Grand palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Platinum Plaza, I Setan, Erawan Shrine

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Get up at 06.00 o’clock. At 07.00 am we already at down stair to had breakfast (breakfast serve from 07.00 – 10.00). We had fruit (guava, dragon fruit, papaya), bread with pineapple jam (butter available), there were toaster there. All self service, after finish eat we had to clean up our glass and plate.

Then we walk to BTS nana – near suk11 – only 5 minutes. To take BTS we had to get the ticket from vendor ticket machine. Ticket only can be bought by coin money, since we didn’t had any coin we change cash Bath 100 with coin.

To purchase ticket, first select destination – see the number at machine, then insert coin, after that ticket will came out.

Actually we had to purchase Ticket to Saptha Taksin to take boat there, but I only bought ticket till BTS Siam (Since we had to change BTS there). When we get off at Sapta Taksin, I told to the officer that I only bought ticket till Siam, then he ask my ticket and give to officer inside, scan it and told me to pay bath 30 (bath 30 was from Siam to Saptha Taksin fare for one pax, but I didn’t know why he only ask for 30 bath not 60 bath).

Many stall food sell there, fruit, breakfast, rice, and it’s cheap. We ask officer where boat to Tha Chang (N9), because we want to get off at Grand palace. Pay on boat fare only Bath 11, if we bought ticket at locket we had to pay bath 150 (full trip at Chao Praya River). Here Chao Praya River links. Notice for flag colour when take boat.

Grand Palace

After get off we walk to Grand Palace, takes 5 minutes walk there. Fortunately we bring umbrella so it’s not too hot. Grand palace ticket was bath 350 (include ticket to go Vimanmek Mansion). There were audio rent, cost bath 300 – guide for our self, but we didn’t rent it.

They give us Grand Palace map. Grand palace was huge and large, also heat, I think it was 32 celsius degree. Grand Palace was open from 08.30 am – 15.30 pm.

Many good spot to take picture here, and at +/- 09.00 am there were soldier parade, take picture while they parade.
The Garden was beautiful, green.

Since it was too heat we decide to go to Wat pho – Reclining Buddha, even we hadn’t round all place there.

We back to Tha Chang pier (N9) to take boat to Tha Tian pier (N8) - Wat Pho. Actually it can be done by walk, but it’s take 30 minutes and the weather was (for me) extremely hot. At Wat Pho we bought souvenir Bath 100 for 5 items. I bought 4 key chains, small smiling buddha statue. Also plum fruits (At Indonesian it’s rare and hard to find) Bath 20.

Boat fare Bath 14 (it’s near – but I didn’t know why fare so expensive). Wat Pho opening hour 08.30 – 17.00 – there were monk there, but they didn’t speak English. Admission fee bath 50. At here there were many building, I think it’s for Arahat, since I didn’t understand Thai Language and no English alphabet, so didn’t know who is them.

There were place which can’t take photograph inside. Btw, to go inside at all place here we had to take our shoes, put it outside, don’t worry it won’t disappeared. 

Wat Arun

Then we take boat opposite Tha Tian Pier to Wat Arun. Boat fare 3.

The weather was extremely hot, even already wear hat still heat, using umbrella better. To go up stair we need to claim, which the stair so high (higher then Borobudur stair, but smaller). Since we already arrived there, then we decide to go up stair even it’s hot and a little bit danger.

About 13.30 we decide to back – take boat back to Tha Tien pier – fare bath 3. It’s hard to find food here, we only find one food stall here, sell rice, since we vegetarian so we only bought rice and eat with food we already prepare from Indonesian. Rice cost bath 10.

Then we took meter taxi to Vimanmek Mansion, fare bath 115. Other way to go here, take boat to Thewet Pier (N15), then takes tuk tuk fare +/- bath 60.

Here we need to storage our bag at locker cost bath 30, and only could be open once.

Vimanmek Mansion

After that choose Guide inside the mansion English, Thai, or Chinese. We choose English guide. Vimanmek Mansion was build at beginning year 1900 by King Rama V, he had a lot wife’s which princess from many country.

Inside the Mansion, was many ceramic, dinning set, tea set, furniture from many country, especially Europe such England, Switzerland, Portugal, Chinese, Japan, Belgium, etc.

We need to take off shoes here.

Vimanmek Mansion was the world’s largest golden teakwood. Beside the mansion many place can visit there. But we didn’t visit all, since already tired and hungry.

Then we took farang taxi meter to Platinum Plaza, fare bath 85, but we only pay bath 82, what a kind taxi driver. Thank you Mr. Taxi.

Platinum Plaza was devide 3 zone. We only go to Zone 1 & 3.
Zone 1 sell shirt, dress, accessories and food. We ate at food court highest floor (4^th or 6^th floor), for Tom Yam and noodle soup – each bath 45, and drink mineral water bath 10. Cheapest mineral water was at 7-11 (bath 7), every where sell mineral water bath 10. To purchase food here, need to buy coupon first.

At here sell cheap merchandise. My friends bought underwear (She’s crazy, went to other country for buying underwear, isn’t she?). Bath 100 for 3 items. Shirt was bath 100 for 4 items. Nice clothes one piece around 150-250 bath. I bought for my nephew shirt, short, T-shirt all bath 250.

Tips shopping here, buy things up stair – it’s cheaper rather than buy at 1^st or 2^nd floor.

I bought bag for my mom bath 325 – bargain from bath 490. Also sunglass for bath 70 – bargain from 100. Oh, I also buy necklace bath 50 each – I buy 4.

Then we moved to zone 3, at here I bought hand bag bath 400 (already sale, no bargain), small bag for niece bath 250 – bargain from bath 350, shoes for bath 370, bargain from 450, also belt bath 70. All was good quality.

In front of Platinum Plaza there were four face Buddha statue, but no one pray here.

Then we walk to I Setan mall. Out side building there were Ganessa Statue and 4 face Buddha statue. Many people pray here, they said the Ganessa for business, the 4 face Buddha for healthy, love, etc.

We buy dupa, flower and candle bath 70, the flower was rose. But it’s also available dupa to pray for free.

After that we go inside to buy food, but no vegetarian restaurant here, so one more time we buy rice (it’s expensive bath 18).

On the way we back to Suk11 by BTS, we saw Erawan Shrine, so we get off at Hyatt Hotel and pray there.

Tips pray here, don’t buy flower, candle and dupa outside, it’s extremely expensive, we buy here for bath 800. Buy flower, dupa and candle inside, it’s cheap under bath 100.

To pray here start from in front of and then turn left. For each face 3 dupa, 1 flower and 1 candle.

Many people said wish will comes true here. Hopefully it is. I made a wish here (a lot of wish actually hehehehe).

Then we back to suk11 by BTS Siam to BTS nana fare bath 20.