Th 17 - Bangkok International Airport

"In Thailand's history there have been dissensions from time to time, but in general, unity has prevailed."
Bhumibol Adulyadej - the current King Rama IX of Thailand.

Suvarnabhumi Airport
ท่าอากาศยานสุวรรณภูมิ

Time to departure. Well what I do achieve from my visit? I know that my experience can't compared to others and it will not make me understand of both countries. But this visit has give me ideas on what happened to the others.

We all living in one world - we share the common air, land and water. Only due to our difference, we make classification and claimed that it belong to us. Yet we try to forget that we all come from a same father and mother - Adam and Eve.

MH 783 - Airbus 330 : my flight from BKK to KUL

Being in Cambodia has enlighten me on what war had influenced the lime of Cambodian. War never made for a good reason but most of the leaders preferred it as main choice. Sometimes we didn't bother to think of the aftermath. Guess human minds despite given by God able to choose good upon bad - we seems to make the latter option. However Cambodia did strive for their future. Only the leader and their people can change their country.

In Thailand much more different situation. Being the only country haven't been occupied by the European colonies makes them proud of their history. It makes them strongly trust their King and remain faith to their religion. The Thai did enjoy their life - more or less. But I can't hide my feeling toward Thailand on what have they done to other countries previously. Many history that actually were Lao's and Khmer's but finally fell to them. Really - history wrote by the winner! And I do pray that our brother in the South (Muslim and Malay) will always remain unite and strength will to overcome the difficult task.

The airport terminal

- Sigh~-

Th 16 - Sa-Wat-dii Khráp Bangkok!

"Many other countries in this world are in a difficult situation, and all the Thai people are probably worried about the fate of Thailand: whether the country would survive or not."
Bhumibol Adulyadej; King Rama IX of Thailand.

It's time for me to go back to Malaysia. After 7 days being in Cambodia and Thailand - I need some rest and continue my work.

Siam BTS Skytrain Station

Being in Big Mango for only 2 days and 2 nights its not enough. A lot of interesting places I didn't cover in view of time constraint. Guess I will come again - this time I'll try to see as much as possible.

Manohra Hotel - which I stay during my visit

I also didn't mention about the foods as for me halal food is easily available in Thailand. You can go to any major shopping complex and the option of various restaurants available - whether it Thais, Malay, Japanese, Korean, Western etc. Just choose it carefully and if you're in doubt, you can always ask.

Th 15 - Golden Teak Wood Mansion

"One miracle is just as easy to believe as another."
William Jennings Bryan (1860 - 1925); a lawyer and US Presidential nominee in 1896.

Phra Thi Nang
The Vimanmek Palace
วิมานเมฆ

The last place that I visit in the Dusit Palace area is the Vimanmek Palace. It is the largest golden teak wood mansion in the world! It was built by King Rama V in 1900 - makes this palace more than 100 years old!

Fun fact : this palace didn't used any form of nails! Marvelous as they can build it 3-floors.

The palace provide a free tour with guide (both in Thai and English) each half hour apart. The tour took nearly 2 hours and you will get brief explanation by your tourist guide. The palace showed a vast collection of the Thai's Kings consisted of gift from local and foreign countries and things that the King by himself. Again - this place doesn't allow camera, video or any form of photography. But you can take picture outside - in the clear area. OK - time to move on!

Another fun fact : On the upper level showed that the trace of once this palace being bombed during the World War II by Japanese Army. During that time the palace is not occupied. Miraculously - the palace didn't burned out despite being made of wood. The people believe it's due to the miracle of Thai King.

Th 14 - Abhisek Dusit

Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall

Yet another throne hall that have been changed to museum. The Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall just situated few meters from the Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall. This marvelous building built in Euro-Moorish-Thai architecture that cathes your eyes with it's beauty. The throne now display handicrafts such as mutmee silk, nielloware and basketry. The exhibition monitored by Queen Sirikit's SUPPORT Foundation.

Beautiful craft of the Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall

The Main Entrance that have been closed. Visitors will use the rear door for entrance.

Th 13 - Ananda Samakhom

Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall
พระที่นั่งอนันตสมาคม

Since I only have several hours left before my departure - I need to move fast to the next location. It situated within Dusit Palace in the Dusit area. I've took tuk-tuk here that cost me THB40 from the Grand Palace.

I didn't enter the throne as time not permitted. The now-throne-become-museum was constructed by King Rama V. It built in Italian Renaissance and Neoclassical style of architecture. The exterior is decorated with marble from Carrara, Italy. It is a two storey marble construction approximately 49.50 meters wide, 112.50 meters long and 47.50 meters high with a large center dome surrounded by six smaller domes. It was completed in 1915.

Th 12 - Grande!

"Begin at the beginning,"; the King said, very gravely; "and go on till you come to the end: then stop."
- Lewis Carrol (1832-1898); an English Novelist remembered for her work of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang
The Grand Palace
พระบรมมหาราชวัง

The King's Palace - who would miss the chance when you're already here. It is stated by the FORBES that the Grand Palace including Wat Phra Kaew was the 16th most visited tourist attraction in the world with 8,995,000 visitors in 2006. What a huge number of people.

The Grand Palace situated beside the Chapel of Emerald Buddha was built during reign of King Rama I in 1782 as the King decided to move the capital of Siam from Thoburi to the present Bangkok. It has been used as the official palace of Kings of Chakri Dynasty till the time of King Rama VIII where he was found death mysteriously in one of the palace building.

From left :Barom Phiman Hall - former royal recidence now a state guest house for visiting royalty; Amarin Winitchai Throne Hall - principal audience hall that now used for importance occasion. The place was closed during my visit in view of the death of the King's sister.

