The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings at the heart of
Bangkok, Thailand. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of
Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782. The king, his court and his royal
government were based on the grounds of the palace until 1925. The present
monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), currently resides at Chitralada
Palace, but the Grand Palace is still used for official events. (Source:
Wikipedia)
Yes! I am here at one of the most popular tourist spots in Bangkok,
Thailand. This is the 2nd day of our Thailand Vacation and we plan to visit the
temples today. We left our hotel early and headed straight to the BTS Station -
Ratchathewi.
The cheapest way to go here in my opinion is take the BTS. From
your point of origin, get down in Saphan Taksim which is on the Silom Line.
Ratchethewi is on the Sukhumvit line so we need to transfer. Cost = 37 Baht each
From Saphan Taksim, you need to walk and then ride the boat to
Tha Chang (Pier 9). You need to turn left and get on the Chao Phraya Express
Boat which will only cost you around 15 Baht - the only downside is that it is
very crowded. We then decided to ride the tourist boat that charges 100 baht
each and only 5 of us are in a long boat.
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| WAT ARUN - Temple of Dawn |
Once in Pier 9, it will only take 5 - 10 minute walk to reach
the Palace. Make sure that you go directly on the palace entrance and do not
believe anyone saying that the palace is closed (that's a scam).
We reach the Grand Palace at almost 11am, and headed to the
entrance to buy the ticket which cost 500 baht each for foreigners. If you're a
local, then it’s free. I know it’s pricey but this is the most revered site in
Bangkok and you just can't miss going here.
Oh! One more thing before I further proceed and show you the
pictures - Dress Appropriately! My skirt is above the knee so I need to use a
'sarong' which is OK because I think it came out cute! :)
*One sad thing happened while we are roaming around though. My
boyfriend kept on pointing on a different direction not knowing that it was
already the exit, we went out because he thought that it is still a part of the
palace. Unfortunately, when we came back to the gate, we were not allowed to
enter anymore since our ticket is already used. So there, I was not able to see
Wat Phra Kaew anymore.
There's nothing we can do and I
don't want to spend another 1000 baht to go inside. So the rule is - DO NOT GO
OUTSIDE unless you are done or else, you can't enter anymore.
Overall, it was a worthwhile experience. The palace is so beautiful;
I literally want to cry because of joy. From the neatly manicured plants and
trees, magnificent paintings all over, to the detailed and flawless
architecture, it is truly a place worthwhile to visit.
The Grand Palace is open from 8:30am - 3:30pm.
Next Stop? Wat Pho (The Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
