Bangkok or "Krung Thep Maha Nakhon"
Bangkok is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. It is actually called Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or as locals say “Krung Thep.” It was a small trading post in the 1500s, but the Burmese war pushed Siam south. The Chao Praya River, which winds around the area, made for a good location to rebuild in the 1700s. In the 20th Century, the city boomed and is now the clear focal point of commerce and tourism and the home to 6.5M people.
We made our way from the relatively rurual northern Thailand by train, passing through beautiful jungle forests and green valleys to arrive in the big city at night. When the morning sun arrived, it was clear we needed to put our urban skills to work and hit the pavement!
Temples, Temples, Temples
The temples of Chiang Mai were old and glorius. In Chiang Rai, the “Wats” were colorful and sparkling. However, it is certain that Bangkok is the financial and political center of Thailand and the temples show it. Clearly the money and vision to make these temples shine was there. The Grand Palace and Wat Pho are massive complexes. Even the “smaller” temples in the city are impressive.
Yes, temple fatigue was a concern, but these places really pull you in. So buckle up friends and dive into the videos below. We only wish we could provide the smells of the wonderful Thai food that surrounds the temples (leaving out the occasional wafts of the city sewers, of course).
Three Temples on Day #1
We woke on our first day in the city with renewed energy. Alex put her 30-year old history with Bangkok to use and we set course to see all we could see in the sunny 90+F weather. We managed to hit 3 distinctly different Wats. Enjoy! (Hint: Watch in full screen mode.)
The Grand Palace & Wat Phrae Kaew
Day two in Bangkok, Alex lined us up with the main attraction – the Grand Palace. Established in 1782, it serves as the ceremonial residence of the Kings of Thailand, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wak Phrae Kaew) and many other religious and government buildings. We got there early and beat (some) of the heat and tourist hourdes. The scale, quality and level of detail is truly unbelievable. (Hint: Watch in full screen mode.)
Wat Pho & the Lying Buddha
Literally acroos the street from the massive Grand Palace is yet another large scale site. Wat Pho houses a temple, a monastery, a school, a museum, the offices of Natural Thai Medicine and more. Wat Pho is the oldest temple in Bangkok…existing when Siam main location was still north in Ayutthaya, in the 17th century. It was built by King Rama I. (Hint: Watch in full screen mode.)
Wat Arun – “Temple of the Dawn”
Not as big as the Grand Palace or as old as Wat Pho, Wat Arun may be the most iconic structure in the city. The giant, ornate towers sit in the Thonburi area on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. We were drained by the time we reached Arun after 2 large sites and full afternoon heat, but you can’t help but be drawn in by these structures. It was also a rare treat to get to walk on (at least) the lower levels and interact with these 200 year old works of art. (Hint: Watch in full screen mode.)
Exploring Bangkok - A "Temple-Free Tour
Bangkok is a huge, sprawling city. No one could tell us where “down town” was located. The province is large (11M people), but the urban area is 700 square kilometres (270 sq mi) with 6.5M inhabitants. We attempted to put a small dent into the place with a purposeful trip to the main financial area (ie, where the tall building were visible).
Like many cities in SE Asia, it is a complex mix of the very modern and very old, as well as, the very cheap and the VERY expensive. We were not prepared for the size of shopping malls and all the activities inside. As with our expeirence in the north of Thailand, hitting the museums and cultural centers is super helpful to better understand and absorb everything you encounter.
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Thanks for these. I only had 4 days there and so obviously missed so much! Visiting with you guys is the next best thing to another trip! So appreciate your sharing. FYI Quite chilly and very wet in Edmonds!
I’m so glad you can “virtually” join us! Today it was a “cold” day in Steam Reap and only reached 84!