The current King Rama IX has moved permanently to Chitralada Palace as the official residence. The architecture of the buildings was heavily influenced with Italian Renaissance style mived with the Thai's traditional architecture. These happens as the previous Kings was so impressed with the European architecture when visiting abroad and decided to adopt it.

From left : Dusit Maha Prasat Hall - magnificently designed throne hall used exclusively by lying-in-state royalties; every palace in the world will have this 'Buckingham-palace-like-guard'. Beware not to disturb them during their stand.

The Palace is however still very much in use; as many royal rituals are performed here by the King every year. Other royal ceremonies celebrated here are coronations; royal funerals, marriages and state banquets.

Chakri Maha Prasat Hall - magnifencent hall once an official recidence of King Rama V that used now as state banquets.

Th 11 - The Most Sacred of All

"Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind."
Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha.

Wat Phra Kaew
Temple of the Emerald Buddha
วัดพระแก้ว

Since I've been cheated by the tuk-tuk driver, I only arrived to the Grand Palace compound around 5.00pm - and it's already closed! I go back to my hotel - frustrated but make another plan to be there early next morning.

Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace are situated in the same place. These places shouldn't be missed by anyone that visited Bangkok. The place can be reached with the Chao Phraya tourist boat / ferry - just stop at the Maharaj pier. There are rules and regulation need to be followed as these are the most sacred place for the Thais.

It open daily from 8.30am till 3.30pm Some buildings may close during holiday or ceremony. All visitors need to wear modest cloth - no shorts, sleeveless shirt etc. Fee : THB 300 for foreigners; language audio guide available for rent for THB 100. The ticket can be use to enter the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, Wimanmek Palace and the Coin Museum.


From left : Ticket booth; the Personal Audio Guide (PAG) rental booth - just beside the ticketing office.

Wat Phra Kaew or Temple of the Emerald Buddha regarded as the Thais as the most sacred place in Thailand. It one of the most convenience place to visit as you wouldn't lost in this huge place. Near the main entrance, a lot of tourist guide will wait for you to be hire around the temple and also the Grand Palace. If you prefer to travel alone, audio guide in 5 main languages available at the ticket booth for rent. I decided to choose the audio guide as its give me some freedom to move around the place.

It will guide you around the temple and palace and informed you the important places that you should see.

From left : Statue of the Hermit Doctor aka Cheewaka Komarapach - Father of Thai's Traditional Medicine with mortar as his symbol - the first thing that you will see upon entering the temple ground; one of the 178 mural painting on the temple's wall depicting scene from Ramayana story (Ramakien).

Phra Sri Ratana Chedi : a Ceylonese-style pagoda covered in gold mosaic enshrines relics of Buddha.


From left : Phra Mondhop - library that contains Buddhist scriptures; Phra Viharn Yod - structrure of porcelain floral design topped by a spire in the shape of Thai Crown that contain impotant Buddha images.


From left : Golden Chedis surrounded by various mythical creatures - built to honour King Rama I's father and mother; Phra Asada Maha Chedi - one of the 8 Prangs dedicated to Buddhist precepts.

Prasat Phra Thep Bidon aka The Royal Pantheon - statues of 8 kings of the Chakri Dynasty are keep here.


From left : Statue of Goddess of Mercy sits in front of the Royal Chapel of the Emerald Buddha; Hor Phra Khanthara Rat - small pavilion houses the Buddha image used in Royal Ploughing Ceremony.


From left : Belfry aka bell tower; Salarai or open pavilions surround the temple.

Wat Phra Kaew - contained the Emerald Buddha.

The Emerald Buddha - created in India circa 43 BC by Nagasena. Initially requested by King Anuruth of Burma to support Buddhism in his country, the statue lost on his way but suprisingly landed in Cambodia. The statue was brought to Ayutthaya when the Thai captured Angkor. The image disappeared when Burmese raiders sacked Ayuttaya and the image was feared lost. A century later, the 'Emerald' Buddha reappeared in Chiang Saen, after a rainstorm washed away some of its plaster covering. It was then moved to Chiang Rai, then Chiang Mai, where it was removed by prince Setatiratt to Luang Prabang, when his father died and he ascended the throne of that Siamese vassal state. In later years it was moved to the Siamese vassal state of Vientiene. Later when Siam fought with Laos - the statue was recaptured back again and was kept in several places till to this temple now. Sigh - long history but whose the righteous to keep this statue? Is it Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos or Thailand? Or should they reconsider to give it back to India? Guess the winner will keep it!

The Emerald Buddha - from far as no photograph can be taken inside the chapel!

There are three different sets of gold clothing, which are changed by the King of Thailand in a ceremony at the changing of the seasons around March, July and November. The two sets of gold clothing not in use at any given time are kept on display in the nearby Pavilion of Regalia, Royal Decorations and Thai Coins on the grounds of the Grand Palace, where the public may view them.

So heavy ...

Th 10 - Last Team Will Be Eliminated

"The marble not yet carved can hold the form of every thought the greatest artist has."

- Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475 - 1564)

Wat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram
วัดเบญจมบพิตรดุสิตวนารามราชวรวิหาร

The final temple of the day was Wat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram or famously known as the 'Marble Temple' built by King Chulalongkorn on 1899. It is one of Bangkok's most beautiful temples and a major tourist attraction.

Inside the Ordination Hall (Ubosot) is a Sukhothai-style Buddha statue named Phra Buddhajinaraja, cast in 1920. The ashes of King Chulalongkorn are buried beneath the statue.

The temple's name literally means the Temple of the fifth King located nearby Dusit Palace. It was designed by Prince Naris, a half-brother of the king, and is built of Italian marble.

Trivia : The temple was featured in the famous The Amazing Race 9 as the 10th and final elimination pit-stop.

Scene of the Marble Temple

One of the 52 Buddha statues surrounding the temple collected by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab for his king.