Since we wanted to make the most of our stay in lebua Because we wanted to get the most out of Bangkok, we only visited the main tourist attractions. However, at 36°C, it was far too warm for longer, more extensive visits.
Cheap transport in Bangkok
The cheapest way to get from our hotel to the various temples is by taking the passenger boats on the Chao Phraya River. There are express boats (30 THB/person) or tourist boats with a guide (information provided via loudspeaker), and standard boats (15 THB/person), which stop at every stop. However, we didn't notice much of the flooding here on the river. While it was carrying a lot of debris, the water level was no longer exceptionally high. Incidentally, the same speed limits apply to boats here as we've noticed in the rest of Southeast Asia – maximum engine speed!
Wat Arun
Our first destination was the Wat Arun temple complex. The Temple of Dawn is a Buddhist temple on the western bank of the Chao Phraya River. The entire complex was truly well preserved and restored—one of the best temples we've visited in Asia so far. The focal point is the Phra Prang, a tower decorated with colorful porcelain and shells. We climbed a very steep staircase to the fourth level of the Prang. Stone statues of warriors are placed next to each of the staircases, meant to protect the complex.
Wat Phra Chetuphon – Temple of the Reclining Buddha
After a short boat ride, we reached Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho for short) on the opposite side of the river. For tourists, this Buddhist temple is better known as the "Temple of the Reclining Buddha." This 46-meter-long and 15-meter-high gilded Buddha statue is the main attraction of the complex. We also visited several smaller buildings and courtyards. After about 20 minutes, however, we had nothing new to discover, so we took the boat back to the hotel.
Royal Palace in Bangkok
The next day, we explored the expansive 2.6 km² complex of the old royal palace on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. Initially, we were shocked by the relatively high entrance fee of 400 THB (approximately €9.70). However, we found the complex to be very well preserved and well-maintained.
The Grand Palace was the official residence of the kings of Siam (present-day Thailand) in Bangkok from the late 18th century to the mid-20th century. We visited several courtyards with a variety of buildings, but with a few exceptions, we weren't allowed to enter any of them. We also visited a few museums on the grounds, but they were unspectacular!
