Recently I made a trip down to Bangkok. I had been to the city four times before, and while there were always enjoyable or interesting parts of my visits, I was always ready to leave after two or three days thinking,”I could never live here”.
view from the hotel room
I still don’t think I could live there or, at least, I would never choose too. But after this stay, I left actually kind of liking Bangkok. It took me FIVE visits, including one with someone who was from and had lived in Bangkok for years, to warm up to the place, but it’s definitely growing on me.
One of the highlights of the visit was going to the Grand Palace. Yes, I know it’s super touristy. Yes, at 450 baht per person, it’s pricey (compared to almost everything else) to get in. Yes, there are a ton of people just taking pictures of the same things. BUT you have to do it, and it really is incredible.
I had been there three years ago, when I originally came to Thailand for a vacation, and remember it being just beautiful. Probably the most beautiful set of buildings I’d ever seen.
My memory served me correctly and visiting for a second time didn’t disappoint. (Although it was uncomfortably hot…) The palace, built in 1782, was home to the reigning Thai king for 150 years. The grounds include courtyards, government buildings, receptions halls and Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew). What really matters though, is that the place is stunning and truly should not be missed when in Bangkok.
What ‘must-see’ sight has taken your breath away?
3 comments :
1) Love the new blog
2) it took me forever to love Bangkok, but now I love and miss it–maybe even more than CM!
3) ACTUALLY ONE OF THE REASONS I HATED BKK AT FIRST WAS DUE TO A *TERRIBLE* EXPERIENCE AT THE GRAND PALACE. SCAMS, HEAT, FERRY MIX-UP, DEHYDRATION, ETC. I WONDER IF I WOULD LIKE IT WITH FRESH EYES AND MY “TAXI THAI”
whoa. don’t know what happened with the caps lock, there. everything looked all lowercase to me in the comment box!
Ha – I just thought you must really HATE the Grand Palace
I think a big reason why visiting and sightseeing in Bangkok is so difficult or frustrating is the weather. It’s so hot, humid, congested and concrete that it’s hard to ever be physically comfortable which just heightens even little annoyances.