by David K.
Member since:
April 29, 2007

If it's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium - 3/25/08

March 25, 2008 12:18 PM EDT (Updated: August 16, 2008 11:51 AM EDT)
views: 171 | rating: 9.9/10 (64 votes) | comments: 96

Bangkok Photos, Photos, Photos!!!

Okay, did I get your attention?  Since I've spent the last few weeks showing you apartments in Brussels - including my new apartment - I thought I would step back and show you some photos of a trip I made a while back to Bangkok.  One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to the Grand Palace.  There are something like 30,000 Buddhist temples in Thailand, and a huge number of them are in the capital city of Bangkok.

The city itself is huge (bigger than NYC) and packed pretty tight.

And the Grand Palace temple is the biggest and grandest in the city.

Here are a few more shots inside the temple complex, which has many buildings and ample grounds for wandering around.

But my favorite parts were the giants standing guard around the temple.

Of course, since it is a Buddhist temple, there were people there praying and making offerings.

Pretty amazing place actually.  Lots of people visiting, both as worshippers and tourists.  So I decided to go for a little light hearted swing in the forest.

Thanks for visiting the Grand Palace in Bangkok with me.  It won't be long before I'll be exploring various parts of Europe.  I already have a work trip scheduled for June to Rome, and later in the month I should be taking a vacation around Spain.

Til next time.
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Comments: 96

Dee - Nature Babe! Mar 25, 2008, 12:24pm EDT
Great essay!
Sarah (is happy to be near a T.V.) G. Mar 25, 2008, 12:31pm EDT
I love reading your photo essays! I honestly look forward to them every week. This is really great!
Faith H. Mar 25, 2008, 12:31pm EDT
I visited Bangkok many years ago and it was and is an amazing place. We stopped at many of the temples and saw a number of fantastic sights there.
Peter Joseph Swanson Mar 25, 2008, 12:32pm EDT
Cool !!!
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 12:33pm EDT
Thanks Sarah...that's so sweet. I look forward to posting them.
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 12:33pm EDT
Faith - it really is an amazing place to visit. I highly recommend that more Americans visit Asia...it's something I'll never forget.
Curt L. Mar 25, 2008, 12:35pm EDT
Thank you very much, David! Sending a 10 your way!
Kay M. Mar 25, 2008, 12:37pm EDT
Great photos! Thanks for the tour
Excellent! Since this is as close to being there and seeing these things that I'll get, I truly appreciate your sharing these wonders with us!
Marilyn
Marilyn M. Mar 25, 2008, 1:04pm EDT
Thanks, David. I love pictures of places I'll most likely never see in person.
MaryAnne, Director of Member Services Mar 25, 2008, 1:20pm EDT
Amazing pictures David.
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 1:22pm EDT
I'm glad some who haven't been there get a chance to see it. I'll keep posting photos and stories of places I've been as I move forward with this weekly "If It's Tuesday..." column. And once I get settled in Brussels and start traveling in Europe I'll post those too (first trips are likely to be Rome [for a business meeting] and Spain [for fun]).
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 1:23pm EDT
Thanks MaryAnne
Lance L. Mar 25, 2008, 1:27pm EDT
Very cool, thanks for the photo tour.
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 1:32pm EDT
Katie - I can't wait to get to Barcelona. Any tips you can give me for Spain. I'm assuming Madrid, Barcelona, and I'm hoping Valencia, but I haven't made the arrangements yet.
Bankok is at the top of my visiting list, I want to go there badly - and soon!
oops, Bangkok
Zara' N. Mar 25, 2008, 1:35pm EDT
Great visit with you David...and sure wish I could use that swing to join you! LOL Z'
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 1:44pm EDT
I'm sure the vine is still there Zara (though I am not). :)
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 1:44pm EDT
Priscilla - no matter how you spell it, definitely get to Bangkok if you get the chance. In fact, make the chance. It'll be worth it.
Tanya S. Mar 25, 2008, 2:15pm EDT
Beautiful place cant wait to visit myself.. great photo essay..
Nancy S. Mar 25, 2008, 2:23pm EDT
I loved the Asian feel in Okinawa but it isn't nearly as grand as Thailand. The pictures are wonderful.
ness m. Mar 25, 2008, 2:25pm EDT
A place on our lisit of must see places
James T. Mar 25, 2008, 2:28pm EDT
Great photo essay David the pictures are beautiful.
Shekinah C. Mar 25, 2008, 2:30pm EDT
Thanks so much for sharing these. Awesome pictures and I think you had a wonderful time!
Charli Mills Mar 25, 2008, 2:52pm EDT
Wonderful photos, especially your jungle fun shot at the end!
I have never been there and am glad you share your escapades with me. Those buildings and "guards" are amazing. The swing through the forest looked like fun too.
Prima Donna Mar 25, 2008, 3:01pm EDT
Thanks for sharing your view of the world and this incredible ancient art. It is humbling to stand before it, isn't it?
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 3:29pm EDT
One of the cool things I did in Bangkok was eat alligator. I took a boat over to the other side of the river and ate at a restaurant overlooking it. The alligator was a little chewy, but interesting (but more like beef than chicken).
Vivian P. Mar 25, 2008, 3:37pm EDT
That is so cool I have never seen Thialand.
Ginny A. Mar 25, 2008, 4:09pm EDT
Fabulous photos!
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 4:14pm EDT
Thanks all. Besides the alligator, I also ate things like fish balls and squid on a stick. You would walk up to a stand in the street (kind of like an American hot dog stand), and they would dip the balls or squid into the boiling oil and then put hot spices on it (probably to kill the bacteria) and hand it to you. mmm, delicious.
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 4:22pm EDT
Renda - I just couldn't resist a little swinging. :)
Karen A. Mar 25, 2008, 4:40pm EDT
Fantastic! Love you photos!
Digital Diva S. Mar 25, 2008, 4:49pm EDT
Wonderful - thanks!

