On our 2nd day back in BKK, Nico and I did a lot of exploring! I've been to Bangkok before but it still felt like my first time. I was so excited! I went to places I've never been to before and did things (like take the train and ferry) I've never experienced. This post is about the sights and places we went to and discovered that day. Plus, some budget and commuting tips! Scroll down below to start the city tour! Let's go;)
So, this was my first time to try BKK's Skytrain or in other words, MRT. Our first agenda was to visit the Wat Arun temple, so I researched a few days before on how to get there by not riding a cab. It was actually very easy!!! And cheaper. :)
Wat Arun is a Buddhist temple (wat) in Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand, on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. It was said to be envisioned by King Taksin in 1768 after fighting his way out of Ayutthaya and arriving at this temple just as dawn was breaking. Later on, he had the temple renovated and renamed it Wat Chaeng, the "Temple of the Dawn". It was once home to the Emerald Buddha. It was also said that the temple derived its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun. Wat Arun is one of the most revered temples in Thailand, a very important landmark. Although the temple had existed since at least the seventeenth century, its distinctive prang (spires) were built in the early nineteenth century during the reign of King Rama II. It's being flocked during sunrise and sunset because the sun reflecting on the surface of the temple makes it glitter, glimmer and iridescent.
The central prang is topped with a seven-pronged trident, referred to by many sources as the "Trident of Shiva". Around the base of the prang are various figures of ancient Chinese soldiers and animals. Over the second terrace are four statues of the Hindu god Indra riding on Erawan. In the Buddhist iconography, the central prang is considered to have three symbolic levels-- base for Traiphum indicating all realms of existence, middle for Tavatimsa where all desires are gratified and top denoting Devaphum indicating six heavens within seven realms of happiness. At the riverside are six pavilions (sala) in Chinese style. The pavilions are made of green granite and contain landing bridges. (wikipedia)
Wat Pho is one of the largest and oldest wats in Bangkok (with an area of 50 rai, 80,000 square metres), and is home to more than one thousand Buddha images, as well as one of the largest single Buddha images at 150 feet (46 m) in length. It is associated with King Rama I who rebuilt the temple complex on an earlier temple site, and became his main temple where some of his ashes are enshrined. The temple was later expanded and extensively renovated by Rama III.
Two hours of walking and exploring made us super hungry, so we decided to eat lunch around the area nalang. From the temple, we crossed the street and kept walking 'til we found the perfect place. It's a nice cafe that looked bright and inviting from the outside. Plus, it's air conditioned! So, it was really a nice break from the hot weather.
After eating, Nico and I strolled around the neighborhood some more. There was a nice park near the pier, some interesting street vendors, a market, and the Royal Grand Palace! It's actually just beside Wat Pho. We didn't go inside the Grand Palace na but at least I know it's super easy to go there by commute. Nag tour package pako before! Haha. Just take the train going to Saphan Taksin, ride the boat going to Pier #9 Tha Chang or #8 Tha Thien. :)
We alighted at Phetchaburi... which turned out to be a bad idea. It was super far from our hotel. Nico's GPS said it's 2km away but it felt like I walked from Cubao to Tomas Morato. Serioooously. It also didn't help that I was on my 2nd day of womanhood. I felt so sore after. Haha.
We didn't really walwal that night. We just wanted to drink beer and chill for a bit after dinner. You know, just the right amount of chill. Went home after 2 bottles of Leo (not counted the Chang beer we drank while eating haha) and after seeing a lady selling fried scorpions as pulutan to the tables before us. So before makarating samin, escape na. Haha. It was a pretty fun night, and a pretty amazing day. That's it for today! Last Bangkok post coming up next. Don't miss it!:)
Wrangler polo, H&M pants, Primadonna backpack, Keds sneakers
OOTD!
This is the station nearest to our hotel
BTS Skytrain Map!
We were very impressed with their trains!
Nico buying tickets going to Saphan Taksin station
Organized lines
Train's here!
Their train's spacious. Like our LRT line 2 hehe
We got off at Saphan Taksin and just followed the sign going to Central/Sathorn Pier
Bought tickets for the Chao Phraya Boat!
Tip: Tourists are often approached by guides who will offer tickets for the tourist boats. That will cost 150 baht. Avoid, avoid! Haha. I read on Tripadvisor that there's a kiosk on the left side of the pier that sells boat tickets for 15-20 baht each. I think that's for the orange colored boats, the one the locals board. For some reason, we were not able to find it, so we ended up buying the 40 baht one-way tourist ferry ticket. Okay na din coz the boat has an english speaking guide. If you wish to hop on and hop off as you go sightseeing, then buy the whole day ticket for 120 baht.
Our boat!
