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Evening everyone I hope you are well
Firstly I can repot that my cash card has now made it's way to me here in Thiland with the help of my support team back in the UK so a huge thank you to them.
I had to wait around until 11.50 as it was due to arrive between 9 and 12 today so they got there just in the nick of time lol. It was my intention to visit the grand palace but it closes at 3.30pm and is of course on the other side of town to where I am. I headed for the sky train again taking the cheap shuttle bus as I did yesterday and bought my ticketMoor my destination station.I had to change lines at the Siam centre to get to the station near the river. It's a clean, air conditioned effective way of getting round Bangkok avoiding the traffic.
So I changed lines and got to my destination, found the route down to the river which was just out side the station and headed to the ferry. I found the correct pier, paid for my ticket and waited about ten mins for
the next boad. It's a very busy river with tourist boads, water taxis, local boats and lots of tugs pulling barges. No real lane sense some boats cross over and up and down the river, and bob and weave between each other. On the journey back a boat coming the other way passed about 6 feet away!
When I got off the boat I picked my way through tourist trinket shops, food stalls selling cooked food, veggies, preprepared fruit like pineapple and mango, dried fish and other bits and bobs. Just as youtcome out Wat pho is on your left and the grand palace is on the right. So,I opted for the reclinging Buddha. It was 100 baht to get in. They say they do not give change and I had nine, somimasked anyway and lo,and behold they gave me change lol. So in I went and took some photos. There are lots of internal court yards lined with golden (not sue if they are gold leaf or just gold painted) statues of Buddha. There are statues of Chinese style warriors and people etc. The walls are painted white and 91 mounds beautifully decorated. There
are various shrines to Buddha and images and statues, a couple of them very big in deed bit not as huge as the main attraction.
I wasn't expecting a 160ft long statue it's massive and very difficult to take a photo of but I managed it. It's housed in a beautifully painted hall and lies on his right hand side. The plinth the statue sits on is beautifully ornate. His feet are decorated with mother of pearl.
I spent about ten mins with him and then headed around to explore the complex which is very beautiful. After about an hour and a half I decided it was time to head back as it's a bit of an epic journey. So I boGuthrie some tourist bits and bobs, and waited for the next boat. I got chatting to a couple from the UK who were in Bangkok for 3 days and heading to china town for food. They had been in Thailand for 3 weeks trekking and sight seeing and were heading home in a few days.
The ferry was very crowded and the boat crew were shouting move done the boat or something
along thise lines. The ticket lady was a formidable character and not one to be messed with, she took no prisoners lol. I got chatting to an American who was in Bangkok for 6 months on a fellowhip studying religion and politics. He just went around chatting to the bhudist monks about anything and everything, nice life.
I got off the ferry and caught the sky train back to Siam where I got off an headed for food again. This time I got some photos for you to see including my chocolate cup cake. Who knows when I may get to try such a tasty treat again lol. I also walked around the massive food hall. Harrods, selfridges and M&S have notihing on this place. So much choicd and variety and loads of fresh fish, dairy, fruit and veg,meat, poultry etc you name it they had it in addition to frozen tinned and packets of food and drink.
So after food viewing in headed back to the hostel to shower change and pack.
I think it rained last night. Today in head off on my hop on hop off tour which will take
me to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam as well as Thailand. Should be interesting. Not sure when I will have internet access again so watch this space for my next instalment.
Xxx
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