One of the most amazing places I have ever visited is Thailand. Visiting this country felt like being in an entirely different world. From the moment my fiancé and I arrived at the airport in Bangkok, we knew that this experience was going to feel a bit unfamiliar. This was a great thing as I long for the unfamiliar from time to time. I recall asking the driver to take us to the only address we had any knowledge of and of course, that was the location of our hotel. He did not understand what we were trying to say entirely, but at least he was patient enough to figure out what we were trying to convey. My significant other and I chose to stay in the Chinatown area where we were greeted with warm, cleansing towels and a hot cup of tea. We felt pampered, relaxed, and as we were in great hands after such a long trip. Our flight was twenty-four hours to be exact and we were exhausted, yet willing to exchange only a bit of sleep before we’d take on the city and explore. This seemed fair as we had already traveled so far. As we settled into our hotel, we noticed that the vents permeated the air with an aromatic, spa-like, floral scent that sent us off into a much needed pleasant slumber.
Morning arrived and we were freshly filled with purpose and curiosity towards the unknown. Our plan was ambitious. We were going to cover as many monuments as possible and use minimal transportation since our goal was to walk throughout the city to experience as much as it had to offer. Our first monument was the Grand Palace. This palace is astonishing to say the least. Most of the buildings are decorated with colored glass while covered with gold leaf throughout. It’s quite the majestic vision and certainly one of a kind. Built in 1782, this palace boasts incredible, unparalleled architecture unquestionably built for a Thai king.
The atmosphere at the Grand Palace encompasses an air of whimsy combined with the opulent and regal. The gardens feature perfectly tailored details with little surprises at each turn. One can find majestic statues alongside more playful visual imagery. There’s a sense of peace throughout the grounds that connects to an era ages past. It’s this sense of quiet reminiscence that allows one to escape into one’s imagination and envision what may have been a long time ago. Despite the array of people it welcomes every day, visiting the Grand Palace still manages to feel like a unique and individual experience.
Photo Credit: Shirley Marcano
The Emerald Buddha Temple lies within the Grand Palace. This temple is to this day a sacred place of worship, therefore, it is prohibited to photograph beyond its walls. Tourists are allowed to enter, but must show respect. This means everyone must remove their shoes, cover their legs, and hide exposed shoulders before entering. Luckily, one can find pants and scarfs for sale at these sites to ensure appropriate coverage which make great souvenirs. Although, I bought a few of these scarfs, I opted to just throw a shirt over my dress I had packed for this specific occasion. I have to admit it was hot, but we experienced nothing less than sunshine. Our visit took place in February which is considered one of the best times of the year to travel to Thailand. I should mention that the rainy season takes place from June to October.
Photo Credit: Shirley Marcano
The next temple we visited was the Temple of the Reclining Buddha or Wat Pho. In this temple lies the statue of Buddha 43 meters long and 15 meters tall. The statue is quite impressive and elaborate within it’s design while it sits within beautifully decorated columns. I knelt before a monk at this site where water was sprinkled over my head as a ritualistic form of blessing. This act was followed by a small donation which entitled me to receive a white thread bracelet symbolizing protection and good health. This buddhist practice is called sai sin and the bracelets are previously blessed by a monk. I proudly wore my bracelet from the moment it was given to me as I optimistically awaited all the good fortune it was meant to ensue.
These two temples made up the majority of our first day in Thailand and after returning to our hotel and taking a much needed nap (thanks to our state of jet lag), it was time to experience some of Thailand’s best kept secret – its delicious cuisine! Okay, so it may not be an absolute secret to some, but the best authentic Thai food that one will ever encounter is, as expected, in Thailand. This country has some of the best dishes you’ll ever taste anywhere in the world as long as you enjoy spicy dishes. Luckily, the prices for a meal are wonderfully low. Once we were ready for dinner, it was time to search for the T & K Seafood Restaurant. We first heard of T & K from a YouTube video upon searching for great places to eat while visiting Thailand. To our surprise, this restaurant was only about three blocks from our hotel which we felt was a most serendipitous encounter. The food was excellent in case you were wondering. We had the tom yum soup and the snapper dish. They were both to die for and were paired with the local Thai beer, Singha, for a final touch.
Another temple we were able to visit was the Marble Temple. We rode a tuk-tuk to this location since it was a bit far from our hotel, although, it was on the agenda to experience this mode of transportation. Once our tuk-tuk bucket list had been checked, we experienced this next site. The exterior of this temple is made of marble as suggested by its name. This includes the large center terrace and all the columns throughout the building quarters. The Marble Temple is quite a magnificent structure and a definite site to see. One can find monks in this temple praying within its grand space.
The last temple on the agenda was Wat Saket also known as The Golden Mount. Arriving at this temple requires a bit of a hike up a winding set of stairs. Once at the top of this temple, the views are phenomenal and lend themselves for some spectacular photos. There’s a row of several large bells that one can ring to secure future good luck. I rang most of them to my heart’s contentment.
Photo Credit: Shirley Marcano
This concludes my temple adventure throughout Bangkok. Visiting this city was quite an experience that I recommend. From its people to the cuisine, I believe that Bangkok is definitely worth the visit. My fiancé and I were engaged during this trip so maybe there will be some other surprises in store for you.
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