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Martin Malik
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My name is Martin and this is my story. I travel because it is fun and a great way to continue self-education which enriches the worldview and opens my eyes to unnoticeable things, both in the distant countries and the closest ones. Let's get to know other cultures but let's also respect and defend our own.

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The Politics of Truth

===============================================  “Religion, like alcohol, should only be for wise people”

Martin Malik

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Trips to Asia

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A few words from the author

Whilst travelling from the Christian remains of Constantinople and the ancient sands of Persia, through the Himalayas, the Great Wall of China and the dense jungles of Borneo, I realized that the world must have its order. Therefore despite my beautiful adventures and experiences I always remembered which culture I myself belonged to, and I also appreciated the beauty and values of our beautiful - White Christian civilization.

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Travel reports

Bangkok travel guide

By: Martin Malik
All travel reports are translated electronically although minor improvements are sometimes made.

Bangkok travel guide 

 

Bangkok is a city where we always start and end our adventure around Thailand; unless we go to other countries in the region. Bangkok is a beautiful city of attractive Buddhist temples, but not only that. In Bangkok, I spent time on the Chao Phraya River looking at the Wat Arun temple, I trained thai-boxing, and was at the zoo. Thai cuisine itself is already an interesting experience, what means that a visit to Bangkok can be also a culinary adventure.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Introduction to Bangkok

In 2011, I had a 4 month tour of South East Asia, including a 10 week trip across Thailand, and although this reportage will also be published, this section will only include my “Bangkok Guide”. This is in my opinion a very special, bustling city that offers much more than nothing is described in the available guides. Bangkok is also the most visited city in Southeast Asia and most of the flights have their own landings.

To many travelers, including me, Bangkok is also the most popular base for neighboring countries in the region.Besides, I realize that not everyone has the opportunity to travel in Thailand for 10 weeks and most of the time unfortunately only in Bangkok.

Thai-boxing in Bangkok. Thailand.

Thai-boxing in Bangkok. Thailand.

I will focus on the description of the most important temples and other sights, although I also want my report to go a few steps further than the average description. That is why I will also take up many other interesting topics that are characteristic of the whole of Thailand. I’m not sure if I will travel all over Thailand again, but I will definitely return to Bangkok. When this happens, I will add new descriptions every time to improve this report.

I also recommend practical information about Thailand, although in this report I also posted prices for certain products and services. Many themes are also widely described in my 2004 Thailand trip , which I also recommend.

There were times when you needed to see the country or city. I am in Bangkok I recommend a full 3 days as an absolute, truncated minimum though it is better to spend 5 days or even a week actively exploring.Same snacks on the street and rest in the shade takes a lot of time.

Each object described will have at least one photo of the object.

Description of the temples I have visited and other interesting objects in Bangkok:

  •  Chinatown
  •  Ko Ratanakosin (Wat Phra Kaew or Temple of the Emerald Buddha), Wat Phra (Temple of the Reclining Buddha), Wat Arun, National Museum (description at the end)
  •  Ratchadamnoen Street (Wat Ratchanatdaram, the royal pavilion and statue of King Rama III, Ark, Wat Saket-Golden Mountain, Democracy Monument, Wat Suthat and Sao Ching Cha swing)
  •  Dusit (Wat Benchamabophit – Marble Temple and Phra Buddhajinaraya Buddha, Dusit Palace and Vimanmek Palace, Dusit Zoo)
  •  Siam shopping center
Wat Saket temple (Phu Khao Thong). Bangkok. Thailand.

Wat Saket temple (Phu Khao Thong). Bangkok. Thailand.

Very interesting, characteristic things for Thailand described in my Bangkok guide :

  •  airport shuttle
  •  cheap room on Khaosan Road and more on the tourist center
  •  tropical heat
  •  Thai cuisine
  •  Thai massage
  •  girls for sale
  •  thai-boxing (muay thai)
  •  A nightmare of mixed marriages with Thai women
  •  Bangkok-city canals (East Venice)
  •  crazy rickshaw (tuk tuk)
  •  Visit the expensive stores for strength
  •  love for the king
Fruit stall. Bangkok. Thailand.

Fruit stall. Bangkok. Thailand.