Thanks for posting this to Best Original Photos, Art and Writing for 2008.
Mary S. Mar 25, 2008, 4:50pm EDT
For those Americans who can't afford to leave or who have been tagged by the Bush administration as unable to leave, our wonderful immigration will soon have this architecture in most of our major cities. Portland has enough Thai restaurants that we can easily see some great Thai architecture and design right here. It's not on as grand a scale yet as in actual Thailand, but maybe that will even happen if the critical mass of Thai community-minded folks gets large enough. In a hurry, I hope that last sentence makes sense.

m
René Allen Mar 25, 2008, 4:59pm EDT
David ~ What a LIFE! This was an amazing journey to take us all on. I'm looking forward to going along with you on the next Surprise trip!

Blessings ~
Rene "Bangkok" Allen
Sharon P. Mar 25, 2008, 5:22pm EDT
Great essay and gorgeous photos. I'd give you 3 more 10s if I could.
Dave McGill Mar 25, 2008, 5:25pm EDT
Great pictorial story, David....beautiful shots...
blaine d. Mar 25, 2008, 5:34pm EDT
beautiful pictures, great essay!!
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 5:35pm EDT
Rene - you're welcome to come along. :)
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 5:36pm EDT
Thanks all. I actually wish the photo quality on Gather were better. I had originally taken these on a film camera and had to scan them, so they are grainier than I like. But the Grand Palace was just that - Grand!
Elise w. Mar 25, 2008, 6:00pm EDT
All the photos are frantastic, but I especially like the last one. I hope you did your best Tarzan yodel. Too bad you didn't get a video of it. Or did you??? :-)
Jerri H. Mar 25, 2008, 6:00pm EDT
Great shots....thanks~
JoAnn C. Mar 25, 2008, 6:27pm EDT
great photos. I'm so jealous you have a trip to Rome scheduled.
Jan S. Mar 25, 2008, 6:27pm EDT
Thanks for taking us to Bangkok, David! I've become a world traveler, thanks to you!
Sophiya S. Mar 25, 2008, 6:38pm EDT
great article
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 7:34pm EDT
Sounds great Katie. I look forward to seeing them.
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 7:35pm EDT
JoAnn - I'm a little worried that I won't get to see much of Rome since it's a work trip and I'll be in and out fairly quickly. Though I may decide to go a little early.
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 7:35pm EDT
Spartan - Excellent! They must have been great times if you don't remember.
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 7:36pm EDT
Elise - no videos (thank goodness)...but I did try a Tarzan yell (though I think it sounded more like George of the Jungle). :)
becky soccer mom x1 p. Mar 25, 2008, 7:47pm EDT
wonderful

fantastic pics
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 7:51pm EDT
Thanks. The temple was a great experience (as was riding the elephant).
Al h. Mar 25, 2008, 8:12pm EDT
Thanks for sharing, bringing the world into my home! please check out my article 'Kissing the Day" i think you will enjoy it! Humbly, SteveH
Susan B. Mar 25, 2008, 9:11pm EDT
Thank you for taking us to such a facinating place!
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 9:12pm EDT
You're welcome. I'm glad you all enjoyed the trip.

More trips to come.
David W. Mar 25, 2008, 9:19pm EDT
Terific photo essay.
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 9:34pm EDT
Thanks David
Cheryl B. Mar 25, 2008, 10:03pm EDT
Wow! This is a very nice photo essay David. I really enjoyed the photos. I'll probably never go there, but thanks to you it was like going there my self... Thank you so much for sharing this.
Amanda J. Mar 25, 2008, 10:04pm EDT
These are great!
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 10:05pm EDT
Glad you could get just a little piece of Bangkok Cheryl. More to come.
Billie H. Mar 25, 2008, 11:50pm EDT
Great shots David!
David K. Mar 25, 2008, 11:51pm EDT
Thanks Billie
*Holly *. Mar 26, 2008, 12:11am EDT
Awesome!
Wanda H. Mar 26, 2008, 12:42am EDT
The guards are wonderful! I love the delicate lacey look of their temples.

