We visited the Grand Palace - oh my goodness! So ornate and many, many buildings. Some of the royal family still live in the compound. Also, one of the royal princesses who died last month at age 85 lies in state in the funeral building for another month and will then be cremated. They don't cremate them for two months because of the reincarnation belief.
I had my picture taken with another lady in the group and a royal guard.
They are like the ones at Buckingham Palace. They wear these hot clothes and have to stand perfectly still no matter what.
The Grand Palace holds the Emerald Buddha, which is only about 1 1/2 feet tall. You are not allowed to take a picture of it inside, but can get a shot of it from a location outside the building that holds it.
After the Grand Palace we were able to take the canal cruise/tour on a canal off the Chao Praya River. It was a little depressing because most of the houses were not on stilts and the water was covering the majority of the first floors. I would say that the water is at least 3-4 feet above normal. The people won't move because it's all they know. They say it hasn't been this bad in over 50 years.
On the way back we stopped at Wat Arun which is right near the river bank.
A dinner cruise on the Chao Praya River was next on the agenda. However, we no sooner sat down than the monsoon came again. They eventually had to lower the plastic on the sides and water was running down the center of the boat. The tarp at one end of the boat broke and they were constantly having to push water back off. Luckily it stopped about the time we were docking to leave, but the entertainment was good.
By the way, did I say it was monsoon season?
I had my picture taken with another lady in the group and a royal guard.
The Grand Palace holds the Emerald Buddha, which is only about 1 1/2 feet tall. You are not allowed to take a picture of it inside, but can get a shot of it from a location outside the building that holds it.
After the Grand Palace we were able to take the canal cruise/tour on a canal off the Chao Praya River. It was a little depressing because most of the houses were not on stilts and the water was covering the majority of the first floors. I would say that the water is at least 3-4 feet above normal. The people won't move because it's all they know. They say it hasn't been this bad in over 50 years.
On the way back we stopped at Wat Arun which is right near the river bank.
A dinner cruise on the Chao Praya River was next on the agenda. However, we no sooner sat down than the monsoon came again. They eventually had to lower the plastic on the sides and water was running down the center of the boat. The tarp at one end of the boat broke and they were constantly having to push water back off. Luckily it stopped about the time we were docking to leave, but the entertainment was good.
By the way, did I say it was monsoon season?
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