!!! All the listed and described temples here are relatively close to each other and in my opinion only the Chinatown and Dusit districts require a short tuk tuk ride and the Wat Arun temple ferry. This information should be given in case the driver of the tuk tuk told me that you have to go 10km and pay 500 baht for the course. This is obviously not true.

Arrival to Bangkok

(Airport Bangkok and its change for 7 years, transport from Bangok airport to Kaosan Road, Siam Commercial Center and general description of the Kaosan tourist ghetto)

At Bangkok airport I got late in the evening but this time only for one night because the next day I had a plane to Burma. Anyway I had to leave the airport to pick up my luggage so I also went to the city. I also noticed the first changes for the better. Seven years ago the airport in Bangkok was very small and now it is a huge, multi-storey edifice decorated with great statues from Thai folk tales. Also in 2004 there was a direct bus from the airport to Kaosan Road and now it is an overpass to Paya Tay, and from there you have to take a taxi for 100 bhat or bus no 2 for 7 bhat.

Shortly after, I reached Paya Thai and from there two more stops by train to the Siamese shopping center. There was an exhibition of orchids and richly decorated riverbanks, also framed in orchids. I also met a nice girl, whom I made a short photo session and shook the whole object. Then I broke through the big bazaar on the street and wiped my brow, in the great heat and noise of Bangkok, it came to me that I had had enough. I whistled for a tuk tuk and drove on old trash or Kaosan Road. Nothing changed here. It is still a tourist ghetto close to the historic part of the city, which has the task of earning tourists. Kaosan Rd would be best described as: Western and Thai food in restaurants and in the street, jamming music, shopping, cheap hostels, thai boxing and autographs inviting you to visit the brothel. Fortunately, there are massage parlors, which are the enclave of peace and comfort.

Anyway, Kaosan Rd is a good place to go and where a lot of people start their adventure with Thailand. I did not have much time that night, so I soon returned to the airport where I slept on the floor in the corridor to not miss my flight to Burma. After nearly a month I returned to Bangkok to pick up my regular traveling companion and a child who is a memorial to one of our better trips. I put them on the train, then to the taxi and after a while we were at Kaosan Road. They were tired after the flight from England and I finished after my expedition in Burma. Here we have just started our beautiful, Thai adventure.

After I lost my job in England, I became a rickshaw driver in Thailand.

After I lost my job in England, I became a rickshaw driver in Thailand.

Bangkok – description of interesting places

In Bangkok I started and finished my expedition. I often return here on the way to the north and south of Thailand and to the neighboring countries.

The taxi pulled us off to Kaosan Road where we quickly found a cheap room for 250 bhat for 2 persons and a child. That evening we were tired but we went out to eat Thai specialties. Duck with rice and vegetables for only 40 bhat, chocolate pancakes for only 20 bhat and plenty of fruit. I also visited my old boxing thai club where I had to go the next day.

The next morning we had a lazy morning, but in the end, after a fruitful snack and a portion of sticky rice we went for a tour. As soon as we left the court, the heat that accompanied us most of the time was immediately struck by us, despite the rainy season. For the first few days, especially in the city, it was unbearable for me and I was ruthlessly drunk. On the hottest days, I felt that the Thai sun was passing through my straw hat, even after dark, and so it was very hot. We needed time to adapt to a warm tropical climate and at the very beginning it was hard to sleep despite the windmills being turned on all night.

Walking through the street stalls with exotic food, souvenir shoppers and the National Museum, which I had planned later, we reached the district called Ko Ratanakosin , where one of the most beautiful and sacred temples in Bangkok is located. The first object was the most famous in Thailand Wat Phra Kaew , also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha . This huge temple complex is a true phenomenon of the sacred architecture of Syam. The whole complex consists of a magnificent complex of buildings founded by King Rama I in 1782, which was later expanded by successive rulers. No other temples in Thailand are so beautiful, so rich with the splendor of monuments like the Royal Palace. No other temples are so important historically and they do not have the same meaning as this place. There are objects that look like palaces, decorated with pillars and charateristic shimmering roofs, always with long golden hooks upstairs.

Temple complex near Khao San Road. Bangkok. Thailand.

Temple complex near Khao San Road. Bangkok. Thailand.

