Martins in Thailand: Solo in Bangkok

With Sam and the kids back in the States, I need to find ways to occupy myself now that playing tennis with Eliana and chasing around Shane are not options. So, on Sunday, I hopped on the cancal taxi and took it to the end of the canal.

At the end of the canal is Wat Saket, or the Golden Mount. It's a golden temple atop a hill. Having never visited it before and needing a productive way to spend my day, despite the stifling heat, it seemed like a good place to start.

(statues greeting me as I enter and start to ascend)

(more statues)

(even the monks were taking snapshots)

(temple rooftops peaking through the trees)

(walking into the clouds)

(more rooftops)

(golden stupa on top)

(banging the gong)

(some of the myriad temple bells that line the walks up and down)

(rooftops)

(Bells)

(Bell)

(Temple roof)

After that, I walked over the Baan Bat, which translates into Monk's Bowl Community. Here's they make monk's bowls by hand in the traditional way. It's a dying art, as most are imported these days.

(woman pounding out a bowl)

(Baan Bat alleyway)

(another artisan at work)

(dog sleeping by unfinished bowls)

(alleyway)

(old shophouse selling bowls)

The it was over to the landmark Giant Swing and the nearby Wat Suthat, famous for its temple wall murals.

(the Giant Swing)

(Wat Suthat)

(Wat Suthat statues)

(murals and Buddha inside Wat Suthat)

(Wat Suthat courtyard)

(more courtyard)

(Wat Suthat)

(row of Buddhas)

(the Giant Swing)

After that, I caught a tuk-tuk over to Dusit to tour some of the older royal grounds. Unfortunately, no pictures inside so only images of the grounds, which were still beautiful. Still, the throne hall was absolutely spectacular and I'm a little upset with myself for just discovering it now and not suggesting it to visitors. My bad!