Palace in Bangkok
“Of all the hotels in Bangkok Thailand, you have to come here,” I teased Anne, in terrible misquote of Bogart’s famous stanza in Casablanca. I had just come out of the rest room in this mysterious waterfront bar in Bangkok, sipping Bombay Slings . “OK, Rick, enough slings for you,” she teased back. “Hey, you ready to the Gallery?” The thought of banging back out into the traffic and noise took me a minute to digest, comfy as I was watching the goings on of the waterfront, the barges and tugs and tourist tour boat chugging here and there. What a busy harbor.
We braced for the journey, popped on the ferry and fell in line with all the other tourists to see the Grand Palace, a Louvre like huge compound that dates back to the 18Th century. Fortunately, I had not worn shorts or I would not have gotten in. It is full of mansions and the temple with the Emerald Buddha (which we found out, is made of Jade) and a very mysterious Inner Palace that was closed to the public. This incredible complex once housed the King and the administrative power of Thailand. There was a free English guide, and the place is considered on of the must sees of the city. I second that. The architecture is just stunning and the Emerald Buddha, carved from a single piece of Jade and located in the WatPhra Keow temple, is highly revered in this country, the most revered religious statue. We had taken the express boat to get there, out past a pier and shops, and we are so glad we went. Here the King of Siam held court and the King will use it even today for great ceremonies in this huge royal grounds.