My long planned trip to Thailand finally started in late May, when I landed in Bangkok at the beautiful modern airport and had a 25 minute ride into my nice hotel on the banks of the Chopra River in downtown. I spent the afternoon lounging by the big pool, watching the fascinating mix of interesting watercraft pass on the busy river. Next morning, I had a guide pick me up early and off we went. We walked to the river bank near the hotel and boarded a small Thai river boat for a tour of the downtown by river and then an interesting tour of many of the canals that cross Bangkok. The river had many fish which could be fed and the sights were great . Then we went back out to the main river and to the pier for the famous Golden Temple of Dawn. It was absolutely stunning, and I climbed half way up to take some photos of the temple, grounds, and across the river to the Royal Palace and Reclining Budda Palace complex. We stopped and I made a small donation for one of the monks, who was very grateful and then blessed us and placed a string bracelet on me for safety, to not be removed until my return home. The guide then took me around the grounds and to the pier to cross the river on a small ferry to the other side and the nearby Royal Palace. After a short hike of several blocks from the river, we entered the Royal Palace Grounds. I have been to Versailles and the St Petersburg Russia palaces and this palace complex was as magnificent as any I have ever seen. There were an astonishing number of gold clad buildings, statues, and palaces. We wandered for a couple hours through the huge complex and I even saw the Emerald Budda. Finally, my university student guide left me with instructions to walk back towards the river ferry and left to tour the huge Reclining Budda Palace and complex. I spent another hour or two there and nearly got lost inside, it was so vast. Then I made my way back to the river ferry and caught a shuttle or river taxi back to a stop across from my hotel. I took a ferry across and then walked back to the hotel after a long and unforgettable day in Bangkok. The next morning on day 3, I was picked up and taken back to the huge airport to fly on Bangkok Airways north for the hour flight to Chiang Mi for my 4 day stay.
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| The view from my hotel room on the river banks in downtown Bangkok |
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| downtown Bangkok from my hotel grounds |
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| cruising along one of the many canals of Bangkok |
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| one of the many beautiful temples along the canals |
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| I am arriving by boat at the amazing Temple of the Golden Dawn |
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| Looking up the stairs to the observation level of the spectacular Temple |
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| One of the beautiful smaller buildings on the temple grounds |
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| Looking across the river from the observation deck towards the Royal Palace |
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| an early view into the Royal Palace from just inside the main entry |
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| It is hard to find words to describe the Royal Palace beauty |
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| Another of the stunning buildings in the Royal Palace complex |
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| Yet another incredible scene |
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| Admiring one of the many temples and statues |
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| another amazing view |
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| one of my very favorite sights ! How do you like those step railings ?? |
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| The detail and complexity of the buildings was amazing |
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| The elephant is very important and prominent in Thailand |
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| Another of my favorite views |
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| And yet another from in front of the Temple of the Emerald Buda |
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| Royal Palace with Temple of the Golden Dawn in background across the river |
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| More of the beauty of the Royal Palace complex |
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| another "Golden" view |
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| The view inside the Reclining Buda Temple of the huge reclining Buda |
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| A vast , beautiful complex in the Reclining Buda Palace grounds |
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| yet another gorgeous temple structure |
A view of the heart of the Reclining Buda complex
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| and more unique structures |
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| endless number of ever interesting structures |
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| The view inside one of the temples |
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| A final view of the wonderful Reclining Buda palace complex |
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