A Day in Bangkok

Just a part of the massive Grand Palace complex

Here is a fact. One day is not enough for Bangkok. It is not enough for any place really--but then, in this world we are just passersby and we try to fit in as much memories and experiences as we can.

Where I stayed

I had a late morning start. Blame it on the comfy mattress of the female dormitory of Golden Mountain Hostel, a place which I would gladly stay in again should I have another chance to visit the city. Aside from the beds, the hostel appealed to me for it is just a walking distance away from the places I wanted to visit.

                    

                    8-bed female dorm room

The shower

The toilet

The bed

Unfortunately, since I started off late, the sun was already up and the scorching heat was just not ideal for walking. I still ended up taking the tuktuk to the Grand Palace where I and a friend residing in Thailand have agreed to meet.

First stop: The Grand Palace 
(only two kilometers away from the Golden Mountain Hostel, tuktuk should be around 80 THB)
Entrance fee: 500 baht
Opening hours: 8:30 a.m to 3:30 pm

The Grand Palace is a complex covering an area of 218,000 sq. meters. King Rama I started building it in 1782 as the official residence of the royal family and as the site of his administrative offices. His successors added to it and now it has become a massive complex. I recommend spending at least three hours in this place in order to soak in the grandeur and the history that comes with it. It is feast for the eyes. You see something different in every corner, and you also see a LOT of tourists. I found it difficult to take a photo with just the building or the temple. I do not know if it is any different in the earlier part of the day.

Wat Phra Kaew also known as Wat Phra Sri RattanaSasadaram or Temple of the Emerald Buddha is a located in the outer area of the palace. It is part of the original buildings built by King Rama I in 1782. Entrance fee is included in the 500 baht entrance fee to the Grand Palace.

Second stop: The Museum of Siam
(just a block away from The Grand Palace)

Unfortunately, when we went there, it was closed so I didn't get to see it.

Third stop: Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn)
Entrance fee: 50 baht
Opening hours: 8:30 a.m to 6:00 pm

More commonly known as Wat Arun or Wat Chaeng to the locals, it is actually Wat Arun Ratchawararam. Located at the west bank of the Chao Phraya river, it is named after the Indian god of dawn, Aruna.

So, what is special about this temple? I guess it must be pretty important to have made it as an image in Thailand's 10 baht coin.

Other temples who have similar distinction are Wat Benjamabophit (the Marble Temple), located in the Dusit District of Bangkok (5 baht coin), the chedis of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (1 baht coin) and Wat Prathat Doi Sothep in Changmai (50 satang or .50 baht)

Fourth stop: Khao San Road

From Wat Arun, we took the Chao Phraya tourist boat (blue flag) for 50 baht to Khao San Road. It was too late, when we learned that there are also much cheaper boats (orange flag) plying the same route. By the time we learned about it, we already are in possession of our non-refundable tourist boat tickets.

The Chao Phraya river boat

Cruising along the river

Anyway, the boat actually has several ports much like a train. So, one has to know exactly where to drop off.

To be honest, I do not see the appeal of Khao San Road. Probably, it is the party atmosphere especially at night and the touristy souvenir items being sold in the shops. It is where one goes when one is interested to meet other travelers I guess.

Fifth stop: Wat Saket (The Golden Mountain temple)
Entrance fee: 50 baht
Opening hours: 8:00 a.m to 7:00 p.m

From Khao San Road, Wat Saket is just around 1.2 kilometers. We could have walked but we were too exhausted from walking under the midday heat. We decided to take a tuktuk instead which charged us 150 baht, same price for locals he said. Ha! According to the Golden Mountain hostel guide to Bangkok--which is just a piece of paper that I got from the reception--it should have cost us 60 baht only.

Since my hostel is just a block away, we stopped by and collected my backpack first before heading to the temple.

It was a perfect ending for day. It was a lot of stairs to climb, 300 to be exact,  but the view of the sunset was just awesome.

            

              The stairs going up.. well in this case, going down.

The chedi

A view of Bangkok

Sunset

A view of the temple from the road

Sixth stop: Mo chit bus station

My original plan was to travel at night to Chiang Mai through the sleeper train. So, I was supposed to go to Hua Lamphong Station. However, my friend recommended that I take the Nakchonchaiair first class bus. It is cheaper but also very comfortable. So instead of going to the train station, we headed to Mo chit bus station. Taking the metered taxi from Wat Saket to Mo Chit costs 129 baht.

I paid 759 baht for a bus seat to Chiang Mai which is like one half of what I would have paid if I took the second class sleeper train.

The bus service was  great--comfortable massage chairs with blankets. Food, water and snacks were also provided. All in all, I'd say this one is a pretty good deal!

...waiting for the bus to start boarding