2 July: Well... I now have my first bite of interesting freelance work here in Bangkok. It is interesting because it will ultimately bring me closer to Thai culture. I am to research the history, architecture and cultural significance of Wat Phra Kaew, the home of the Emerald Buddha, regarded as the most revered religious monument in the whole of Thailand. I will visit the temple early next week. The research is for a Bangkok tourism app currently in development.
5 July: So... this morning I headed for the Royal Palace in Bangkok to visit (for app research) the Emerald Buddha - Thailand's most revered religious monument. Absolutely fabulous. Here's a few pics and my review.
5 July: So... this morning I headed for the Royal Palace in Bangkok to visit (for app research) the Emerald Buddha - Thailand's most revered religious monument. Absolutely fabulous. Here's a few pics and my review.
Peter`s personal review of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Bangkok, Thailand...
Very busy with tourists from all corners of the globe as you would expect from one of Thailand`s major tourist attractions and a hefty admission price (for Thailand) of 500 Baht (£10). But, even so, the visit is well worth it to see the magnificence of the Grand Palace and the plethora of other buildings including Wats, statues and monuments in this spectacular setting.
Once inside the Grand Palace precinct there are many tour guides touting for business but if you want to do the tour yourself you can just follow the signs and the throngs of other tourists as they make their way around the grounds.
I was here to see the Emerald Buddha, the most revered religious symbol in Thailand but was equally impressed with the many other sites around the complex which are a real delight to the eyes nad senses. I soon found Wat Phra Kaew as it was just beyond the ticket entrance and so, once I had removed my shoes as is customary when you enter buildings in Thailand, particularly religious ones, I made my way into the temple behind a queue of other tourist.
Surrounded by many glinting gold coloured objects, the Emerald Buddha sits high on a perch in his Temple, Wat Phra Kaew in the magnificent grounds of the Grand Palace.
I spent a couple of hours here and only visited the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and took a walk around the outside of a few of the other buildings. I think if you plan to tour the whole site, you will need to allow yourself at least half a day.
Overall impression: Excellent.
Very busy with tourists from all corners of the globe as you would expect from one of Thailand`s major tourist attractions and a hefty admission price (for Thailand) of 500 Baht (£10). But, even so, the visit is well worth it to see the magnificence of the Grand Palace and the plethora of other buildings including Wats, statues and monuments in this spectacular setting.
Once inside the Grand Palace precinct there are many tour guides touting for business but if you want to do the tour yourself you can just follow the signs and the throngs of other tourists as they make their way around the grounds.
I was here to see the Emerald Buddha, the most revered religious symbol in Thailand but was equally impressed with the many other sites around the complex which are a real delight to the eyes nad senses. I soon found Wat Phra Kaew as it was just beyond the ticket entrance and so, once I had removed my shoes as is customary when you enter buildings in Thailand, particularly religious ones, I made my way into the temple behind a queue of other tourist.
Surrounded by many glinting gold coloured objects, the Emerald Buddha sits high on a perch in his Temple, Wat Phra Kaew in the magnificent grounds of the Grand Palace.
I spent a couple of hours here and only visited the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and took a walk around the outside of a few of the other buildings. I think if you plan to tour the whole site, you will need to allow yourself at least half a day.
Overall impression: Excellent.