I really love your photo essays. I feel like we get to see things that a tourist wouldn't ever see with so many of your pictures. I love that you are willing to share these with us. And I am looking forward to seeing more from you weekly!

Thanks David. I would give you 20 stars if I could. namaste
Eleventh Hour Messengers (EHM) Mar 26, 2008, 1:25am EDT
These are really awesome photos!
Vinson T. Mar 26, 2008, 5:21am EDT
Thailand is a great place, albeit people casting it in a negative light. I last visited Thailand 2 years ago together with my family. It left us fond memories, as that period of time coincided with the King's birthday celebrations. By the way, did you manage to catch the changing of 'clothes' for the emerald Buddha? It's quite a site to behold.
David K. Mar 26, 2008, 5:31am EDT
A pleasure to bring them to you Wanda.
David K. Mar 26, 2008, 5:31am EDT
Vinson - no, I didn't see the changing of "clothes" for the emerald Buddha. Can you tell us more about it?
Pepsie J. Mar 26, 2008, 6:25am EDT
The photos and essay were very interesting, Thanks
Danielle P. Mar 26, 2008, 7:11am EDT
Awesome photo essay. The temples are beautiful.
David K. Mar 26, 2008, 8:35am EDT
Glad everyone liked the photos of Bangkok.
Beryl Singleton Bissell Mar 26, 2008, 10:46am EDT
This was great. What gorgeous temples! Looking forward to your Rome event.
David K. Mar 26, 2008, 11:36am EDT
Thanks Beryl. I'm glad you liked Bangkok. I'm looking forward to my Rome event as well.
David K. Mar 26, 2008, 1:23pm EDT
Eryne - Travel as much as you can. It's worth it to see other countries and other cultures.
Cristina S. Mar 26, 2008, 2:59pm EDT
What a great collection of photos!
David K. Mar 26, 2008, 3:56pm EDT
More where these came from (and also from elsewhere).
pamela r. Mar 26, 2008, 7:52pm EDT
Great pics--Definitely a place I'd like to visit some day.
David K. Mar 26, 2008, 8:05pm EDT
Definitely visit Thailand if you get the chance (in fact, make the chance)
Michael Henry Mar 26, 2008, 10:30pm EDT
David - great article about Thailand! Thanks for sharing!
David K. Mar 26, 2008, 10:53pm EDT
I'm glad you liked it. I have some earlier "If It's Tuesday..." on Hong Kong/Macau, Vietnam, and Beijing.
Karolyn Q. Mar 28, 2008, 10:47am EDT
This was a wonderful photo essay! It looks like a great place.
David K. Mar 28, 2008, 11:21am EDT
Bangkok was a great place Karolyn. Definitely worth the visit (and the long flight).
Jim G. Mar 28, 2008, 6:54pm EDT
wowsers! what a city!
David K. Mar 28, 2008, 6:56pm EDT
Thailand is incredible
David K. Mar 29, 2008, 9:02am EDT
Thanks all for your feedback on my Bangkok article.
Vinson T. Mar 29, 2008, 10:36pm EDT
Sorry for the late reply, 'cause I just returned from Israel. The changing of "clothes" for the Emerald Buddha occurs before the start of Thailand's rice harvest cycles. It is suppose to ensure plentiful harvest for the seasons to come. Although it is called the Emerald Buddha, the approximately 1.2m statue was actually hand carved by artisans from an extremely rare piece of dark green jade (big pieces of such jade pieces are hard to come by). It is one of the finest pieces of rare jade in the world. The "clothes" on the other hand, were made of gold and adorned with the finest jewels (eg. emeralds, rubies, sapphires) that one can lay eyes on. All these take place in the midst of great fanfare. The changing of the "clothes" is normally done by the abbot of the temple. However, the King himself has also done it on a few occasions.
David K. Mar 29, 2008, 11:03pm EDT
Thanks for the "changing of the clothes on the Emerald Buddha" info Vinson. That is pretty interesting and I'm sorry I missed it.
David K. Apr 22, 2008, 7:34am EDT
Thanks Natthanon. It definitely was amazing.

Another "If It's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium" coming later today.
Jessica I. May 9, 2008, 3:45pm EDT
amazing pictures. thanks for taking us along with you.
David K. May 9, 2008, 3:49pm EDT
Thanks for coming along Jessica. I have fun remembering the good times I had.
Barb (Gather Site Ferret) Carlson Jun 9, 2008, 11:11am EDT
Great photos! Very nice.
David K. Jul 14, 2008, 3:14am EDT
Really? Bangkok? Wow. I'd love to see what the criteria were.
David K. Jul 14, 2008, 9:10am EDT
Interesting. Thanks for the link, Mad Shark (gotta love the name).
Sammie B. Aug 17, 2008, 1:27pm EDT
Wow, that city looks huge. But I sure do love all the interesting architecture and how beautiful the buildings and statues are!
David K. Aug 17, 2008, 1:32pm EDT
Bangkok is a little bigger than New York City.

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