A little tired but eager to explore more we reached Bangkok from Pattaya at around 5 p.m. and checked into our hotel.

The most difficult thing is to get ones bearings in a new place and then find out what is the best way to go around. The hotel staff was not that helpful but a friendly person from the Phillipines who was a frequent visitor to Bangkok provided welcome advice as to where we should go in the evening and how to get there. Everyone we met told us that Bangkok is a great place for shopping so we asked about the nearest shopping area and the night market. The night markets are known to have a charm of their own if the person knows to haggle and wrangle with the shop keepers. This is not new to Indians, anyway.

Eating and Shopping in Bangkok

The nearest Mono rail station called Ratchathewi was walking distance from our hotel and the first stop from here was Siam. So we first headed for the Siam Square and its huge malls and small shops on the wayside.

While roaming around we came across several eateries. Later on when we visited the MGK Mall we had dinner in a Food Court that even served vegetarian dishes. I would recommend this place to everybody who is particular about food.

Of course, the other types of food we saw in the market place looked equally interesting though strictly for non-vegetarians!

(These are shark fins preparations of which are served in many restaurants)

The first night market that we visited was a long run of shops that lined the main street from Nana to Phrom Phong which are stations of the Mono Rail. Later we went to the Patpong market. I acquired a fake pashmina stole here bringing down the price from 1400 baht to 250 baht and felt pleased as Punch with my bargaining skills. The trick is to quote an abominably low price, even if it invites dirty looks.

On the eve of leaving Bangkok we were invited by a friend for dinner in a rather classy place with even classier washrooms. The food was great and so was the ambience. But even more interesting was the bustling street on the way to the restaurant which was walking distance from the Democracy Monument. Accompanied by our friend we saw many interesting sights on this street.

(This is the Democracy Monument. At present democracy is under suspension in Thailand after the Military coup in September 2006. Elections are scheduled to be held in December 2007)

The Amazing Temples

Wat Traimit

But what took my breath away was the amazing temples of Bangkok. I believe there are around 3000 temples in Thailand of which 400 are in Bangkok alone. Our guide first took us to the Wat Traimit temple. Wat in Thai means temple. The history of the temple downloaded from the net is given below:

(Statues at the entrance of the Temple)

(Inside the temple is a smaller golden Buddha. Prayers are conducted in this shrine).

(This is the Golden Buddha in another part of the same Temple Complex)

(Bells just outside the shrine)

Wat Arun

After the Wat Traimit our guide took us to the Wat Arun. The temple is located on the other side of the river Chao Phraya which we crossed in a barge.

(A view of Wat Arun from the barge)

I was completely mesmerized by the beauty of this place. Only a fraction of this beauty can come across in photos. After a while one feels that the senses have been cloyed and cannot absorb more.

(One of the temples in Wat Arun compound)

(Inside the temple)

(A closer view of the Central Prang)

(Statue of Indra(?) in one of the smaller prangs)

Our guide told us that the temple was built by the King who escaped from the attack of the Burmese army on Ayuthaya. The King crossed the river early in the morning and therefore named the temple Wat Arun or the Temple of the Dawn. The other side of the river was considered safer from attacks of marauders. The river was important for trade with China and India as well. The confluence of the Chinese and Indian influences were imprinted in the architecture of the Temple.

Here is a brief description of the temple once again downloaded from the net.

The outstanding feature of Wat Arun is its central prang (a prang is a Khmer-style pagoda), which is about 80 meters tall and symbolizes the legendary Mount Meru, center of the universe. Steep steps lead to two terraces on the tower.

The corners are surrounded by four smaller satellite prangs, which are dedicated to the wind god Phra Phai. The prangs are decorated by seashells and bits of porcelain which had previously been used as ballast by boats coming to Bangkok from China.

Around the base of the prang are various figures of ancient Chinese soldiers and animals. Over the second terrace are four statues of the Hindu god Indra riding on Erawan.

There are two temple guardian figures in front. Characters from the Hindu epic Ramayana, the white figure is named Sahassateja and the green one is known as Tasakanth.

(Sahassateja)

(Tassakanth)

Wat Phra Kaew

The following day we were on our own and thought we could see some more of the spectacular temples of Bangkok. We first headed for Wat Phra Kaew which is housed in the Grand Place and now contains the Emerald Buddha. The place is breathtakingly beautiful but my daughter was restive and therefore we did not enter the temple.

(A view of the temple from a distance)

(Entrance to the temple)

(Exit from the temple)

An unexpected visit to the Royal Graveyard

Emerging from the Wat Phra Kaew we headed for the Wat Po nearby. This temple houses the reclining Buddha. However, on making enquiries we were told that on Mondays it open only at 2 p.m. to tourists. A very helpful Policeman gave us an invaluable piece of advice. He told us that we could visit the Royal Graveyard nearby which was not very far from where we were at the moment. This place opens to tourists only once in the year. As luck would have it this was 8^th October the very day when we were there. The Policeman was kind enough to give instructions to the taxi to take us there.

On reaching our destination we found that we were the only tourists in this place. An official met us at the gates of this building. When we told him that we would like to see the monument, he got very curious and wanted to know how we came to know it was open to public on that particular day.

(Entrance to the temple where the King had prayed in the morning)

He told us that the King of Thailand had visited the place and spent two hours at the graves of his ancestors that very morning. We were probably the only visitors after the king.

(Beautiful architecture)

(A lot of the designs are done in real gold)

(One of the Buddhas in the temple)

(The final resting place of many Kings of the past)

It was a great experience to be taken around the monument and shown the private temple of the King where he had performed prayers that very morning. Later on we were taken to the graveyard that contained the buried ashes of many of the former kings of Thailand.

The official talked about destiny, good deeds, duty and chance. We felt very happy and fortunate that he could spend so much time with us to explain the significance of this monument.

Later, he too guided us to a taxi, gave instructions in Thai to the taxi driver and waved us good bye.

Later when I recalled this incident I felt that travels to foreign lands become so much more meaningful and memorable when we interact with the people there. The tourist industry is very well developed in Thailand as it attracts 25 million tourists every year. But there is a certain emptiness about visiting places without interacting with the people around. What I will remember most fondly about Bangkok is the assistance of the visitor from Phillipines at the hotel reception desk, the incessant chatter of the guide who took us to the temples, the helpful Policeman near Wat Po and the official at the Royal Graveyard.

I wish I had taken their photos too!!!