In addition, there are stupas, shining mosaics and richly decorated chapels with Buddha’s face. For tourists, it is another wonderful property that makes a great impression, but for the practicing Thai Buddhists, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is a sacred place where they pray. In addition to these special monuments, there are two characters from Thai mythology called Tosagirivan and Tosakirithorn . They are richly decorated, have prominent fangs and elephant trumpets, and hold swords. The entire area within the walls of Wat Phra Kaew is lined with white marble, there is a beautiful vegetation and a number of Buddha statues and many intricately decorated chapels. There are also high, golden columns with pointed spiers and many sculptures around. Particularly interesting here are the roofs, but on the other hand, the splendor of this place could be described for a long time.

 At the Royal Palace there is also the temple and statue of the Emerald Buddha, or the symbol of the king and of the whole nation. It is one of the holiest and most famous of the Buddha and is located in the main temple. Its history is very turbulent as it was captured by the Luftwaffe and placed in Luang Prabang where it was then picked up by the Taj. Inside the walls of Wat Phra Kaew there is the Royal Palace , which was once the formal residence of the king. Today is used only for official events such as coronation. From the outside it is another beautiful object in this area, but in the center you can only enter the invitation of the king himself. The entrance to the property costs 350 bhat and although it is a more expensive ticket with all you have to necessarily enter and I think you will even go back there. Wat Phra Kaew also looks great under the cover of the night because it is beautifully lit and therefore it often appears on postcards.

Then we walked through the street bazaar of stuffed but very interesting places where we ate some grilled squid and octopus and stocked up with delicious fruit. We walked along the shore so on the right side, on the other side of the river we saw a dazzling Wat Arun (but about this object I will write afterwards). After a snack consisting of grilled bananas, we arrived at another magnificent temple, Wat Pho – but the unofficial name is ” the Temple of Reclining Buddha.” It is the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok dating from the 16th century. There are many beautifully decorated, mosaic-shaped objects and a rich collection of Buddha statues. Wat Pho owes its name to Thailand’s largest reclining Buddha, passing into the final state of the nirvana. It is 46m long and 15m high. It is covered with a layer of gold though the special thing is its footprint, which houses 108 distinctive signs for the Buddha. Besides, Wat Pho is another wonderful show of Thai architecture where you can spend hours. You can also climb some of the buildings, walk between the narrow streets on both sides, admire the small trees, mosaic wall stupas and a number of Buddha statues. Wat Pho Temple is also the national center of teaching and traditional Thai meditation, including the world-famous Thai massage.

Wat Pho - the unofficial name is "Temple of the Reclining Buddha". Bangkok. Thailand.

Wat Pho – the unofficial name is “Temple of the Reclining Buddha”. Bangkok. Thailand.

On that day there were already all the monuments that I saw because I was hurrying for my expectation of thai boxing training. As I did 7 years ago in the same place, now I wanted to give myself everything. Soon afterwards I went to practice. Thai boxing is ” muay thai ” is a national sport of this country and is cultivated by many people. In many parts of Thailand, you can see young boys practicing kicking on the street and for many it is the only way to break free and maintain their families. Thais are willing to invite foreign players to train with them and it is a very good way to earn extra money from these very poor people. But it is always that no one comes to Thailand to train with the Taji but to learn from them because they are simply the best and the hardest. In them there is a true spirit of struggle, which in Europe is not so strong. I believe that if in Europe someone is a champion, then in Thailand (without prior training) would certainly be able to recalculate. Here the sport has its own soul and it can be seen in the ring, on the face and on the music accompanying it.

In Thailand, this is not just a training event but an event that people expect and which they watch with passion. I have been practicing karate kyokushin for many years, which is considered to be the toughest but what I had to experience in the ring in Thailand gave me a whole new perspective on how to train. The place I was practicing was in the air, under the roof because it is too hot to close in the room.We had a ring in the middle, a couple of bags and mirrors, and powerful speakers with aggressive music to add to the tempo. It started quite simply. We made some slams, a normal warm-up followed by a few rounds on the bag and dials with the instructor. Around me were people from many parts of the world and we all treated thai boxing very seriously. After a few rounds and extrusion outside the ring finally entered the ring and for almost half an hour I worked hard kicking the shield. I noticed that here is not digging up high either from marketing because thai boxing does not look nice or filmed. It is physically and conditionally very heavy and very hard to use where only a few techniques are used. There are semi-circular kicks on the ribs and on the legs, straight kicks and knees, and blows with fists and elbows – and indeed enough. When I made the twine, I kicked high and it hit the market, everyone liked it and the Thai were impressed because it looks spectacular and no one is doing so, but their seemingly simple techniques are enough to beat many “acrobats”. We also made a lot of five and ten kicks for darts and bangs with elbows and knees. This is the sport. I also trained with a bigger player because in Thai boxing you can catch.

