Thailand Adventures Part 2-Bangkok Grand Palace

BANGKOK GRAND PALACE

Feb. 27
     Had great time in BK.  Took a boat ride on river.  Not for pleasure!  Engine huge and loud!  Got on taxi boat rather than tour boat.  At least only 15 min. not 45.  So loud didn't think could handle 45 min.  Rachel hold ears, face in my lap.  I hold my ears whole time, too.  Looked like an entire car engine on a stick.  Keep mouth shut because water spray nasty looking. ;)  Went to Grand Palace and huge reclining Buddha.  Very beautiful, so HOT.  

     Due to the language barrier we thought we were getting on a long boat for a 45 minute tour down the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.  Woops!  During our loud, spray-filled jaunt I managed to get this picture.  I think it says it all.

Rachel holding ears with beautiful Wat Arun in the distance

Wat Arun

  At the Grand Palace, we hired a personal tour guide, Tong, who was great.   Tong helped us navigate the large grounds and was entirely worth it, especially when he spoke with the entrance staff, so that we didn't have to go all the way back to rent pants for Isaac.  Adults have to wear clothes past their knees to enter temples, but children do not.  Apparently, 12 is considered an adult to some.  Tong had a British accent and was very dramatic.  He carried an umbrella and would use it to point at things or wave it wide to embellish a comment.  If anyone else would try to listen in he would wave them away with an official, "Private tour, private tour!"  He was very entertaining and we learned many tidbits from him.  Some gems:  

• You don't wear shoes in the temples and I thought that was especially interesting since we don't wear shoes in our temples either.

• Thailand has 3 seasons--winter, rainy, summer.  AKA-hot, hotter, hottest.  Thankfully, we were there in the "winter", because it was plenty hot.

• Buddha has 3 outfits and is dressed according to the season.  It made it more fun as we travelled around Thailand and recognized his winter outfit.

• He showed us the ritual a father does for blessing his family.  The father of the family takes a lotus bud and dips it into water.  He then taps it on each family member's head as he pronounces a blessing.  It was a rocky start.  Peter first did Eva and accidentally got her in the eye.  Rachel was offended he put water on her head.  Peter was a little-tongue tied and just tapped the children's heads and said their name.  By the time he got to me, he actually found something to say...a simple "I love you."  Works for me.

Grand Palace entrance

Emerald Buddha

Rachel is still upset water was put on her head
It was a drop, but never under-estimate the smallest offense to cause a melt-down
Obviously, the real issue is that she is having a literal melt-down due to the heat & exhaustion

Candid Shot

After touring the Grand Palace and bidding farewell to Tong, we walked the ~1/2 mile to Wat Po to see the reclining Buddha.  It was huge and impressive.  

Wat Po
Reclining Buddha

Close-up of feet

Donation Pots
People would walk down dropping one Baht coin(3¢) in each pot.   

As wonderful as it was, by this point we had enough sweat and grime for one day.  With a bag full of light, cotton Thai pants in hand, for our 12 year old adult and just cause they feel so good, we headed back to the hotel for some rejuvenation.

Isaac with Rachel in the background

Caleb & Josiah