Bangkok First
More November months I face, my interest towards counting my age itself agonizing let alone my birthday celebrations. Nth time, let me say, One’s birthday to be celebrated my the people not by the self or by the loved ones.
Anyways, when she reckoned we need a break and eventually planned a trip, I couldn’t say much on that. Once the destination got finalised, fixing the itinerary wasn’t that easy at all, especially when you want every bit of thing in your way.
Well to spill the bean, if you are a typical explorer hardly 3~4 days (excluding landing and departing days) should do cover the Bangkok at your leisure. 2~3 days for Bangkok and a day for Ayuthaya (Ayodhya).
Next hassle is where to find the accommodation. When you have too much of options trust me, selecting one will never be easy. But if you are looking for a resort, almost you got none. I was able to find one near to the airport.
I finalised Mayfair Marriot executive apartments, costed quite decent and located at a most lively, lovely place called Silom area on Lansuan road.
To be very honest my stay was most satisfying then the top 5-star hotels we stayed. It has got what people would want and super good enough for families. Couple of kilometers separates this family area to the nightlife area. Most the big name shopping malls around walking or short taxi distance. We landed in the late morning in Swarnabhoomi Airport. I knew where to get the taxi to the hotel. Taxi driver was very friendly but hardly speaking any English words. Every time any of the Asian countries reminds me my ancient south Indian cultures, my mind starts to wander how this was possible and why the link broke and when. While the SwarnaBhoomi translates to Golden Land in Tamil or Sanscrit, they call it ‘sonnaboom’, a far derivation from the original.
We used that afternoon for leisure activities. Central Chidlom mall offers too much of shopping options and the food court at the 7th floor is one hell of a collection of every known cuisine, but expensive for the ambience and quality it offers. My homework directly got me there for Indian food and my family found it acceptable. I thought I was a picky eater until my mother in law proved to be the pickiest. Food court was helping me almost until end of the trip.
We stayed 3 nights and all gone in no time. I gave a day for Bangkok and another for Ayuthaya. Bangkok can be explored by ourselves but for Ayuthaya, I wanted to have a guide to help us. I have engaged “Tour with Tong” after reading reviews in TripAdvisor. Looks trip advisor got them super busy but they have arranged a lovely SUV with very responsible, caring driver and a registered guide for us. I had to shuffle the Ayutthaya trip to the first day as their availability was an issue.
Day 2
Ayuthaya
Generally people go outside of Bangkok (for Floating market Damnoen Saduak or Ayuthaya) start early by 8. But with a toddler I managed to get out half past nine. After heavy traffic on the expressway(??!!), we managed to reach Ayuthaya Province. Our first stop was at Bang pa – IN palace (also known as Summer Palace). Sun was right at us and could feel it was trying to scorch. Singapore is no less but somehow I felt its bit annoying. I had a feeling that my cap, SPF 30 sunscreen lotion and the umbrella may not help much. Luckily, battery operated Golf carts were available for rent. I was driving that for the first time and it took merely a minute to get comfortable with that.
Bang Pa In Palace – A little bit of history (from the Palace pamphlets)
In the 17th century, King Prasat Thong (1629-1656) had a palace constructed on Bang Pa – In island in the Chao Phraya river A contemporary Dutch merchant, Jeremias van Vliet, reported that King Prasat Thing was an illegitimate son of King Ekathotsarat (1605-1610/11), who in his youth was shipwrecked on that island and had a son by a woman who befriended him. The boy grew up to become the Chief Minister After having usurped the throne, he became known as King Prasat Thong. The king founded a monastery, Wat Chumphon Nikayayaram, on the land belonging to his mother on Bang Pa – In island, and then had a pond dug and a palace built to the south of that monastery. The Chronicle records the name of only on Building, the Aisawan Thiphaya-art Royal residence, which was constructed in 1632, the year of the birth of his son, the future King Narai (1656-16880. It is not known whether or not the palace was in use till the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767. However, by 1807, when the kingdom’s best-known poem, Sunthon Phum, sailed past Bang Pa-In, only a memory of the palace remained, for the site was neglected overgrown.
The palace was revived by King Rama IV of the Chakridynasty, better known in the West as King Mongkut (1851-1868), who had a temporary residence constructed on the outer island of the Neo-Gothic style monastery, Wat Niwet thammaprawat, which was built by his son and heir, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).
The present day royal palace dated from the reign of King Rama V, especially during the time 1872-1889, when most of the buildings standing today were constructed. Today palace is used occasionally by Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit as a residence and for holding receptions and banquets.
Phra Thinang (Royal Residence)
Our first stop was Royal Residence. It was royal by all means and maintained extremely good. It’s called Phra Thinang (Royal Residence) Warophat Phiman (Excellent and Shining Heavenly Abode). It is a neo-classic style, one-story mansion built by King Rama V in 1876 as his residence and throne hall. The audience chambers and anterooms are decorated with oil paintings depicting significant event in Thai history and scenes from Thai literature. The series of historical paintings was commissioned by King Rama V in 1888. The private apartments of this building, which are located in the Inner Palace section, are still used by Their Majesties whenever they reside at the Palace.
Tevaraj-Kanlai Gate – this houses Royal Carriage Museum. We didn’t get a chance to visit this.
Phra Thinang Uthayan Phumisathian (Garden of the secured land)
This building was a favorite residence of King Rama V when he stayed at the Bang Pa-In Palace, sometimes as often as three times a year. Built in 1877 of wood in the style f two-storied Swiss chalet, the mansion was painted in two tones of green. In the words of Prince Ookhtomsky, a Russian officer who accompanied the Czarevitch, the future Czer Nicholas II of Russia, on a visit in 1890, was furnished luxuriously and with refined taste and comfort. Unfortunately, while undergoing a minor repairs it was accidentally burnt down in 1938. Nowadays the new building was constructed by the Queen Sirikit’s commanded. The water tank, disguised as a crenellated Neo-Gothic tower, is remained. Public not allowed. We can just see from outside and a statue holding a bowl can be seen from outside.
Ho Withun Thasana (The sages lookout tower)
To view the countryside, this tower was built by King Rama V. One has to be slightly fit and careful to go to the top. Still the last section is closed. This gives nice views and a good breeze. Am sure it will be very beautiful in the evenings.
Phra Thinang Wehard Chamrun (Royal Residence Heavenly Light)
This is a Chinese style, two-storeyed mansion was built by the equivalent of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and presented to King Rama V in 1889. It is recorded as, its is really a palace of romance, with ornamented tiled floors, massive ebony furniture, gold, silver and porcelain freely used for decorative purposes and delicate fretwork on the columns and on the windows. Evidently we have before us the principal sight of Bang pa-In. The Emperor of China himself can scarcely have a palace much finer than this.
The ground floor contains a Chinese style throne. The upper storey houses an alter enshrining the nameplates of King Mongkut and King Rama V with respective queens.
The other notable buildings are Phra Tamnak Fai Nai. We viewed in the Golf cart and returned to the base.
This palace is situated in a nice island with a pond. An evening stroll will be one of the best memories we would cherish forever. This palace is less crowded and almost none to be exact.
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