After training I was exhausted but happy and adrenaline made it easier for me. It was hot all the time, the guy outside the ring gave me iced water in the breaks and the Taj and the tourists stood behind the ring and screamed and took pictures. So when I did it 7 years ago, it was very hard, especially because of the heat and because I was 7 years older. Still, I was happy here and I would recommend that every traveler try it a few times. Unfortunately, workouts are not cheap. One will cost 400 bhat, 2 workouts 700 bhat and 3 times 1000 bhat. Then there are more discounts but it is expensive too. After all I was exhausted so after shower I had to sleep. I admit that I was used to the training but the heat was over me.

Thai-boxing. Training hard in Bangkok.

Thai-boxing. Training hard in Bangkok.

I woke up after dark but on Khao San Road and its surroundings life just started. That evening I was quite hungry but even more curious as I wanted to try as much. Thai cuisine is based mostly on rice, although frequent additions include all kinds of meat, bamboo stalks and obligatory chillies. From what I’ve noticed, Thai people do not often cook, they just fry and the food is always so sharp that no Thai stomach is able to accept that food, in addition to the local climate. Fortunately, the Thai people are understanding and for Europeans they fry gently (as for their taste) though for me it was quite sharply. A good example is the seafood soup “tum yam kum”, which is so sharp that it can barely eat. When I was here in 2004 I had to insist that they do not add chilies and now they have learned to not throw them in the dishes. On both sides of the street were restaurants, and on the first floor disco and massage parlors. I did not go to any pub because the street was too much. There were vendors of skewers with small chunks of chicken in chillies and seafood. I tried everything a bit, but mostly octopus.

They fried pasta in large frying pans with vegetables as they threw them up while making funny faces. Next to were all kinds of soups and fruit juices. Everything was very colorful, very good and ridiculously cheap and quite different from Europe. One woman was selling scorpions and preparing on the spot but I wanted something else. I ate a portion of fried worms with cinnamon, though I’m not sure about the cinnamon. The worms were very good and tasted like very delicate meat just that it fired me under the teeth. Just like some kind of cereal on the milk.I think I tried something from every stall and every time I was very pleased, whether it was a small chicken, octopus with pasta or worms. There were, of course, chocolate pancakes, endless exotic fruits such as jackfruit and rambutan, and mango and papaya. At last I drank coconut milk, and there are many kinds here and I just walked. There was music all the time, and the people were having a good time and they ate all the time.

At the corner of Khao San Road was Gulliver’s pub, which was a local disco where drinks drifted and beautiful and always hot Thai girls came to meet the boys from Europe. Some also came to make money but anyway it was a very happy place. Besides this kind of pubs are a lot and the whole neighborhood, just as the whole of Thailand is probably for sale. When we went out on a bustling and very busy street, I first dealt with a whole row of tuk tuk drivers who pressed me to take pictures of naked girls in the bath , saying “very nice, very cheap, take you?” But I was with my “traveling companion”, so they made it a secret. By the way, I adhere to the misconception that every Thai is a prostitute. This conviction is very lively in the mindset of sex-tourists who just roll around the brothels and clubs with the ping-pong show. Although the problem of prostitution in many places has been out of control, in the provinces, away from tourist centers girls are raised very conservative and do not know English words. Unfortunately, where there are slender body tourists are always on sale and besides money, justification is religion. According to Buddhism, girls believe that sacrifice for their loved ones in this life will be better in the future.

 Older gentlemen in Europe think they have found love and they do it just to keep their families. A detailed description of my experience and my experience with the Tajki is on my 2004 expedition . I assure you that this is a very interesting and colorful topic written with humor, which in a very delicate way intertwined through a large part of the reportage. I used to think that the Thai people have better characters than Europeans because they behave as if they lived for their men. They care about them and are not snobby. Now I know that the key to such behavior is only the lack of money. Had the sweet and devoted Thai at all times had a decent fortune, they would not have left us a dry thread.

