Tuesday 5th November, 2019 – BANGKOK
Went to the French Embassy to get my passport renewed as I only have one blank page left. Submitted the application and should get a new one in 3 weeks time !
We walked towards the centre and stopped at Wat Traimit, Temple of the Golden Buddha. It houses a 5.5-tonne statue of a seated Buddha. The gold sculpture dates back to the 13th century and measures 5 metres in height. The solid gold Sukhothai-style Buddha image was originally covered in plaster, but its original façade was revealed after movers accidentally dropped it.
Bangkok – Wat Traimit 
Bangkok – Wat Traimit
We then went on to Jim Thompson House.
Jim Thompson was an american architect and entrepreneur who fell in love with Thailand after serving there during the Second World War and came back to Bangkok to live. He collected parts of various derelict Thai homes and had them reassembled in their current location in 1959 to create a unique showcase of thai architecture. His small but splendid Asian art collection and his personal belongings are also on display in the main house.
He is also credited for reviving the local handmade silk cottage industry after sending samples to various fashion houses in Europe and turning it into a profitable business.
He disappeared in mysterious circumstances in the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia in 1967 and his body was never found.
Wednesday 6th November, 2019 – Bangkok
National Museum
The museum is on the site of a former minor royal palace, built in 1782. It has several buildings housing exhibits ranging from religious statues and artifacts to musical instruments, royal jewels, ceramics etc… The history wings gives some insight in the prehistoric Sukhotai-Ayuthaya period.
I particularly appreciated the videos showing the process of mother of pearl furniture engraving and handpainted ceramics.
There was also an excellent special exhibition on the discovery and history of the chinese Terracotta Army.
On the way back to our hotel, we stopped at a local wholesale market where mountains of pineaples, coconuts were on display.
Thursday 7th November, 2019 – Bangkok – Grand Palace
We took a small ferry on a canal near our hotel and this took us right near the “Golden Mount” in the old part of town.
The Temple of the Golden Mount, or Wat Saket, is a low hill with a pointed golden temple (chedi). It’s built on the site of a earlier, failed temple building that turned to rubble and became a hill. Wat Saket was once the highest point in Bangkok.
Wat Saket was built in the late 18th century, although it has been renovated since then. At the base, there is a tree-covered cemetery holding the remains of thousands of plague victims from the late 18th century. To get to the top of the chedi you have to climb 344 steps that circle the structure. At the top, you are afforded views of many famous temples and landmarks, including the nearby Grand Palace.
We were there just before the annual festival held in the first week of november (candle lit procession) and the Chedi was wrapped in red cloth for this important religious festival.
Bangkok – Canal commuting 
Bangkok – View from the top of the Golden Mount 
Bangkok – View from the top of the Golden Mount 
Bangkok – View from the top of the Golden Mount 
Bangkok – Golden Mount Chedi
We continued on our way to the Grand Palace, going through a quarter selling religious items , large and small , you are spoiled for choice!
Bangkok – Religious wholesaler 
Bangkok – old town 
The Grand Palace
The Grand Palace was built in 1782 and for 150 years it was the home of the Thai King, the Royal court and the administrative seat of government.
Within the palace complex are several impressive buildings including The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which contains the small but famous and greatly revered Emerald Buddha that dates back to the 14th century.
The Buddha image is actually carved from a single block of jade (not emerald). Raised high on a series of platforms, no one is allowed near the Emerald Buddha except HM the King. A seasonal cloak, changed 3 times a year to correspond to the summer, winter, and rainy season, covers the statue. The changing of the robes is performed only by the King to bring good fortune to the country during each season. ( no photos are allowed inside the temple).
