkok with
husband who may have needed medical attention. So we stayed with the group.
After the Grand Palace and Temple tour we were escorted back to the van and were then hustled out to a gem company where our guide unceremoniously dropped
us off to see a video followed by an escorted showing of gold, ruby, and sapphire jewelry. The jewelry was beautiful and very expensive. However, in order to get a ride home we needed to look at the goods and graciously decline to buy anything.
Then we were taken outside to catch the van ride home. When it comes to being driven around Thailand we have learned to be trusting. No, change that. We have learned to be trusting, to buckle up when possible, and to hold on tightly when
seatbelts aren’t available.
We are taking this afternoon to rest up, hydrate ourselves, and spend time with Magen. Steve babysat last night so Katie and I could go out to eat (Tom is on his way home from the U.S.). Tonight
will be my turn to babysit as Steve and Katie go out.
I will post some pictures of the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (although photography was not allowed inside the Temple building).