Day 1-Grand Palace

The Grand Palace is undoubtedly the city's most famous landmark in Bangkok.  Built in 1782 and for 150 years has been the official residence of the Kings of Thailand.

The current reigning King of Thailand is Bhumibol Adulyadej also known as Rama IX currently resides at Chitralada Palace but the Grand Palace is still used for official events. Several royal ceremonies and state functions are still held within the walls of the palace every year.

The Grand Palace of Bangkok continues to have lots of visitors from over the world coming to admire the beautiful architecture and intricate details and craftsmanship of Thai people.

The Grand Palace is currently partially open to the public as a museum, however it remains a working palace as several royal offices are still situated inside. The palace is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Thailand.

The entire compound of Grand Palace is nearly about 60 acres so you can easily spend a day here or you can do what we did, zip in and zip in about 90 minutes.  It is simply too hot to spend a day inside. 

The entrance to the Grand Palace view from across the street.

Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is officially known as Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram is regarded as the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand. Located inside the grounds of the Grand Palace, it enshrines Phra Kaew Morakot known as the Emerald Buddha, the highly revered Buddha image meticulously carved from a single block of jade.

Unfortunately it was not open to public so we got to see the outside only!

Entrance to the outer court! 

Huge crown, mostly tourists from main land China walking toward outer court.

The sacred temples in Thailand has a strict code: Men must wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts and shoes; women must wear long skirts or pants, no bare shoulders, no tank top. Visitors who arrive and does not fit the dress code can rent appropriate clothing items at the entry area of the temple. They are really enforcing this rule and there is a long line to rent clothes as a lot of tourists did not dress appropriately.

Yep, all these colorful sarong are rented!  :-) 

I came prepare as I know the rules wearing pants and a t-shirt with sleeve! 

They stop so many people that do not follow the dress code.

The temples are really amazing with so many details!

Thotsakhirithon  Giant Demon (Yaksha) Guarding an exit.

One of twelve giant demons (Yaksha)guarding the south-western gate of Wat Phra Kaeo to the Grand Palace.

Thotsakhirithon has a green face with an small elephant trunk.

Phra Si Ratana Ched erected in 1855 by King Rama IV, the Main Stupa (mound-like or semi-hemispherical structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the ashes of Buddhist monks, used by Buddhists as a place of meditation) contains relics of the Buddha and is regarded as the most sacred of all stupa in the Royal Chapel.
In the hollow interior of the stupa is a smaller stupa containing the sacred relics.

On the left is Phra Si Ratana Ched (gold) and in the center is Phra Mondop.

The square building in the middle is the Phra Mondop.

The Phra Mondop was the first building built of the upper terrace as a sort of library, originally stood on the site, but was burned down by fireworks soon after the temple was built and was rebuilt by Rama I
Sixteen twelve-cornered columns support the intricate multi-tier roof.
The inside of the Phra Mondop is never open to the public.  You can only admire the outside of the building.

There are so many tourists and it was such a hot day!

I was sweating the whole time...

The walls of the Phra Mondop are covered in green mirrored tiles inlaid with gold medallions depicting Buddha. The base of the walls are lined with two rows of small gilded guardian angels, each one slightly different.
At the four corners of the Phra Mondop are stone Buddhas carved in the ninth century Javanese style.

Close up view of the support column.

Next.. Grand palace, Part 2