Young Buddhist monks. Bangkok. Thailand.

Young Buddhist monks. Bangkok. Thailand.

At this point I also want to laugh at the mixed marriages and naive Europeans who ‘fall in love’ with Thai women, marry them, build houses and have children with them. However, once they gave them what they were supposed to give, divorce takes place and the Thai court declares all the Thai women and ex-husbands are deported. Perhaps there are also happy marriage but I do not believe that the Thai are really in love. In Thailand there is nothing of goodness or heart of love, it is always business. In addition, from the point of view of the need for racial cleansing, which I mentioned in my “From the Author” section , I am completely opposed to the mixing of races – above all if they are children. The topic of mixed marriages in Thailand with the “reason” of women in this country is quite popular.

I am sorry that not all beauties are women. Quite often you can meet ladyboys or men dressed up as women with full makeup and female movements. Some had voices like the tube and too muscular hands but many were done perfectly. Unfortunately, Adam’s apple, though, in the case of the Taj is not always sure. Just in case, I can not take anything that is too high and throws a man at the same time. I suspect that the mistake can be psychologically very painful. I personally think that watching transvestites from a psychological point of view is a very interesting experience and should be treated with humor. On the other hand, after a few weeks, excessive pedaling of this country, especially in some places, after some time I was a little bit off.

My last, very pleasant experience this evening was Thai massage , which I had several times a week during this trip. When I got in, the sheets lay thickly on the floor and the ubiquitous scent of incense sticks. I lay down on one of them and then the older man began to massage me. At first I will say that Thai massage can be quite painful because it relieves joints and muscles by bending the massaged person in every, most uncomfortable way. In short, it is the way of oriental therapy and the healing method in which the masseur pressing the massages carries out bodily manipulation of the blood stream and energy channels of the person massaged. In massage therapists use more body parts than any other kind of medical manipulation. For this purpose, not only the hands and fingers but also the elbows, knees, forearms, heels and other parts of the foot are used. The masseur first hit me so hard that it got hot and then he grabbed my hands from behind, blocked my spine with the heel in the lower part and pulled slowly but strongly against myself and I felt like my arms were firing. At times, he also pulled on a shoulder blade, sometimes knitting my ankles, and leaning heavily on my spine, so that my bones were firing again. The same thing I did with many other parts of the body and sometimes it was quite painful. Sometimes it was nice, but Thai massage was very unpredictable as I did not know when to shoot something again. Often, too, bending me back so he moved his neck with his foot that he shot me too. When it was over, I felt very rested and energetic although I thought it would be the opposite. Definitely Thai massage (200 bhat for 1h) is a great experience after which I felt like a newborn. As for other types of massage the offer is very rich here. Many times I had foot massage (60-100 bhat for 0.5h) and oil massage for 250 bhat for 1h. Every time it’s worth it.

The Chao Phraya River crossing Bangkok and the Wat Arun temple in the distance. Thailand.

The Chao Phraya River crossing Bangkok and the Wat Arun temple in the distance. Thailand.

The days in Bangkok passed quickly and pleasantly. Monuments interwoven with good meals, massage and thai-boxing training made us not bored. The money went a little faster than it was seven years ago but it was still a great value for what we got in return. Bangkok has so many attractions that we are constantly on the move. The next day we went to the harbor on the Chao Phraya River from where we had a good view of the new bridge named after King Rama IX . By the way, once Bangkok was called Venice of the East because it is a city full of canals that is vibrant with life. In the main Chao Phraya River, there is a very well-developed river transport and the canals can be navigated by small boats reaching the bazaar on the river. Contrary to what tourism advertising says, bazaars on the river are very much in the whole of Thailand and not just one or two where all the tourists go. Coming back to the subject, we took the ferry to one of Bangkok’s finest and most magnificent temples – Wat Arun.

