For those who read my "wall of china" long post previously, here is the other half of the ah ma long winded story.
THE BREAKFAST
The night before when we were on the way back to the hotel from Platinum Mall, the taxi driver was so friendly he kept chatting with us, talking about Thailand beliefs, Hong Kong celebrities and kung fu...funny guy =) He asked us where would we be going the next day, we said The Grand Palace. He gave us a valuable advice, because tomorrow would be Monday and all Thailand people would be going to work. So beat the jam and go out later at 10-11am instead.
Alvin got up the next day at 7.30am, he said he wanted to try the breakfast =_____= I'm definitely not a morning person, I'm more than happy to give up breakfast for more time to snooze. But he gave me that poor puppy face and said, "I will eat by myself".
......
"FINE! Give me 15minutes more to snooze and I will go with you!"
Man!
When I got downstairs and saw the choices for breakfast...free flow of BACON, SCRAMBLE EGGS and HAMS
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| SWEET JESUS! |
THE PALACE
We finally reached The Grand Palace, smooth traffic, thank God! Shall I do the raccoon thingy again? PRAISE THE LORD!
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| This raccoon praising the lord is so funny I couldn't help it! |
When we got down from the taxi, a stranger approached us and asked if we were going to the palace. Upon seeing us nodding, he broke the news that today was a public holiday and all the monks were praying in the palace. Hence tourists were not allowed to visit until 1pm. We were shocked O_o!!! Then he took the map from our hands and started to introduce to us all sorts of activities. Asking us to rent a boat from them for 1000baht! He even had the balls to say he usually offers 2000baht for other tourists but for us he gave 50% discount. With the boat, he will take us to here, here and there *doodling with his pen on our map*. Then I recalled yesterday the taxi driver told us today was supposed to be Thailand's people working day. Why was this idiot telling us the opposite and asking us to pay for boat ride. Alvin then took back the map and said no no no. The guy looked rather pissed and did us some hand gestures shoo-ing us away. WTF!
We followed other tourists and entered the palace, then we heard a tour guide shouting, "There are people saying the palace is closed today! Do not believe them!". *GASP* Thank goodness we didn't believe that scammer!
So we got our tickets and queued up to enter the palace. Many people got stopped because they were not properly dressed. No sleeveless, short pants, short skirt, slipper and leggings. Luckily we were told earlier by Reuben and Fann about this, so we were dressed well and proper.
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| The panorama view of the palace, magnificent! |
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| Some parts of the palace were still under construction. |
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| After taking this picture, I heard some tour guide saying this is the lord of the devil. ZOIKS!!!! |
My favourite part of the palace. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It was all covered with blings! The craftsmanship of this architecture was something to be admired. You can judge by the way I hugged the pillar XD
The holy Emerald Buddha is kept within the temple. We followed everyone into the temple and kneel down to pray in front of the statue of the Emerald Buddha. I read from the pamphlet that the outfit of the Emerald Buddha was changed 3 times a year, and the ceremony was done by the King of Thailand. Can you imagine the mighty status of the Emerald Buddha that he can get the majesty to change the clothes? Everyone were so quiet in the temple, even ang mohs clasped their palms and said their prayers.
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| I looked so small on the giant staircase. |
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| No photography allowed in the holy temple. So I sneaked one from outside. |
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| Phra Thinang Amarin Winichai. |
The throne hall was constructed as a royal audience chamber for receiving foreign ambassadors and conducting important state businesses and ceremonies (cited from Wikipedia).
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| Phra Thinang Chakri Maha Prasat |
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| Phra Maha Prasat group |
A huge tall guard was standing in front of the palace gate and tourists were surrounding him for photos. But the tourists from China kept taking photos with him one after another. Some other people from other countries were standing at the side waiting but the China people took their own sweet time. We were so pissed and took photo with a smaller frame guard at the side instead. He was standing at the corner unnoticed by people. Bias! Just because he was smaller nobody bothered him! When I stood next to him for photo, he SMILED! V^^V After that the rest of the ang mohs followed and took photos with him instead while the China people could hoard the other guard as long as they want!
It was 1pm in the afternoon and the sun were blazing right on top of our heads. We have been walking under the hot sun for 2 hours! We were all sticky and sweaty!
