10/31/2017 - Free day in Bangkok

We really like our “free” days in many of the cities we explore. It gives us the chance to spend some time in the “localness” of the city. This morning we headed out for a walk, just to look around. 

With all the normal activity on the streets in such a busy city, this is how they are cleaned. 

A local vendor rolling down the sidewalks, selling local vegetables...

With the maze of wires, we wonder about fiber optics. 

Common taxi service...

 

We stopped in a local hotel and saw these Buddhist monks having a chanting ceremony.

Just outside the local hotel -Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva... in the Hindu cosmology, Brahma is the creator of the universe and of all beings.  Shiva is the destroyer, meaning the dissolving force in life. Shiva dissolves in order to create, since in Hinduism, death is necessary for rebirth into a new life. Because 96% of Thailand population is Buddhist, this altar is very unique. 

The ritual is to light ten incense joss sticks, holding the incense sticks close to your forehead as you bow in three directions, concentrating (and reciting if possible) on the Sanskrit words. An English abbreviated translation is indicated. 

Later in the afternoon we stopped at Starbucks. Here’s the Internet login page 😳

Just because that posed a challenge doesn’t mean we can’t try to make some friends🤪

Dinner in the room from the local grocery - sushi, cheese and a little bread. Had to go for the screw top bottle with the wine... It’s local Thai wine and not bad at all😄

10/30/2017 - Touring Bangkok

Our day began at 7am at Lumphini Park (140acres). The park offers rare open public space, plenty of trees, and playgrounds.  We saw groups practicing Thai chi and yoga. This is common for people to come to the park to participate in these free groups. 

Thai Chi...

Yoga...

Today we had the opportunity to use several modes of transportation. We walked, rode the the Skytrain, boat and TukTuk. 

Chao Phraya River

The Skytrain - Public transportation works so well 

The ticket booth

TukTuk

The Grand Palace

This image gives the overall view of the size and grandeur of the entire complex. (No, we didn’t take this photo)

The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782.

The roof of this building is what’s called a Thai chofa which resembles a tall thin bird and looks hornlike. The chofa is generally believed to represent the mythical creature Garuda, half bird and half man, the vehicle of the Hindu god Vishnu.

Sala Karn Parien in Wat Pho. This building is used for teaching meditation. 

Statues standing guard at temples inside Wat Pho

We continued on to some of the temples in the Grand Palace 

Here, Ampaporn (Ann), our guide, folds leaves of a lotus blossom to make a flower. 

The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, at Wat Pho, is directly south of the Grand Palace. 

The temple complex houses the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand, including a 46 meters long Reclining Buddha. 

Inlaid soles of the Reclining Buddha’s feet

Although we were not able to take pictures, there are intricate murals on the inner columns and walls surrounding the Reclining Buddha. These paintings are rarely noticed by visitors enthralled by the gigantic Reclining Buddha. 

Phra Ubosot is the ordination hall, the main hall used for performing Buddhist rituals, and the most sacred building of the complex. It was constructed by King Rama I in the Ayuthaya style.

The Flower Market 

Pak Khlong Talat is a market in Bangkok selling flowers, fruits, and vegetables. It is the primary flower market in Bangkok. The urban poor who make a living stringing and selling phuang malai (flower garlands) buy sacks of jasmine and marigold blossoms.

Banana leaves

Here we are in a TukTuk...

Our guide, Ampaporn (Ann)

And to finish it all up in Bangkok, we bought a Thailand lottery ticket 😳

Not a winner but a good souvineer!😄