We bought our Bangkok Summer Adventure 2011 package tour from PAL's (Philippine Airlines) swing-around package. It includes airfare, accommodation, daily buffet breakfast, hotel/airport transfers and half day city tour. So on our second day, our first agenda was to join the city tour that was part of the package. The tour includes a visit to three of Bangkok's temples, Wat Benchamabophit, Wat Intharawihan and Wat Pho. However, because we enjoyed photographing the first two temples (Wat Benchamabophit & Wat Intharawihan), we spent most of our time on these first two we were not able to get to the last one *sad*. Also included in the package is a visit to The Gems Gallery, a jewelry factory.
Wat Benchamabophit
Wat Intharawihan
Wat Intharawihan, originally called Wat Rai Phrik is a temple located in the Nakhon district of Bangkok and was built during the beginning of Ayutthaya period (1350 - 1767). It features a 32-meter high and 10-meter wide standing buddha, the world's tallest standing buddha. It is decorated in glass mosaic and 24-karat gold. It took more than 60 years before the completion of this buddha. (source: Wikipedia)
The Gems Gallery
Wat Benchamabophit
Wat Benchamabophit or The Marble Temple was our first stop and the first temple we visited for our half-day city tour. It is a Buddhist temple located in the Dusit district and is one of the most beautiful temples in Bangkok. It was built in 1899 at the request of King Chulalongkorn, the fifth monarch of Thailand. Thus the temple's name Wat Benchamabophit which literally means Temple of the Fifth King. (source: Wikipedia)
Wat Benchamabophit is generally made of marbles. Because of this, it gave the temple a modern look. But despite this look, it still characterizes the typical Bangkok temple: beautiful and flamboyant. :)
Wat Benchamabophit is generally made of marbles. Because of this, it gave the temple a modern look. But despite this look, it still characterizes the typical Bangkok temple: beautiful and flamboyant. :)
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| Wat Benchamabophit (photo courtesy of my friend bipong) |
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| back side of the temple |
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| various posing Buddhas inside Wat Benchamabophit |
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| inside Wat Benchamabophit grounds |
Wat Intharawihan, originally called Wat Rai Phrik is a temple located in the Nakhon district of Bangkok and was built during the beginning of Ayutthaya period (1350 - 1767). It features a 32-meter high and 10-meter wide standing buddha, the world's tallest standing buddha. It is decorated in glass mosaic and 24-karat gold. It took more than 60 years before the completion of this buddha. (source: Wikipedia)
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| Wat Intharawihan |
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| the tallest standing Buddha |
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| inside Wat Intharawihan grounds... |
After the visit to these two temples, we proceeded to the jewelry factory. There, we were shown a short video clip featuring the ruby stone and how it is produced. According to the video clip, Thailand is one of the major producers of high quality ruby stones in the world. So as a souvenir, I bought a silver ring with a ruby stone on it (talking about impulsive buying here, tsk tsk!!). :D
There it is, our half-day city tour in Bangkok. Except for the amazing temples, there is nothing extraordinary on this day. We were on a guided tour, with provisions for transportation so we didn't encounter any difficulty. Our tour guide Sam, is very kind, he took our pictures and let us enjoy taking photos around. The downside is, we weren't able to visit the temple of the reclining buddha. :(
Anyway, after the guided tour, we asked Sam to drop us off at Jatuchak Mall instead of dropping us off at our hotel. From there, we decided to explore Bangkok on our own and go to The Grand Palace, one of city's must-see destination. I'll talk about our adventures in The Grand Palace on my next post. Till then... :)
Bangkok Adventure (day 1): Bangkok Summer Adventure 2011
Bangkok Adventure (day 2, AM): The City Tour
Bangkok Adventure (day 2, PM): The Grand Palace
Bangkok Adventure (day 2, night): Chao Phraya River Cruise
Date of Visit: April 30, 2011
Anyway, after the guided tour, we asked Sam to drop us off at Jatuchak Mall instead of dropping us off at our hotel. From there, we decided to explore Bangkok on our own and go to The Grand Palace, one of city's must-see destination. I'll talk about our adventures in The Grand Palace on my next post. Till then... :)
~oo00oo~
Bangkok Adventure (day 1): Bangkok Summer Adventure 2011
Bangkok Adventure (day 2, AM): The City Tour
Bangkok Adventure (day 2, PM): The Grand Palace
Bangkok Adventure (day 2, night): Chao Phraya River Cruise
Date of Visit: April 30, 2011
iyan ang isa kong gustong puntahan..
