Bangkok: brilliance and poverty in one bottle

Dress code of the Royal Palace

If you're short on time in Bangkok, but still want to get a feel for the country's sights, the Royal Palace is a must-see. It's the most iconic spot in all of Thailand. The palace is made up of lots of different buildings, like the Royal Pantheon, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and the Grand Palace of Chakri. You'll also find the Supreme Residence complex, the Royal Library, and the Queen Sirikit Museum, among others.

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha houses the main shrine of Thailand, which only the king or crown prince is allowed to touch. The pagodas are inlaid with gold and bronze. Despite the fact that the temple is called the Emerald Temple, it is not known for certain what material the statue is made of, there are different versions: emerald, jade or jadeite.

The temple entrance is really something special - it's watched over by 12 big bronze lions that were brought all the way from Cambodia. But that's not all, there are also some pretty cool mythical creatures standing guard, like the Yaksha demons, and these half-human, half-bird things called Garuda and Kinnari.

The library contains sacred manuscripts written on palm leaves.

My daughter Erica and I had a great time visiting the Queen Sirikit Museum, it's a fantastic textile museum that showcases all of the Queen's stunning official dresses. The dresses on display are truly beautiful, with elegant designs and refined details that really catch your eye.

In Thailand, the monarchy is deeply revered, and you can't miss the portraits of the king and queen that seem to be everywhere - from government offices and hospitals to museums and even along the roads. The Thai people have a lot of respect for their royal family. But if someone dares to speak ill of the monarchy, they face severe punishment, including imprisonment for 3 to 15 years, which is one of the toughest penalties in the world for such an offense. This shows just how seriously the Thai people take their monarchy and how protective they are of their royal institution. The laws are strict, and the consequences are harsh for anyone who disrespects the king and queen. It's a reflection of the significant role the monarchy plays in Thai culture and society.

When visiting the monument, I noticed that there's a dress code to follow - shoulders and knees need to be covered, and this rule applies to both men and women. I ended up buying those famous Thai pants, you know, the wide-leg ones with baby elephants on them, they're like comfy pajamas. What I found interesting, though, was that some women were allowed in with pretty revealing tops, but if their shoulders weren't covered, they'd be stopped. It's clear that different countries have different ideas about what's considered modest clothing. But what struck me as odd was that tourists are expected to be respectful of local traditions and dress modestly, even though the country itself has a pretty relaxed attitude towards things like prostitution - it's not uncommon to see prostitutes approaching men directly. It's a bit of a mixed message, isn't it? On one hand, you've got these strict rules about dressing modestly, but on the other hand, there's this whole other side of the culture that's pretty open and permissive.

The most unusual temple in Bangkok

Not far from the Royal Palace is another temple, Wat Arun. It is also called the Temple of the Dawn.

You have to take a boat across the Chao Phraya River to get there.

Wat Arun is really something special when it comes to Thai temples - its architecture is quite unique. Right in the middle, there's this huge 80-meter prang that towers above everything else, and then surrounding it are four smaller satellite prangs.

The main tower is really stunning, with shells and bits of porcelain making it look super pretty and fancy. It's amazing how something so simple can be so beautiful.

How to determine how pure your karma is?

At Wat Pho, also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, there's a unique tradition that's really interesting. Behind the massive Buddha statue, you can actually purchase a jar filled with coins. Then, along the wall, you'll find a series of containers, each with a different number. The idea is to throw a coin into one of these containers and make a wish at the same time. What's fascinating is that if the number of coins you throw matches the number on the container, it's believed that your karma is pure, and your wish will come true soon. It's a beautiful way to connect with the spiritual energy of the temple and maybe even have your dreams fulfilled.

- Wow, how many people threw coins here, it's a whole treasury, - said Erica.

-Everyone wants their wish to come true, - responded me son Arian.

How a plaster Buddha became gold

Imagine, in Bangkok there is a Buddha made of real gold. You can see it in the temple complex of Wat Traimit. There is a three-meter statue of Buddha, listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest religious object cast from pure gold.

The discovery of the shrine is considered a miracle, because the fact that the statue is made of real gold was installed by accident.

The fact is that during the war, temples were robbed, and monks hid the precious relic, covering it with plaster and inlaid with pieces of colored glass. In this form, the statue was not interesting to the invaders. Centuries passed, and the secret remained unsolved.

In 1955, a remarkable event took place when a plaster Buddha was being moved to a newly rebuilt temple. As the crane lifted the heavy sculpture, the cable suddenly snapped, unable to bear the weight, and the Buddha came crashing down to the ground. Unfortunately, a piece of the plaster broke off during the fall, but this accident led to a surprising discovery - a golden layer was revealed underneath. It turned out that the plaster covering had been hiding a medieval Golden Buddha all along.

