Thailand - Treasures of Bangkok



Marigold offerings to the Golden Buddha

Bangkok, Thailand

The Golden Buddha

Sweltering heat and excessive humidity greeted us in Thailand. Our early departure from the port was the only saving grace from the cloudless sky and cruel 41C outside. We arrived in Bangkok after about a 2 hour ride to enter the temple of the Golden Buddha. It is absolutely amazing that this several ton, solid gold statue, sat covered with concrete until it was damaged when being moved to this temple location. The concrete cracked when it was dropped revealing the treasure beneath.

One removes their shoes and with particular reverence observes the Buddha image strewn with marigold leis, lotus blossoms and all manner of floral tributes.

Not a Golden Buddha!

Our next stop, after passing numerous street vendors, is the Grand Palace of King Rama 9. The royal family do not live here anymore allowing the 60 acre precinct to be open to the public; tourism is Thailand’s #1 business afterall. The palace was awesome with several buildings closed to the public as they are repositories of relics and very sacred items of Buddhism. 



Yes, it is real gold!



Grand Palace, Bangkok

We did enjoy a walk through the reception throne room and the now funeral palace, the oldest of all the buildings. Mythical beasts guard the temples as well as demons and statues of monkeys and assorted minor gods and goddesses.

Next stop is a long boat tour of the canals of Bangkok. This event was quite the eye opener as the contrast and extremes of poverty and wealth are apparent at each turn in the canal. Huge barges toted rocks, rice, families and all sorts of merchandise up and down the river and canals. We were supplied with huge, freshly baked rolls; thinking they were for us to munch on as we are well trained about food by now, the disappointment soon passed as we fed the local catfish the buns. Masses of enormous fish flipped and fought over the bread flung into the water making the brownish colour look like a whipped coffee soufflé.

Canal view, Bangkok



Lunch followed at a very nice Ramada Hotel which offered a tremendous assortment in a buffet. The break was welcomed as we were getting a bit peeked and the heat was getting to most of us. 

After an hour of munching, we loaded our coach and headed for the predictable shopping arena. This time, it was the largest jewelry store in the world, or so claimed. We witnessed rubies and emeralds being cut and facetted, gold being formed into rings and pendants and then, the retail store. Albeit the store offered unlimited drinks for the men or those who preferred not to shop, perhaps a better choice than shopping. The jewelry was exquisite with prices to match. Thailand’s second largest business is jewelry so the quality and workmanship was excellent.

View of the river from the Ramada, Bangkok

Home to the ship after 6pm, exhausted, heat stressed and somewhat hungry we had a light meal and retired to our stateroom.