The Grand Palace Bangkok

Looking across the Upper Terrace

We finally arrived here by tuk tuk and river boat to the Grand Palace, that was annoying cause in Bangkok when you take a tuk tuk you get coherst into stopping off at either the jewelers or the shirt makers, it turns out that the tuk tuk drivers get 5litres of free gas each time they take someone there, even if you dont end up buying, which we didnt.  So anyway we got a free ride and he got 10litres of free gas, well this is ok once or twice but it happens every time you need a ride which becomes really annoying, especially when you are hungry and dont feel like shopping for a stupid shirt at 6 different places.  These drivers look at you as if to say, you get free ride, why you care - because its my time and i dont want a free ride in your tuk tuk or a shirt making  i just want to get back to my hotel!!!!

Anyway the stop off at the Grand Palace was lovely, Trev had to borrow a pair of trousers as he was in shorts but I had just purchased my news pants so i put those on, it is set in lovely grounds and quite large, they sure like the use of gold and red in the sites in Thailand.  It was established in 1782 and it consists of not only the royal residence but government office too, also the Emerald Buddha, which is one of the most venerated sites in Thailand where people convene to pay respect to the Lord Buddha and His Teachings.  It covers 218,00 square meters and is surrounded by four walls, 1900 meters in length. After King Rama 1 ascended to the throne in 1782, the palace was built.  It was so hot the day we were here we were melting in our pants.

We should have known what we were wearing
was not good here

All decked out in silver and gold

And what do you want my dear??

Standing guard at the entrance

Beautiful gardens