Daming seats! It's also super clean:)
Old and new:)
While cruising, there was a guide announcing which station's next, as well as the sights you could see there.:)
Ticket
Tourist piers! Tha tien is where Wat Arun's located. Yodpiman is Chinatown. Went there too!
Pabebe
interesting building
Loved the cruise! It was a nice, cheap way to do sightseeing:)
Wat Arun from the other side
Tha Thien Pier. It's #8 on the boat map!
Boat going to Wat Arun. Will explain later.
Love the old school feel of Tha Thien pier!
you could buy interesting stuff from the stalls inside the station
You may also stay here for a while or grab some food :)
Go to this window and buy ferry tickets to Wat Arun! It's just across the pier and they have a special boat for that:)
It's just 3 baht per person! As in tatawid lang the boat.
Let's go! It's actually just a 1-2 minute ride. Haha.
inside the ferry
Selfie din kami
1st Stop: Wat Arun or the "Temple of Dawn"
Welcome to Wat Arun!
Wat Arun is a Buddhist temple (wat) in Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand, on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. It was said to be envisioned by King Taksin in 1768 after fighting his way out of Ayutthaya and arriving at this temple just as dawn was breaking. Later on, he had the temple renovated and renamed it Wat Chaeng, the "Temple of the Dawn". It was once home to the Emerald Buddha. It was also said that the temple derived its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun. Wat Arun is one of the most revered temples in Thailand, a very important landmark. Although the temple had existed since at least the seventeenth century, its distinctive prang (spires) were built in the early nineteenth century during the reign of King Rama II. It's being flocked during sunrise and sunset because the sun reflecting on the surface of the temple makes it glitter, glimmer and iridescent.
Powerrrr
the whole place was being restored and renovated :(
Amazed na naman si Dora
This is also a place where they honor the dead:) There are names and photos below each buddha.
Renovations and repairs on-going!
Didn't know what they were doing but I'm pretty sure it's to restore the color:)
Didn't go inside the temple na coz of repairs
Ano yun? Baket?
Beautiful:)
Some areas were closed due to repairs. Huhu.
Let's go inside the main temple!
Entrance is 50 baht per person
All visitors are required to wear proper temple attire. Must be long sleeves and nothing above the knee. In case you're not prepared, they have sarongs for rent. :)
Central Prang
Monks giving their blessing to devotees
Feel na feel ko yung stairs haha
Closer look
The central prang (Khmer-style tower) is encrusted with colorful porcelain. You could reach the highest point by climbing these steep steps! It was closed that time though. Sayang :(
Aura sa terrace
The prangs are decorated by seashells and bits of porcelain which had previously been used as ballast by boats coming to Bangkok from China. Love.
Aura pa more...
..and more!
Woooow
Temple grounds. If it was not that hot, I'd stay.
stalls selling souvenirs
Time to go back!
After spending a little over an hour in Wat Arun, we decided to board the boat again, cross over and visit naman one of Thailand's biggest temple and religious compound, Wat Pho.
paying for our tickets
Let's g!
Perfect tour outfit! Haha. Super comfy and lightweight. Whenever the heat gets unbearable, I just take off my longsleeve chambray polo, and then wear it again when I enter temples.
Hello from the other siiiide
When you get off the boat, just walk straight until you find yourself outside the pier. If you find yourself lost, just follow the throng of people (mostly tourists) and you'll find the temple. It's actually easy to find. It's just a few steps away from the pier. Haha. It's on the right side, street corner. ;)
There o!
Db andami nila?
Nico bought a tiger necklace (for goodluck) from this vendor for 70 baht, I think
2nd Stop: Wat Pho or Temple of the Reclining Buddha
There you go! It's impossible to miss it, really.
inside
Entrance fee is 100 baht
Wat Pho is one of the largest and oldest wats in Bangkok (with an area of 50 rai, 80,000 square metres), and is home to more than one thousand Buddha images, as well as one of the largest single Buddha images at 150 feet (46 m) in length. It is associated with King Rama I who rebuilt the temple complex on an earlier temple site, and became his main temple where some of his ashes are enshrined. The temple was later expanded and extensively renovated by Rama III.
Free bottle of water with the entrance fee:) Gusto ko sha ipaligo actually sa sobrang init.
The Wat Pho complex consists of two walled compounds bisected by Chetuphon Road running in the east–west direction. The larger northern walled compound, the phutthawat, is the part opened to visitors and contains the finest buildings dedicated to the Buddha, including the bot with its four directional viharn, and the temple housing the reclining Buddha. The southern compound, the sankhawat, contains the residential quarters of the monks and a school. The temple was also the first public university in Thailand, and still houses a school of Thai medicine. It is known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage which is still taught and practiced at the temple. (source: Wikipedia)
Wear appropriate clothing! No exposed shoulders or skin above the knee. Also, no shoes inside. You can't leave your shoes outside, though. They have shoe bags which you can borrow so you can carry your shoes while inside the temple. Don't forget to return upon exit.