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| LMAO!!! Alvin found his long lost twin! |
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| Even the statue couldn't stand the heat and borrowed my hand fan, LOL! |
THE TEMPLE
Amidst the hot burning sun, we walked for nearly half an hour passing the walls of the palace. It was SO DAMN HOT! I nearly died of overheat! And so we finally reached the Wat Pho, Temple of the Reclining Buddha! PRAISE THE LORD!
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| Paid 20baht for small changes to make wishes. |
The 108 bronze bowls are said to indicate 108 auspicious characters of the Buddha.
After another 2 hours in the oldest temple in Bangkok, we were all dried up. Our next destination was supposed to be Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn. But we were so tired and hot already. So we just walked to the Chao Phraya river opposite and sat by the river to admire the view of the Wat Arun from far. We didn't have the energy to take the boat ride and walk another distance at the temple anymore, thus we gave up Wat Arun =(
After sitting by the river for half an hour, Alvin and I wanted to enjoy the luxury of air cond instead of sun and sweat, and so we decided to go to Siam Centre for some high end shopping! We tried to hail a few taxis but as soon as they heard Siam, they shook their heads! Finally there was one kind taxi but he requested for 200baht AGAIN. Since we were going nowhere, we agreed. The journey was longer than I thought. I nearly fell asleep in the taxi, zzzzz.....
SIAM CENTER
There were a few end shopping malls altogether in the Siam Center. But we only managed to walk Siam Center Shopping Mall, Siam Center Discovery and Siam Paragon. We wanted to go to the Madam Tussauds House of Wax but the entry fee was 800baht =S What if they have like 5-6 figurines inside only?! So we wandered around the malls instead.
And then I saw Naraya, the so called high end brand from Bangkok. I thought since people call it high end, I was expecting the price to be a bomb. But to my utter surprise, one bag was only 350baht?! O__o ATTACKKKKK!!!!!!!
We started to get bored in the shopping mall, and then I saw rows and rows of stalls outside Siam Paragon! It's time to attack the markets again! Cheap bargain stuff, I LIKE!!!
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| I nearly died of an heart attack when I saw this! |
Poor Alvin was so tired carrying his heavy camera bag. Seeing his exhausted face, I offered to carry for him. But he won't let me. But every time I stopped to check out something, he would find a place to sit. 3 years with this man and he had never accompany me to shop for such a long time frame.
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| Poor thing. |
I saw so many nice skirts and pouches but the price over here are a bit higher than Chatuchak and Platinum Mall. But after that I was so regret for not getting it! Because I can never find them at other places anymore T___T Me so regret! And so I came out with 3 golden shopping rules in Bangkok called 3S.
#1 See something?
#2 Suka?
#3 Sapu!!!!!
Please keep this rule in mind when you go Bangkok and you shall never have any regrets!
We paid another 200baht for taxi to ride back to the hotel again. Only God knows why the hell we always go back during rush hour =___=
THE MASSAGE
There is a massage parlour below the hotel. During my first night I wanted to have a massage but they were fully booked. So on the second night, I made a booking for a full body massage at 9pm after walking non stop for 2 days.
We wanted to try the noodle again but it was not opened T____T So we had our dinner at the hotel's cafeteria instead. We thought hotel food should be sucky, BUT WE WERE SO WRONG!!!! The food was awesome!!!!! And blended fruit juice is only 35baht! O___o Holy macaroni!
We wanted to try the noodle again but it was not opened T____T So we had our dinner at the hotel's cafeteria instead. We thought hotel food should be sucky, BUT WE WERE SO WRONG!!!! The food was awesome!!!!! And blended fruit juice is only 35baht! O___o Holy macaroni!
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| The massage parlour. |
After the massage at 10ish, I thought Alvin would be in the room but he was actually waiting for me outside in the tuk tuk (LOL). Felt so bad to make him waited for me for more than an hour, but he told me he would be in the hotel room.
The next day was our last day and we had early flight =( So we spent the night packing, watched Channel V and slept early.
The next day was our last day and we had early flight =( So we spent the night packing, watched Channel V and slept early.
To be continued...
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