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) lies almost on the banks of the Chao Pharaya River, in the Yai district. It is easy to see for everyone going from Wat Phra Kaew to Wat Pho (described above). The main object is a sculpted Khmer-style tower covered with pieces of porcelain about 80 meters high and surrounded by four smaller towers of the same structure. Wat Arun also offers beautiful views of the surrounding countryside, as you can reach the narrow, tall stairs on the balcony located near the top of the tower. In addition, there are many statues and statues depicting animals, soldiers, demons and Chinese and Indian gods. Interesting story here is the consciousness from where the material came to build the temple of Wat Arun. Now pieces of porcelain and sea shells were thrown here by Chinese ships, which got rid of unnecessary ballast. In addition to the sequence of the five main towers, there are also some similar objects in Wat Pho and the main gate facing the monumental buildings and the “temple guards” built with great imagination. Wat Arun was built by two kings (Rama II and Rama III) in the first half of the nineteenth century. As it is one of the more beautiful buildings in Bangkok, very close to the Temple of Wat Pho, there is no excuse for not seeing it. The entrance costs 50 bhat. I will add that the port is also a 5-minute walk from Wat Pho. I also warn against the windmills in front of Wat Arun, who offer hourly tours for huge money.

Then we returned by ferry to the opposite side of the river and then slowly walked through an interesting bazaar full of snacks and once again through Wat Phra Kaew we arrived near Khaosan Road. Then we turned right into Ratchadamnoen Street where there are posters for King Rama IX, a street bazaar full of grilled snacks on heavy oil and a huge Democracy Monument . It dates from 1939 and is intended to commemorate the Siamese Revolution of 1932. Sadly, the story is sad and the process of its construction was very turbulent. It consists of the main central part where the Thai constitution is located, and on its outer part there are four 24 meter wing structures. In addition, the whole object contains a lot of sculptures and even more symbols of deep message related to Thai culture, history and religion. The Democracy Monument is located at the roundabout in central Bangkok and is a very well known object.

On Ratchadamnoen Street there are also temples that are not advertised as described before but are also beautiful and are close to our hotel. On the marble square with a spectacularly designed garden, there is a royal pavilion with a very impressive roof. This is another row of pillars covered with multicolored tiles and gold hooks pointing up on each edge. Next to it, there is also a statue of King Rama III in the same garden.Behind it is the magnificent temple of Wat Ratchanatdaram , which was built in 1846 under the reign of King Rama III. This temple is a very unusual object for the sacred building of Siam because it does not look like a kharkaterystyczny, Thai way. Probably this style was borrowed from Burma. This temple is adorned with a 36 meter sharp tower and 37 smaller towers located around. In the middle, there are many Buddha images of different sizes and stairs leading to the very top of Wat Ratchanadaram. The entrance to this temple is free.

Marble Temple (Wat Benchamabophit). Bangkok. Thailand.

Marble Temple (Wat Benchamabophit). Bangkok. Thailand.

Just next to the Ark is also another object worth a few minutes of our attention. It is a small, round lock surrounded by a fortified wall of white color. The whole day was extremely hot. When I was buying fruit on the street I was sweating and I could not stop it. The natives, of course, were born in this climate, and they hid me from hiding in the Seven Eleven store, which was heavily air conditioned.

The next property in this area is Wat Saket, commonly known as the Golden Mountain . From the Ark it is maybe 5 minutes away through a pair of elegant canals and the temple is well visible as it swims away and is set on the top. Wat Saket is another beautiful, tourist attraction and praying place built at the end of the 18th century by King Rama I. It enters it after 385 winding stairs and at the top is a 58 meter gold stupa. At this place you can observe praying people who lay flowers in front of sacred objects and light candles. The whole place is very atmospheric, secluded and in the fresh air. Wat Saket also offers panoramic views of Bangkok. In addition, there is also a small cemetery, several Buddha statues, and large shields, which I gladly beat with a wooden hammer. In addition to the Golden Mountain, there are also Wat Saket temples, monasteries surrounded by white walls where Buddhist prayers are held, and the whole is done in traditional, impressive Thai style. I mean high pillars with roofs with colorful tiles and gold ends hanging up.

With my brave travel companion. Bangkok. Thailand.

With my brave travel companion. Bangkok. Thailand.

This place was so nice that my traveling companion slipped a little while and I played with the baby. After a day full of merciless sunlight, he began to rain and the water soaked up to the ankles inside the temple square. When it stopped raining I made the last photo of the Golden Mountain and went to our hotel.Evening was always very nice. We walked late to admire the shops lined with interesting goods and we were on duck and fruit. After a day of heavy sightseeing, professional foot massage was compulsory.