When visiting temples in Thailand, it's a must to remove your shoes before entering. We were at a temple just outside the city, and as we approached, we had to take off our shoes and walk barefoot. The sun was scorching, and we quickly ran about 10 steps to the temple entrance, worried that the hot ground would burn our feet. But then we saw the Buddhist monks and their young students, little boys who were standing calmly on the hot asphalt, barefoot, without flinching. It was a striking contrast to our own reaction, and it made us realize the difference in our tolerance for discomfort. The monks and their students seemed completely at ease, as if they were immune to the heat, while we were struggling to cope with it. It was a humbling experience, and it made us appreciate the discipline and resilience of these young Buddhist practitioners. As we entered the temple, we couldn't help but feel a sense of reverence for the monks and their way of life, and we tried to follow their example, walking calmly and mindfully, even on the hot ground.

Daughter is better than the golden Buddha

Something really weird happened when we visited the temple. This Thai couple came up to us and asked if they could take a picture with us, but not in front of the Golden Buddha, which was kind of surprising. What was even more surprising was that they wanted to take a picture with our little kid, who was just a toddler at the time. I mean, right next to us was this beautiful shrine that's really important to them, but they weren't interested in taking a picture with that - they wanted to take one with our child. It was definitely a strange moment, and we were all pretty shocked by their request.

Arian said to her, "You're like a goddess to them, Erica - a symbol of beauty, no different from the ones they worship.

Erica's experience in Thailand was truly unique - she was treated like a goddess, with people showing her immense respect and admiration. At a bus stop, a kind woman even took the time to fan her with a fan, noticing that she was feeling hot. Many others tried to touch her hand or gently stroke her head, as if seeking a blessing. Taxi drivers, too, were generous with their affection, offering her sweets as a gesture of kindness. For someone like Erica, who was already accustomed to receiving attention from people in different countries, this level of devotion was still impressive. The Thais' unabashed worship of her was a humbling experience, one that left a lasting impression on her.

Buddha's head and a huge museum

As we made our way to the Wat Paknam temple, we couldn't wait to catch a glimpse of the iconic Big Buddha. Although the statue is currently undergoing reconstruction, we were still able to see its massive head, which was truly breathtaking. The sheer scale of it is awe-inspiring, and it's no wonder it leaves visitors speechless. Nearby, we also came across a impressive statue of a reclining Buddha, its large size adding to the overall sense of wonder and tranquility that pervades the temple grounds. Despite the reconstruction work, the temple still exudes a sense of peace and serenity, making it a truly unforgettable experience.

The temple complex is really big and has a lot of things to see. There's the main temple with a Buddha statue, a nice courtyard with a fountain, and lots of beautiful plants and benches where you can sit and look out at the Chao Phraya River. You can also buy drinks and souvenirs from vendors on the grounds. One of the most striking things about Wat Paknam is the beautiful white pagoda, or chedi, which is home to the Big Pagoda Museum. The museum has five whole floors to explore, making it a really special place to visit.

You can find a wide variety of Buddha statues here, made from all sorts of materials like wood, glass, marble, and metal. They're posed in different ways - some are sitting in the lotus position, others are lying down or standing up. You'll see them in different colors too, like black, white, and gold. And they come in all sizes, from small to large. So, no matter what you're looking for, you're sure to find a Buddha statue that suits your taste. Whether you prefer something traditional or modern, simple or elaborate, there's a Buddha here for everyone.

The museum is a treasure trove, filled with stunning service sets, coins, watches, medals, jugs, swords, and books - and that's not all, they even have retro cars and boats on display. What really catches your eye, though, is that almost everything is made of gold, it's like a sea of gold that leaves you breathless.

As you make your way to the fifth floor, you'll come across a stunning green jade pagoda that's sure to catch your eye. The ceiling above it is adorned with intricate, beautiful cosmic patterns that seem to dance across the surface. But that's not all - there's also a doorway that leads out to a balcony, where you can step out and take in the breathtaking views of the Big Buddha and the city spread out before you.

A wonderful fountain

The last thing we saw in Bangkok was a wonderful fountain in the Iconsiam shopping center. The center is located near the embankment, from which it is interesting to watch the pleasure boats and boats that shine in all the colors of the rainbow.

In general, I told you only about what impressed me the most. And for the complete picture, it is worth saying that Bangkok is a city of contrasts. Next to the luxurious temples, there are houses that are literally falling apart. You can see them with the naked eye just from the temples. Glitter and poverty in one bottle…

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