Entrance to the temple of the reclining Buddha. Andaming tao much. Hehe.
hindi mashadong crowded
46m reclining Buddha!
it's HUGE
walls are decorated and painted
Took a quick snap of the whole Buddha. It's so huge it didn't fit in my photo. hehe.
These are the 108 wishes coin pots. I didn't have enough coins, so mga 10 pots lang kinaya ng powers ko.
got mesmerized by the painting on the wall
Wat Pho complex is HUGE. They have maps inside to serve as guides.
Detailed map & directory:)
Let's start exploring?
Student monks!
Busy sila hehe. So cute.
They were going around the temple grounds while an instructor explains things.
Love the details
Tourista mode
Look for this door!:) No sign kasi.
Soft opening palang kasi
super cheap rice meals!!! winner
Chicser? Hasht-5? Hahaha!
Love the whole vibe of the place:) Owner's super friendly too!
Ayan sha.:) I love how he's the one making the drinks and serving them. He chatted with us and even recited a few Tagalog words he know! Her gorgeous Thai wife's super accomodating too.:)
Our food & drinks. So good! And so cheap :)
Had to take a photo of these chicas. So fasyown! Lakas maka Daryl Chang vibe noh?
Wasn't able to try this coz I was so full na. Next time!
After eating, Nico and I strolled around the neighborhood some more. There was a nice park near the pier, some interesting street vendors, a market, and the Royal Grand Palace! It's actually just beside Wat Pho. We didn't go inside the Grand Palace na but at least I know it's super easy to go there by commute. Nag tour package pako before! Haha. Just take the train going to Saphan Taksin, ride the boat going to Pier #9 Tha Chang or #8 Tha Thien. :)
Mini market. Went inside hanggang dulo. But the dulo is actually the Tha Chang #9 station. So cool. Didn't have to walk back na.
99 baht sunnies
50 baht fruits
Fresh coconuts for 40 baht
Bought a ticket for 20 baht each.
While waiting for the boat at Tha Chang pier
Ito na yung local boat na hinahanap namin! Haha. Angyare puno na. Haha.
We boarded this boat and got off at Yodpiman or pier #6 where Chinatown is located...
Chinatown market
This is where Nico and I bought our promise rings! For 20 baht each. Ang cheap shet! Haha. Pero in fairness, we're still wearing them 'til now. And it hasn't tarnished yet! Impressive!
Crushed ice or something like halo-halo
hats galore!
Hello, Chinatown!
Chestnuts! My fave:)
Old buildings enchant me
old houses too
But I also loved this fancy townhouse!
And this painted van.
We walked and walked until we reached the train station! Thank God for GPS or maps.me
Ticket vending machines!
Instead of cards, they use this token or chip instead! Cute.
Everyone falls in line. Wag ka magalit Mommy and Lola, documenting lang po hehe
KEDS + People Footwear :)
our stop
So after our long walk, I rewarded myself with new clothes! Deserve ko to, okay? Haha.
Bought baseball coords for P250! Sana I bought more. :(
When we got to the hotel, we rested a bit and took a shower. I also had to wash my undies in the bathroom 'coz I was running out of clean panties na. Haha TMI? Hirap maging backpacker. Traveling's not all pacute and glamour okay?
And then, it's time for late dinner and some beer! Wearing my new clothes which I bought from the market.
For dinner and drinks, we decided to go to the most vibrant street in Thailand, the center of the backpacking universe (as per the movie The Beach)-- KHAO SAN Road!
Passed by this seafood resto na madami kumakain. But we wanted to check out the whole stretch muna before deciding, so we didn't settle here at first.
It was love at first sight and smell, though! Ended up eating here pa din. Hehe.
Mukha shang seminarista noh?
Our meal! We shared na dito haha. I wasn't really that hungry so I didn't order too much this time. Plus, nagtitipid. And the crab's kinda pricey for almost 300 baht per piece!
Transferred to this bar and resto afterwards for some more beer and great music:)
Fight!
We didn't really walwal that night. We just wanted to drink beer and chill for a bit after dinner. You know, just the right amount of chill. Went home after 2 bottles of Leo (not counted the Chang beer we drank while eating haha) and after seeing a lady selling fried scorpions as pulutan to the tables before us. So before makarating samin, escape na. Haha. It was a pretty fun night, and a pretty amazing day. That's it for today! Last Bangkok post coming up next. Don't miss it!:)
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