Next, a wonderful day in Bangkok we woke up a little later to welcome another successful, hot day. After a delicate breakfast consisting mainly of exotic fruits and natural yogurt we set out for the city. At first we went to Chinatown but we went in great style, ie rickshaw (tuk tuk) . Of course, although every rickshawer is a carpenter and driving is more expensive than a taxi, you have to try it. Driving alone was a great adventure and I thought I would not get to the place. Bangkok was very busy at any time of the day, all trumpets, and my other tuk tukes crossed the smallest cracks at high speed. But before I got to where I wanted, my driver drove me to some expensive shops to show my face. It was a nice experience because the shops were decorated with pomp and a great show of Thai art. Unfortunately it was also very expensive although I did not have to buy it. It is important that the driver took me there and that he got a lot more than my course and I did not have to pay much. Sometimes the rickshaw ride two streets away can take the whole afternoon as there are so many attractive and very expensive shops to see. Sometimes the rickshaws get gasoline and sometimes the money, so it happens that when the rickshawer gets out of the store for the course he does not wait for his passenger.

Details on the grounds of the Emerald Buddha Temple. Bangkok. Thailand.

Details on the grounds of the Emerald Buddha Temple. Bangkok. Thailand.

Chinatown itself has not breathed my breath and probably because I have already traveled all over China and most of Asia. Anyway it is a good place for a very original and inexpensive meal and if someone has the money can also live with a jeweler. To this is full of chinese signboards in shops, unattractive traffic and a great bazaar. For me the most interesting was the bazaar because it offers invaluable insight into the rich gallery of interesting faces and the lively work of the poor people. Chinatown is also a very good place for seekers of rare souvenirs though in my opinion only for the persistent. Personally it was very loud and overcrowded people tired, so after the Chinese soup we got to the next rink and we got off Ratchadamnoen street at the Democracy Monument.

From here, walk about 15 minutes to reach the big square next to another beautiful temple, Wat Suthat . In addition to the temple itself, there is a large red swing that is Sao Ching Cha. It is a reminder of the ancient rituals during which young Thai people swung on life-threatening heights. Against there is a huge poster depicting the present King Rama IX, though the posters of the king and queen are in abundance throughout the country. Wat Suthat is a first-rate Buddhist temple, full of ornaments, magnificent architecture and exquisite sculpture.Construction began in 1807 during the reign of King Rama I, but it was completed only in 1847 during the reign of Rama III. In my opinion, Wat Suthat is a real phenomenon arhitektonicznym and one of my favorite although certainly not as advertised and known as Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, or in the vicinity of Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai. At the entrance we enter through the beautifully carved doors and the marble square is the main subject that is a great temple on the landing, and the pillars, with colorful, sparkling in the sun roofs and traditional gold ends in Thailand. In the middle while there is an altar with gold Buddha Phra Si Sakyamuni. The great advantage of the entire complex by the temple of Wat Suthat additional sculptures are placed in many parts of the marble square and carefully undercut trees in oriental vases. For this, around the main subject is also covered corridor and underneath are calculated Buddha. I think of Wat Suthat is a wonderful combination of beautiful, ancient Thai architecture and oriental sculptures and blended in no vegetation. Entrance costs only 20 baht which is only about 45 pence.

The omnipresent Buddha. Bangkok. Thailand.

The omnipresent Buddha. Bangkok. Thailand.

After leaving we took a walk, which unfortunately turned out to be too long. We walked for about an hour to another magnificent temple, Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple). Wat Benchamabophit is a very well known tourist attraction in Bangkok and one of the most beautiful temples throughout Thailand. It was built in 1899 and owes its name to the white marmurowi who were brought specially z Włoch. The biggest advantage of the marble temple is very original, but rather of education as modern Thai architecture, partly because it has been taken from the European style. Whole white marble temple is supported by pillars and of each entry are two white lions. Rounding is also effective niezwyle roof covered with red tiles, consisting of several storeys and finished with gold hooks facing upwards. On the same square marble located behind the main entrance is a statue of Buddha and more magnificent architecture, which had previously been described.Interesting is also a covered corridor with 52-ohm statues of Buddha in various positions and showing different signs. Not to miss is the same here too manicured garden with trees and grass and a channel filled with fish. You can also go through him to get to the other side of the building where the monks live. The garden features a sacred Bodhi tree brought to Thailand from Bodhgaya (India) where the Buddha found enlightenment. Inside Wat Benchamabophit is also a golden Buddha Phra Buddhajinaraja , which is one of the better known in Thailand and is also very impressive. By the way, here too I advise pay attention to the decorated ceilings. Entrance to the Marble Temple costs only 20 baht.

