Wanderworld

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand most famous for its glittering temples with unbelievably intricate details, served just as our stopover to and from Koh Samui. Since there was a huge gap in our flight from Bangkok back to our destinations (Manila for me and Singapore for Mabs), we took the time to explore the nearby temples in the city: Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho.

A visit to the three temples in one short trip is ideal because they are close to each other. Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew are in the same area while Wat Pho, where the reclining Buddha can be found, can be reached via a short walk from Grand Palace.

Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
Grand Palace, which is home to complex buildings and served as the official residence of the Kings of Siam since 1782, is perhaps the most expensive temple to visit in Bangkok. While the gold and colorful temples here will undoubtedly dazzle you with their amazing designs and details, I think the 500 Baht entrance fee is still somehow steep.

Tourists should remember to dress appropriately before entering the premises, as a strict dress code is followed here. Shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed for both men and women, so maxi skirts or dresses are advisable for women and shirts and pants are advisable for men. Take note that wearing a scarf over a sleeveless top (like I did) is not allowed as well; only a cardigan or a jacket is allowed.

Visitors without the proper attire can borrow one from the site, near the main entrance, with a deposit of 20 Baht (if I remember correctly). You should have the exact amount when you go there and you can get the deposit back when you return the borrowed item.

Based on our experience, I believe it’s better to visit the temple in the afternoon, after lunch, because Grand Palace is packed in the morning. There were a lot of groups of tourists with their own guides during our visit, and it was challenging to explore the place with the huge crowd and under the heat of the sun wearing long skirts/dresses and cardigans. Fortunately though, there are several water stations in the area where you can refill your drinking bottles for free.

The famous Temple of the Emerald Buddha is undoubtedly the highlight in a Wat Phra Kaew tour as it steals the spotlight from other temples with its lavish details and gleaming pillars. As the name suggests, this is where the Emerald Buddha can be found, which is a sight to behold as well. There’s simply no words for the intricacy and beauty of the details in Thai temples and religious figures; they are on a league of their own.

Unfortunately, tourists are not allowed to take pictures inside the actual temple; footwear are also not allowed. This is to ensure that the sacredness of the place is maintained even with the influx of crowds.

Note: Grand Palace is open from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm only.

Here are some of the notable structures in Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew:

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Wat Pho: Reclining Buddha and authentic Thai massage

Among the temples in Bangkok, Wat Pho was the one I specifically wanted to see because of the huge reclining Buddha. After spending almost half a day in Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, Mabs and I walked to Wat Pho for another round of temple hopping.

On our way there, several locals stopped us and asked where we were going and told us that Wat Pho is not open until 2pm, which turned out to be false; good thing we didn’t listen to them or paid them much attention. As far as I know, the temple is open every day from 8:30 am to around 5 pm, with an entrance fee of 100 Baht.

Mabs, who wasn’t feeling so well at the time, especially wanted to try the Wat Pho Thai Traditional Massage School, which offers the widely recognized authentic Thai massage. The massage center offers different kinds of massage, from foot massage, to back massage and whole body massage. If I remember correctly, the whole body massage for an hour costs 400 Baht.

The actual massage center is located behind Wat Pho, so you’d have to walk through and out the temple and cross to the other side of the street to get there. I didn’t try it because I wasn’t comfortable having a massage with me feeling sticky with sweat because of our literally hot trip to Grand Palace, so I just waited in the area for Mabs. According to her though, the massage made her feel better and it was purely massage: no lotion, powder, oil or etc.

After the massage and eating lunch at one of the few restaurants behind Wat Pho, Mabs and I resumed our temple hopping adventure. The experience was more comfortable this time because the crowd has significantly decreased.

One of the things I particularly loved in Wat Pho are the colorful towering pagodas, most of which have beautiful and elaborate flower designs.

Along the way you’ll also find different kinds of buddhas lined up in one section with accompanying information and description of each.

Of course, the highlight here is the aforementioned reclining buddha, which is a sight to behold because of its imposing size and unusual reclining position. In this section, people who are wearing shorts or short skirts are given a sort of sarong to cover themselves up with while inside. Footwear are also not allowed; you’re supposed to keep it in your bag or inside the eco-bags given at the entrance, which you’re supposed to return after your visit to the temple.

Besides the number of people in the temple, I guess the real challenge here is taking a picture of the reclining Buddha in full. Haha. The task is somehow impossible because the Buddha is unbelievably huge and long and you actually have to crane your neck to see it. Nevertheless, the structure is nothing short of amazing, and it is actually my favorite among the temples we visited.

Note: A visit to Wat Arun can also be combined with Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho. It’s located just across Wat Pho and is said to be best visited during sunset.

Here are other pictures of Wat Pho:

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*Travel date: March 2015