The last station of our Far East tour was Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. Bangkok means “City of Angels”. We arrived at Bangkok Don Mueang Airport (DMK) from Phuket after 1.5 hour flight by Nokair. Turkish citizens who have regular passports don’t need visa for 30 days in their travels.

We went to the city center  from the airport by train (State Railway of Thailand). I took about 1 hour (17:40 to 18:40) and cost 20 Bahts. We had planned to go to the night market at least for that day, but it was already 20:00-21:00 when we arrived at hotel. We were so tired and gave up going to the night market. We had a rest and determined the route for the next day. We  have taken photos of the city from the hotel (Lebua at State Tower).

1. day – 05.07.2012

I tried lychee and longan fruits at the breakfast. They taste like rambutan. The shell was hard, and fruits was transparent like jelly. After breakfast, we departed from the hotel to visit 3 temples which are believed bring good luck in Bangkok. When we are trying to find a rickshaw to go to Golden Buddha Temple (Wat Traimit), someone stopped us who said he saw us in the hotel the day before. He bargained with rickshaw driver and sent us to Oriental pier for 10 Bahts. He told us they will ask for 3000-4000 Bahts for canal tour, and to bargain and not giving them more than 1700 Bahts. He said we could visit some other temples as well with this canal tour. I told my husband not to trust this man according to my reading some posts before coming to holiday. But, we got on rickshaw and went to the pier. Then, we bargained for canal tour to 1300 Bahts for 2 people. It was including going to Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) and going to Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho) crossing the river. We fed fish in canal tour and took photos.

When we saw monitor lizard, captain got slow down the boat and approached to it to take photos.

Then we went to Temple of Dawn (50 Bahts). We paid 20 Bahts per person because our boat stopped in the pier. We had 20 minutes to visit temple. Temple of the Dawn was a smaller than I expected, but it has great decorations.

After visiting this temple, we went to the boat to cross the river. We got off in Thai Then pier, and visited Reclining Buddha Temple (100 Bahts) and Grand Palace (400 Bahts). Reclining Buddha was quite large. It is the widest temple in Bangkok. Buddha was 46 m length, 15 m high and gold plated. Its feet are 3 m length and have figures made of mother of pearl. There were bowls behind of Reclining Buddha and people were putting coins in each of them. After putting coin to the last bowl, they were making a wish and believe that will be come true. This was quite an imposing temple.

Grand Palace was so huge place, we were very tired after visiting. There was Emerald Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Kaew) in it and taking photos was forbidden. As guide told us, Buddha has been dressed 3 different clothes according to season (summer, rainy, cool). These clothes are made ​​of gold. We have seen summer clothes because went in summer season. Meanwhile, we bought mango and ate. Its taste was OK, but not wonderful.

After visiting Grand Palace, we returned back to the hotel and took photos of the city.

2. day – 06.07.2012

Firstly, we went to Thewes pier getting on Oriental pier (15 Bahts). Then, we visited Standing Buddha Temple (Wat Intharawihan) and Marble Temple (Wat Benchamabophit). Standing Buddha is 32 m high and 10 m width.

There was a sitting Buddha in Marble Temple.

After visiting these temples, we went to Vimanmek Mansion Museum. We got free its ticket when we bought ticket for Grand Palace the day before (Vimanmek Mansion Museum, Support Museum abhisek Dusit Throne Hall, Sanam Chandra Palace, Arts of the Kingdom Exhibition at Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall tickets were included), it was valid for 7 days. We would like to seize the opportunity. When we get there, we visited Royal Elephant National Museum firstly.

I firstly heard about white elephants in this museum and they are very important in Thailand. Then, we visited Vimanmek Mansion Museum, taking photo was forbidden.

After then, we visited “Local Textile Exhibition Hall Honouring Her Majesty the Queen’s 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary 12th August 2004” which takes place in the same garden. We entered museums and exhibition halls putting off our shoes as in the temples. Then we take photos of Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall on the way. I think, it was the most similar building to buildings in Europe.

Then we went to MBK Center and had dinner. We ordered Stir Fried Roast Beef With Pepper, Yana Steak and Satay Beef.

We ordered tea after dinner. A huge cup of tea serviced with milk near it. Here, I tried milky tea firstly.

Then, we returned back to the hotel and took night photos of the city from Dome.

 3. day – 07.07.2012

Today, I would like to see Golden Buddha Temple (40 Bahts) which is one of the 3 temples which are believed bring good luck in Bangkok. After breakfast, we tried to find a rickshaw to go to this temple. We started talking with a rickshaw driver, and he told us he could take us for 150 Bahts. After bargaining, he said 100 Bahts, but we were decided not to give more than 50 Bahts. It was already 2 km length way, we could walk and started to walk. Then, again someone stopped us who said he saw us in the hotel and he bargained with rickshaw driver for 30 Bahts to take us to Golden Buddha Temple. Of course we were very surprised. When we tried to bargain, they didn’t accept 50 Bahts; but when someone from Thailand bargain, they accepted 30 Bahts. Unfortunately, this rickshaw driver brought us to another temple (Wat Maha Pruettharam Worawihan).

We thought that he understand where to take us, but again we were wrong. At last, we could check our place from navigation of our cell phone, and we tried to tell to rickshaw driver to take us to Golden Buddha Temple. Unfortunately, they don’t understand your requests. We showed from the map where we want to go, but they didn’t understand any time, and they took us to their friends who know English. And, they said temple was closed at that time  and tried to take us to a shopping centre. Of course, we did our research before we coming to holiday, and every time we told them we do not have time to go to shopping malls. Luckily he took us to Golden Buddha Temple at last, and we could see sitting Buddha statue made  of pure gold weighing 5.5 tons.

Then, we returned back to the hotel to get our luggage, and departed to go to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) for returning.

Lastly, I want to say that if you visit Bangkok, don’t return back without seeing floating market and made Thai massage. We couldn’t do these, I wish we could. See you in our 2013 holiday 🙂