ReplyDeleteWow, ang bilis mo Arvs! :D
DeleteMapupuntahan at magagawa natin ang ating mga nais kung pagsusumikapan. Kaya hala, mag-save at magbyahe na. hehe...
Thanks Arvin, sa pagdalaw ulit dito. :)
ganda sa Thailand ano? well, marami ditong thailanders and theya re really proud of their country. Naka stop over lang me Bankok, but never been out of the airport. Maybe one DAY. anyway at least nakita ko ang part of the land through your pictures. Looking forward for the next:)
ReplyDeleteHi Ma'am Joy, thanks po for the the visit. :) Our stay in Bangkok is a very short one, we weren't able to visit all its must-see destinations, haven't even visited the floating market so I'm still hoping to go there again. Di enough ang one whole day na gala...hehe.
DeleteDyan din kami nagputa sa Wat Benchamabophit nung nag city tour kami. di ko na matandan yung name nung ibang lugar.
ReplyDeleteHirap talaga tandaan names ng mga lugar at temples nila, search ko lang yan kay google, hehe.
DeleteSabi mo sa isang post nagkakaayaan ulit kayo punta ng Thailand, punta na ulit, meron ako nakita promo tours sa mall, $99 for 4D3N pero land arrangements lang daw, baka gusto mo check. Gusto ko nga rin makapunta ng Phuket, siguro naman ala ng tsunami, tagal naman na yun eh. :)
Very informative posts mo! Ang bongga ng mga temples nila! Nahilo nga lang ako sa pagbabasa nun mga names.. Sayang naman yun isang temple na hindi nyo napuntahan.. Wala ba yun video ng paggawa ng ruby? na-curious ako e! Haha, demading much..
ReplyDeleteBongga talaga temples ng Bangkok, nakakahilo nga lang mga names, hehe. At yun ruby nila, minimina nila yun tas meron sya mahabang proseso ng production, kasama sa video clip. Pag nagpunta ka ng Bangkok, isama mo sa tour yun Gems Gallery, sila ang may video clip eh. Bawal kumuha ng pics/video sa loob, tingin-tingin lang. :)
DeleteAng ganda ng mga temple, sarap sigurong tirhan hehehe
ReplyDeleteSacred sa kanila yan pero kapag ganyan maging design ng bahay mo, sobrang bongga talaga at sigurado masarap din tirahan. hehehe...
DeleteThis is what I meant "I-tour mo ako around Thailand" hehe, which means more pics pls.. Kailan kaya ako makakapunta dyan, sama kaya ako isa sa mga thai dito hehe dami nila dito e minsan napapagkamalan akong thai toinks!
ReplyDeleteAy pics lang ba gusto mo, kala ko gusto mo talaga magpunta ng Thailand eh, sensya na at slow, hehe! Kami rin ng andun eh napagkakamalan Thai o kaya Malay, kinakausap kami ng lenggwahe nila, haha!
Deletesana makapunta ako dyan minsan. sigurado maha-high ako sa architecture ng lugar. wala bang pasalubong? :)
ReplyDeleteSabi nila: pag gusto may paraan, pag ayaw may dahilan kaya mapupuntahan mo yan kung talagang gustuhin mo. At korek sa nakaka-high na arkitektura nila lalo na ang mga temples, magaganda talaga. :)
DeleteBangkok! Wow naman... Sayang di mo napuntahan yong temple of reclining buddha... sounds interesting...
ReplyDeleteMay napuntahan kang beach? Or sa Bangkok lang talaga yong package...
Sayang nga talaga. :( Bangkok lang package namin eh, Phuket beach nila. Sana next time... :)
DeleteGreat,you had a chance to see all the gems of Thailand. Temples are one of the popular tourist attraction there.You should try to go in Phuket the beaches are beautiful....I love Thailand and its my 3rd or 2nd home.
ReplyDeleteDropping by again just to say thank you for all the nice comments for my posts. It's an inspiration:)
ReplyDelete