After dinner, we just had to check out the nightlife. Following a crowd of perfectly coiffed Thai men, we ended up in an alley, lined with several gay dance clubs. It's amazing how open native Thai people are to the gay and transsexual community. I can only hope that the same amount of tolerance will eventually be achieved in America. Until then, I will remain an ally of the gay community, adamantly praying that one day they will achieve the same rights and recognition as heterosexual Americans. Anyway, my travel-book mentioned that "Bangkok is so gay that it makes San Francisco look like rural Texas." After visiting this street, I couldn't agree more. It was kinda strange to be one of the only straight people, let along one of the only women there. But no one looked at me twice and it was a fun, memorable experience, to say the least. When in Rome (Bangkok), I suppose. ;)
The next day, we woke up and embarked on a long day of sightseeing. Due to its famed canals, Bangkok is sometimes referred to as the "Venice of the East." The best way to commute between popular attractions in Bangkok is by boat. We bought an unlimited all-day pass and hopped on and off the boat as we pleased.
The Grand Palace complex was absolutely swarming with tourists. It proved to be nearly impossible to take a picture without anyone in the shot. In addition, the weather was blistering hot and uncomfortably humid. That being said, it was one of the most impressive sites that I have seen in my entire life. Each building in this complex was incredibly extravagant and breath-taking.
The Grand Palace complex consists of not only the royal residence and throne halls, but also a number of government offices, as well as the renowned Temple of the Emerald Buddha. I was captivated by the sheer grandeur and size of the royal compound. It was also interesting to see a mix of eclectic architecture with both Eastern and Western influences.
Next, we walked towards the actual Grand Palace building and I posed with one of the emotionless guards. I was struck by how much it looked like a commonplace government building in Western Europe. It's amazing to see how artistic trends surpass national boundaries and end up influencing buildings on the other side of the world. Because of its strategic location in Southeast Asia, Thailand once served as a buffer-zone between French and British colonial empires. This international reputation is surely reflected in the architecture of the Grand Palace complex.
Next, we walked over to Wat Pho, which is located directly adjacent to the Grand Palace. Wat Pho is one of the largest and oldest temples in Bangkok and home to more than one thousand images of Buddha. Prior to the temple's founding, the site was the centre of education for traditional Thai medicine and statues were created depicting yoga positions. For this reason, Wat Pho is recognized as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.
Wat Pho is also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, and for good reason! It houses the world's largest reclining Buddha statue. Fifteen meters high and forty-three meters long, this statue literally fills the entire room and towers over the thousands of vistors that stop by every day. To fully understand how big this statue is, check out the last photo and compare the size of the statue's feet with the height of the pesky tourists that ended up in my photo.
From there, we hopped back on the boat and headed to the other side of the Chao Phraya River to visit Wat Arun. The most notable feature of this temple is its central prang, or Khmer-style tower, that is encrusted with colorful porcelain. In fact, this temple was named for the first morning light, which reflects off the surface of the porcelain with a pearly iridescence.
In order to get to the top of the central tower, one must climb several sets of very steep and very narrow steps. It was quite scary and, at times, I thought that I was going to fall backwards. But once we got to the top, it was all worth it. From there, we had an incredible view of the river, the Grand Palace complex, and downtown Bangkok.
The detailed carvings on the central tower were absolutely magificent. I was also amazed by the impeccable preservation of this temple. Being that our visit overlapped with Lunar New Year, there was a dragon parade going on, near the temple grounds. The echoing sounds of drums and horns filled the air and really captured the lively energy of this dynamic city.
After a long day in the sun, we headed back to the hostel for a nap. When we woke up, we explored the neighborhood near our hostel, which is known as a shopper's paradise. There are several gigantic shopping malls; each overflowing with tourists and decorated with lights for the holiday season. After wandering though the crowds, we eventually settled on a food court in Siam Center to eat dinner. On the ground level, hundreds of shop vendors lined the streets, selling unique clothing and accessories. It was unbelievably crowed and difficult to maneuver around, but I was determined to put my bargaining skills to good use. In the end, my patience paid off and I walked away with a $1 dollar shirt, two $3 dresses, and a handful of cheap jewelery.
The next day, we had a few hours to kill before heading to the airport, so we wandered one street over to the Jim Thompson House Museum - an unlikely but stunning outpost of Thai architecture and Southest Asian art. This leafy compound is the former home of American silk entrepreneur and art collector, Jim Thompson. On the tour, I learned that he briefly served in Thailand during WWII and fell in love with the country. Settling in Bangkok after the war, Thompson started a silk production company and steadily gained a worldwide clientele.
In addition to exquisite Asian art, Thompson collected parts of traditional homes in central Thailand and had them reassembled in their current location in 1959. His impressive art collection and lavish personal belongings are on display throughout this residence. Our tour guide spoke great English and I learned a lot about traditional Thai architecture during the visit. But the tour ended on an ominous note. Our tour guide mentioned that in 1967, Thompson mysteriously disappeared while on his vacation in western Malaysia. That same year, his sistered was murdered in America, fuelling various conspiracy theories. Regardless of what happened, I was pleasantly surprised by this unusual museum, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Soon, it was time to leave. We hailed a cab and began the 40-minute drive to the airport. In the cab, I spotted a very amusing sign on the door. If you ever visit Bangkok, remember... no farting, sexing, mooning, puking, or smoking in taxis. Hahahahaha! XD
Some of my other friends who visited Southeast Asia disliked Bangkok's crowds, pollution, and noisiness. While I understand their complaints, I loved the city's youthful energy, social openness, and overall international feel. One simply cannot travel this area of the world without stopping in Bangkok. Just the Grand Palace complex and great shopping are enough to warrant a visit. I really loved my time in Thailand. I ate some of the most delicious food and saw some incredible sights. But after a week there, I was kinda ready to move on to a different country. No matter what, I am determined to come back and visit Thailand again in the near future.
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