King's Mansion

It was sunday after lunch when I went to see Vimanmek Mansion Dusit Palace. Entrance is 100B. I didn't pay na because it's part of the ticket I purchased when I visited the Grand Palace. Parang package na siya, parang city pass. It's open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The mansion is a former royal palace in Bangkok and is located in the Dusit Palace complex, nearby Dusit Zoo in Dusit district. It was constructed in 1900 and was used as a royal palace by King Rama V for five years.

 

According to the history of the place, in 1982, Queen Sirikit (present queen) asked permission of King Rama IX (present king) to renovate Vimanmek Palace for use as a museum to commemorate King Rama V by displaying his photographs, personal art and handicrafts, and to serve as a showcase of the Thai national heritage. Good job si Queen Sirikit dun! The palace is now a major tourist attraction and is the world's largest golden teakwood mansion. Many of the gifts and treasures that King Chulalongkorn collected on his European trip are now displayed in the museum.

Again, same as in Grand Palace, visitors to the palace should be aware that appropriate dress is required for entry. No shorts, ripped jeans or sleeveless. You will need to buy a sarong to cover yourself if you miss to follow the guidelines. Si Marlowe na sinamahan ako papunta doon eh di na nakapasok kasi naka shorts lang siya. Hinintay na lang niya ako. And all cameras and phones must be left in lockers (you will pass through a scanner on the way in) and shoes must be removed also. There is a 20B fee for the lockers. Some are free. And you'll have to do all these "leave your things" in each palace. Admittance is by guided tour which are in Thai or English.

Nakasabay ko ang napakadaming korean tourists na ikinainit nang ulo ko. Ang iingay nila. I swear. Di ko tuloy na-enjoy. Kaya ang ginawa ko, umupo muna ako saglit, kumain nang ice cream at pinauna ko na sila. Nung nagpasukan na sila sa unang mansion, nagpass na ako doon para di ko sila makasabay. Pumunta na ako sa next. Doon ko na na-enjoy ang lugar. Ang dami nang mansions at ginawa talagang museum lahat. Sayang lang at bawal ang camera. Di ko tuloy ma-describe yung ganda niya sa loob.

This King's Mansion is not as grand as the Grand Palace but a nice stop over if you're doing a cultural tour in Bangkok. Andami lang malaking uwak na nagkalat sa loob at para din silang mga koreano, ang iingay. LOL. Nakakatakot pala sila sa malapitan. It must be creepy inside at night with all of those uwak. Ngyaks!

Bangkok's Grand Palace Part II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bangkok's Grand Palace Part I

The Palace & Temple Invasion

When I was in Bangkok, I was able to visit the Grand Palace where most of the beautiful temples are there. It was saturday, my next day in Bangkok, my friend Marlowe has work kaya I had nothing to do but to go around the city. But he referred the Grand Palace to visit and so I did. Dahil we went out on my first night and late na kami umuwi, medyo late na din ako naggising. He told me to visit the place nang 10:00 am, pero ganung oras lang ako naggising. Haha.

So I prepared, left my friend's apartment nang tanghali, took a taxi, told the driver to bring me to Wat Prakeaw, and the next thing I know, I'm in front of this large place that you can start seeing some of the beautiful temples and tourists are just flocking inside. Entrance is 400B by the way. It's quite expensive. I tried sneaking in just like what my friend told me because if you're a local thai, entrance is free. Since I look like a thai, baka I can get a chance daw. But when I was about to try, I saw the guard asking for ID. So I went back and purchased a ticket. LOL.

The place was big. And so I thought that the giant reclining buddha was inside the Grand Palace. Di pala. Haha. Iba pa pala yun. Sa haba haba nang pag-explore ko sa loob, di pala dun. Comedy! Pero I was so amazed on how intricate their architecture and how artistic and how detailed on the craft thais are. Nakakabilib. I swear! Kaya kahit mainit, at kahit mag-isa, na-enjoy ko naman. I imagine how many pictures I will have if hubbee was just with me. But I'm all alone. Nahihiya ako magpicture mag-isa. Hehe. Tinry ko once, nahiya na talaga ako. LOL.

It's the emerald buddha that is famous in Grand Palace, well aside from the temples and museum. And bawal ang too many skins inside. Pinapasuot nila nang balabal. Buti na lang nasabihan akong mag-jeans at mag shoes. Imagine kung gaano kainit pa lalo yun kung may balabal ka pa. May mga museums din na bawal mag-take nang picture tsaka temples na bawal may sapatos. You have to leave it sa iwanan nang mga sapatos. Kaya ang tip, mag-jeans, mag-shirt, at mag-suot nang sapatos na madaling hubarin at suotin. Magdala din nang bimpo at pamaypay. Promise!

After the end of journey in Grand Palace, dumating na si Marlowe. Out na siya sa office nang 3:00 pm pag saturday kaya dumeretso na siya dun. At sa wakas, may taga-picture na ako. Hehe. He obliged naman. Mabait si Marlowe. Pwede na nga sya maging tourist guide. Kasi may little history at information siyang shini-share. We went na sa reclining buddha after para makita ko yung gusto kong makita. It's a walking distance from the Grand Palace. Nakakita na rin ako sa wakas nang tuktuk. Hehe.

May entrance fee na naman sa loob. But this time, nakalusot na kaming dalawa. Haha. The advantage of looking like them. Dere deretso lang sa section nang mga thai, then, pasok! Libre. Hehe. Gawain daw nang ibang pinoy yun dito. Pagpasok sa loob, blockbuster. Dami turista. Nakaka-amaze ang laki nang reclining buddha. Parang sentinels na kalaban nang X-men. Naka higa lang at gold ang kulay. Ganun. Hehe. After, libot libot, more temples, more buddha again. I swear, pagkatapos, nag-aya pa si Marlowe nang isa pang temple na puntahan ko din daw. Nasuya na ako. Nag-pass na ako. Hehe.

It was indeed the palace & temple invasion in Bangkok for me. I had fun. Minus lang talaga the heat, okay na sana. Pero sabi ni Marlowe, mas matindi pa ang init pag summer. I can imagine! But thanks to my friend, nasulit ko ang visit na yun! Next time, ako naman ang magto-tour kay hubbee dun...