On the Road Kaosan returned a tuk tuk for 70 baht and the same drive as usual, it was an adventure in itself. Small tuk tuk through the ever busy streets of Bangkok tried to sneak into any free space at the squeak of horns. That day I went to the thai boxing workout for two hours where I gave a good impression and in the evening we were already near the hotel. There is never a dull moment. There is always a lot of interesting memorabilia, good and cheap food, massage and an abundance of beautiful women.

Our last day in Bangkou wanted to do something different than what I usually also allowed the rest of the temples. We got a tuk tuk to the Dusit district and got off on the big square in front of the Palace of Dusit . It was built in European style between 1897 and the year 1901 and consists of 16 buildings, transformed into museums and living examples of how to live the King Rama V. One of the many objects, which is the most recommended is the Pratunam which it is the largest building in the world made entirely of teak. Throughout the palace, there are also nice gardens and throne halls, an exhibition of antique clocks and decorated material. There is also a museum of royal elephants but most importantly, ensures that the entire object interesting few hours of sightseeing. Dusit Palace, however, is very specific because if not images and pictures of the royal family, I would not be here like in Thailand but as in Europe.

Thai girl interested in white tourist. I was a rare animal species there.

Thai girl interested in white tourist. I was a rare animal species there.

About 10 minutes walk from the Palace’s Dusit Zoo Dusit , which is a beautiful green place in the great metropolis of Bangkok. Dusit Zoo is situated on almost 190000 m 2 and its collection has about 1600 different species of animals from around the world. There is a substantial aviary for many species of birds, ungulates, monkeys, cats prey and reptiles-my favorite. The zoo area is a huge area of water surrounded by exotic plants and in the free-swimming turtles earth and water turtles and large water monitor lizards ( Varanus Salvator). I was here with my family and we immediately felt better when we saw monitor lizards, iguanas and large constrictors-the more that a few of them keep in his bedroom. In addition, I recommend a walk through a high bridge which gives a good view of the giraffes and big cats, and if someone wants it for an additional fee you can also swim on the boat. For this there are several performances with animals and at the entrance you can buy to feed them bananas and elephants. At the zoo, you can wile away the day and relax in a beautiful natural setting.

Our return on Khaosan Road again full of adventure as it seemed to me that my crazy tuk driver did not recognize red lights. Besides, I did not want to pay too much for the course because we saw two luxury suits shops where we had to look good. That evening we did the usual-had a great time with good dishes while enjoying art and souvenirs and in the end we treated yourself to a massage oil all over the body. It was wonderful as usual.

As I mentioned at the very beginning to Bangkok many times I came back and I will definitely come back yet. For example, in 2011, on the way from southern Thailand north once again I spent a few days here and I went to the National Museum located in the district of Ko Ratanakosin. The museum is housed in a former palace of the viceroy, and consists of several buildings surrounded by beautiful exotic greenery. Each of them is built in the style of the temple, typical of Thai art. As I described earlier I mean profiled, colorful roofs with gold ends. The National Museum in Bangkok is reportedly the largest in south-east Asia, and shows a complete show history, art and culture of Thailand, including large introduction to the history of the ancient city of Ayuthaya and Sukhothai and the history of the Thai monarchy. I personally museum is loved. Especially beautiful here were paintings on the walls, replicas of Siamese fighting between tribes hundreds of years ago, and a collection of royal barges. This museum was founded in 1847 by King Rama V,initially only as a collection of souvenirs after the reign of King Rama IV. Entrance costs 200 baht.

At the Dusit Zoo in Bangkok. Thailand.

At the Dusit Zoo in Bangkok. Thailand.

The summary of Bangkok

In 2011, they were already all the sights in Bangkok, which saw. I believe that the other topics that were interesting and described climate closer not only to Bangkok but also the part of the entire Thailand. Everything indicates that during the next expedition in 2012 I will also pass through Bangkok, what would allow me to describe more interesting places.

Did you find my Bangkok travel guide interesting? So continue reading. This time I invite you to the travel journal about my trip around the beach paradise of South Thailand .

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