Bangkok - Chapter I

One of the many beautiful buildings in the Royal Palace

The residents of Danau Kaseh had a wonderful time in Bangkok with AZ's staffs last weekend. I had such a misconception about Bangkok before - it is not what I imagined it to be. Bangkok is totally beyond my expectation!

Bangkok is surprisingly modern, clean and quite well planned. Impressive buildings and structures are aplenty. Skywalks and bridges are built to connect shopping malls, commercial offices and BTS stations which makes it easy for pedestrians. Walking through the interconnecting malls & walkways is pleasant and safe, above all the traffic. All these cosmopolitan amidst centuries old palaces and temples make Bangkok a modern city rich in culture and tradition. 

The very modern Central World

We stayed in Arnoma Hotel which is in the center of the shopping district, right in front of a mall called Central World, an  impressive building by any standard. Bangkok is a shopper's haven. There is something for everyone, whether you are on a string budget or otherwise. You can buy from stalls by the roadside and markets, or from branded boutiques in first class malls. Night markets are open until midnight. What I find most pleasant about shopping in Bangkok is that both the shopping malls and markets are not congested. The malls are huge, with wide corridors & bright lights. They are very well spaced out. This is quite unlike Jakarta which is crowded almost all the time, both outdoors and indoors. You can get good quality leather products at very reasonable price in Bangkok. Bargaining is essential and expected of course, and unlike Hong Kong, you won't be frowned upon for haggling! 

The Golden Temple

The field at the front of the Royal Palace

Our first stop after checking into the hotel was a tour of the Royal Palace. The ground covers an area of about 61 acres and the structures in the compound are all opulent and stunning. The main temple in the Palace compound is covered in 18-carat gold plates. 

Adlina touching the 18-carat gold plates

Another temple houses a Buddha sculpture from the 10th century sitting on a solid gold throne covered with rubies and diamonds. All the buildings are well preserved and beautifully maintained. The whole experience was breathtaking! The kids were enthralled by the myths and legends explained by our guide about Siam, Buddha and Ramayana. The tour was really awesome and cannot be missed if you are ever in Bangkok!

The legend of Ramayana is hand-painted 

in detail on a 100-foot mural

The walls covered in ancient Chinese ceramics

There is so much to tell about our trip, but I will write more in my next posting. Meanwhile, I hope Hasanah, Hajar, Thony, Azim & Azmin had a good time in Bangkok with us as we did with them :-)

Sawadee Kap (^_^)