BANGKOK AND SURROUNDINGS

January 16 - 17 and 27 - 28, February 10 - 16, 2003


A sprawling city, pivot of the Kingdom. Visiting this city means putting up with noise, pollution and a bad traffic situation; add annual floods and sticky weather, and it's hardly surprising that many people develop an instant dislike for the place. However, beneath the surface Bangkok has plenty to offer: excellent food, cheap accommodation, loads of sights, bustling markets, etc. Enjoy the city for what it is, not for what it isn't. It's not peaceful. It's not sedate. It's not refined. It's not elegant. It's an energetic accumulation of life where over 10 million people live and love…

Some of my personal Bangkok-highlights are:


By the way, did you know that the city's official name holds the Guinness record for having the longest place-name consisting of 152 letters?

Krungthepmahanakhonamornratanakosinmahintarayutthaya
mahadilokpopnoparatanarajthaniburiromudomrajniwesmaha
satarnamornpimarnavatarsatitsakattiyavisanukamprasi

Translation: "City of Angels, great city of immortals, magnificent jeweled city of the god Indra, seat of the King of Ayutthaya, city of gleaming temples, city of the King's most excellent Palace and Dominions, home of Vishnu and all the gods"


We also did two day trips to escape Bangkok for a while: the first one led us to the Floating Market at Damnoen Saduak, to Kanchanaburi and the Bridge over the River Kwai and to Nakhon Pathom (day trip 1), whereas the second one brought us to Ayutthaya, Thailand's ancient capital (day trip 2).

More info on those day trips as well as on Bangkok - read my Online Diary entry!


Bangkok

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Wat Phra Kaeo Phra Siratana Chedi Guard Phra Mondop
Inside the Temple of the Emerald Buddha Outside the Temple of the Emerald Buddha A close-up of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha Shrine
Suamchand Pavillion and Chakri Naha Prasat Hall Aphorn Phimok Prasat Pavillion Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho) Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho)
Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho) Wat Arun Ratcha Wararam A close-up of Wat Arun Ratcha Wararam Chao Praya River
Rama VIII Bridge View from Wat Sraket to the Golden Mount View from Golden Mount Wat Ratchanaddaram
The City Parapet Wat Suthat and The Giant Swing Yaowarat Road, Chinatown Wat Leng Nuei Yee
Street Vendor preparing dried fish Dried mushrooms at Phutalet Market Fish snacks at Phutalet Market Sea cucumbers (?) at Phutalet Market
Yummy creatures.... *grrr* More of these creatures... - bon appetit! Shop selling Royal stuff Shop selling Buddhist stuff
Klong Ong Ang Traffic Tuk Tuk Hua Lumphong Railway Station
Thai Boxing Khaosan Road Street leading to our guesthouse Enjoying a yummy pineapple


Day Trip 1

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"Floating Tourists" at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (Damnoen Saduak) Floating Market (Damnoen Saduak) Floating Market (Damnoen Saduak)
Kanchanaburi War Cemetary Bridge over River Kwai Bridge over River Kwai Phra Pathom Chedi (Nakhon Pathom)


Day Trip 2

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Wat Mahathat Wat Mahathat Wat Mahathat Wat Mahathat
Wat Ratchaburana Wat Ratchaburana Attaching golden leafs on a Buddha statue at Wihan Phra Mong Khon Bophit Exploring Ayutthaya


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