Final Images on Bangkok

A Monk with the Buddha

buying a lottery ticket

Reclining Buddha

the Grand Palace

Wat Arun

night on the Khao San Road, a backpacker's place to stay

night on the Khao San Road

Will gets to the Thai McDonalds finally to get something that we can't get in the States....

...A Double Big Mac

Ronald welcomed us

Coconut and savory street pancakes

inside the Skytrain Metro

Traffic

Red Shirt Political Rally

The Thailand Flag and the yellow Royal Flag of the King

Why not for the men?

Mediation Buddha

Boat Cruise on the Chao Phraya River

We returned from Ayutthaya via the Chao Phraya River.  Seeing Bangkok from this view was completely different than when on the street.  The city looks calm and organized-- and the temples are stunning with the river.

several bridges connecting Bangkok and Thonburi

The Grand Palace

Wat Arun

the central tower is 82 meters high

Ayutthaya

 Ayutthaya was once the capital of Thailand in the14th century.  For over 400 years, this was where the kings of Siam ruled, until 1767 when the Burmese invaded and destroyed much of the capital city. The Thais then moved their capital down towards Bangkok. 

Wat Phra Si Sanphet was once the largest temple complex in Ayutthaya, being rebuilt several times--namely because it was built on soft ground and the wats kept falling over. 

 This became a historical park in 1976 and part of UNSECO in 1991.  The Buddha head with the Spung tree growing around it has been used as one of the images for UNSECO ever since.

The King and Us

We took a bus tour to the Ayutthaya (north of Bangkok) to see the royal palace of the kings, Bang Pa-In.  This palace was built by King Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua, or Rama IV.  Foreigners would know him as King Mongkut (18 October 1804 – 1 October 1868), ruling as the fourth monarch of Siam, reigning from 1851-1868.

But, I know him as the King from the musical film "The King and I" with Deborah Kerr and Yul Brenner.   


During his reign, the pressure of Western expansionism was felt for the first time in Siam. Mongkut embraced Western innovations and initiated the modernization of Siam, both in technology and culture—earning him the nickname "The Father of Science and Technology" in Siam.  Having been to Europe, he had built a palace that was similar to those building he saw in Vienna, Paris, and London.



The throne room is definitely Asian, however.  The throne room's architecture is of the Chinese-style, with the ornate engravings, the porcelain screens, and bright red and gold colors.   The other facilities include vast gardens and landscaping; the Warophat Phiman (Excellent and Shining Heavenly Abode), the royal residence, where Jen and I had to put on skirts over our trousers; Ho Withun Thasana (Sages' Lookout), a brightly-painted lookout tower and observatory; and the Aisawan Thiphya-Art (Divine Seat of Personal Freedom), a pavilion constructed in the middle of a pond, that has the statue of King Rama IV.

The whole time we wandered about the grounds and in and out of the royal residence and throne room, I was humming to myself.  Can you imagine what that song was?

King Rama IV throne room

The throne room

Aisawan Thiphya-Art, floating pavilion.

Does he look like Yul?

Observatory

Elephants in the garden

Shall we dance?  (1, 2, 3)
On a bright cloud of music shall we fly?
Shall we dance?
Shall we then say "Goodnight" and mean "Goodbye"?
Or perchance,
When the last little star has left the sky,
Shall we still be together
With are arms around each other
And shall you be my new romance?
On the clear understanding
That this kind of thing can happen,
Shall we dance?
Shall we dance?
Shall we Dance?