Today was spent doing some of the typical tourist stuff in Bangkok. A hardy breakfast of porridge and banana to make up for the previous nights beer, and we were off! Avoiding the waiting pack of tuktuk and taxi drivers, offering to take us places for 'cheap price', we walked for about 10 minutes down the street to the Grand Palace of the Thai King. This large complex houses the old palace of the King, as well as Wat Phra Kaew. Upon arriving, I was told I couldn't enter the complex, as my shorts (which ended just below my knee), were too short. This is after all, a place of Buddhist worship. However, for a small returnable deposit, I could have a pair of drawstring baggy trousers to wear. I joined the queue of all the other 'scantily clad' westerners, and a few minutes later, armed with my new ugly pants, I could go exploring!
The Buddhist temple of Wat Phra Kaew was first, and I must say it was very impressive (check out the link for more photos). It comprises of a number of large and small buildings, altars and statues. Some of the buildings are covered in amazing decoration; gold leaf, gold tiles, small mirrors etc. One very large building in particular was completely covered in a small repeating patterns of gold tiles, sculpted parts, mirrors and colourful tiles. The amount of work to construct such a place is utterly mind boggling. All around the place were large statues acting as guards or 'supporting' the building. These too were covered in detail work and small decoration that was almost unbelievable to comprehend. Some buildings were just completely covered in gold leaf. We walked around, necks craned, sweating in the Bangkok heat, and were amazed at the amount of work it would have taken to create this place. Several of the larger buildings housed Buddhist altars, and after removing your shoes, you could enter. While the western tourists just marvelled at the sheer magnificence of the statues and the altars, 
many of the locals would actively kneel and pray. It was a very interesting experience. There were also large undecorated stone statues (my personal favourite), exquisite little gardens with miniature trees, pagodas and large ceramic containers with water plants and amazing flowers.Within the same complex was the Grand Palace of the Thai King. Built in a somewhat in an 'East meets West' way, ultimately it was just a very large stately building, that paled in comparison so the magnificence of the gold-leaf buildings we had just seen. Before leaving, we went into a small museum housing some of the Royal Thai regalia, jewellery, swords and other accoutrements that come with being Royal. I actually really enjoyed the museum, and liked looking at the amazing artifacts. Rome of the rings were so encrusted with jewels and raw diamonds, that the ring was the size of a golf ball. Some serious bling. And oh, the musem was also wonderfully air-conditioned, another reason it was great.
Walked down the road to Wat Pho, home of the world's largest reclining Buddah. There entrance fee was cheap, and really worth it. The buildings around the temple complex were not particularly impressive, especially after the sights of the morning. However, the giant Buddha, that was pretty impressive. At 46m long, and 15m high, completely covered in gold leaf, it is a very impressive sight. Other than that, there isn't really much to say about it. It's just a really really big statue, all covered in gold. I guess you have to be there to fully feel its impact.The rain come down then, the way it does in these parts of the world, hot, heavy and solid. We had now been on our feet for most of the day, and combined with the rain, caught a taxi back to Khaosan road. The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing, and I had the very good news that my car, back in NZ, had been sold! That adds a huge boost to my travelling fund, but if I am good I will leave it as my setup money for the UK, which I know is going to be very expensive.
The evening and night was spent with a few other friends, people I had met in Taman Negara, and Helen had met in KL. Sometimes travelling can be a very small world indeed. Although at one stage or another, all travellers go to Khaosan road, and I have already bumped into a few people I've met in other places. Small world indeed....
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