Page 48 iGap Travel Guide 2022
P. 48
iGap Travel Guide | Asia
48
Day one: Temples, palaces & a giant Buddha
7.00:
After a long-haul flight, the best way to unwind
and aid your jet lag is a tranquil morning meditation,
paying tribute to Thailand’s Buddhist roots. There is no
better way to immerse oneself in the art of meditation
than an omniscient Thai monk. At Wat Mahathat – one
of the oldest temples in Bangkok – classes are given
each day to assist students with the art of meditation
through teachings on three themes in which the
Buddhist Path is divided: good moral conduct, mental
development and of course, meditation. With plentiful
of classes offered throughout the day starting at 7am,
get lost in the serenity that the temple oozes and stand
back to admire the magnificent cultural history.
Give motor transportation a miss today and walk down
to the Memorial Bridge Pier to catch the Chao Phraya
Express Boat to Tha Chang Pier carved by sandstone
and marked by two striking elephant statues, the
temple is not far from the pier and is difficult to miss for
its distinguishable image.
11.00:
Exploring the Grand Palace is a must when
visiting Thailand and fortunately is only a five-minute
walk from Wat Mahathat. It is a mesmerising temple
with spectacular architecture throughout, built on an
interestingly dense history waiting to be unearthed.
13.00:
For lunch, head down to the popular street
food vendor Chaiyo, steeped in 20 years of experience
serving locally loved Khao Man Gai (Thai variation of
Hainanese Chicken rice), made right in front of your
eyes with chicken that couldn’t be fresher. This family-
run vendor, however, only has half a dozen tables, so
you may have to opt for its takeaway option.
14.00:
Make a quick visit to the Queen Sirikit
Museum of Textiles to view Asia’s sweeping centre for
traditional Thai clothing. With exhibitions that change
periodically, the Queen Sirikit herself praises the
museum for its preservation of Thailand’s rich textile
art for future generations.
15.00:
A 10-minute walk from the Grand Palace is one
of the largest temples in the city: Wat Phra Chetuphon
(Wat Pho), home of the giant reclining Buddha. With
the intricately crafted Buddha’s feet measuring at five
metres long, the grandiose structure is enough to
make anyone feel insignificant and is a must-visit for its
world-renowned status and its gold-plated splendour.
17.00:
With the temple of Wat Pho considered the
birthplace of Thai massage, it is almost a sin to visit Wat
Pho and not indulge in a spot of R&R so head on down
to their massage school to experience the best stress-
releasing therapy that Bangkok offers.
18.00:
Follow the sweet and sensational aromas
towards Thip Samai, to indulge in the best Pad Thai
found in the city.
20.00:
A mere 20-minute walk away is an explosion
of vibrant colour throughout the streets, so go and
tease your nose with a fresh, floral scent by taking a trip
down to the biggest wholesale and retail fresh flower
market in Bangkok – Pak Khlong Talad.
TRANSPORT
Orange flag boat - 15 baht.
FOOD
Chaiyo – 25 baht.
Thip Samai - 70 baht.
ACTIVITIES
Wat Mahathat - free
Grand Palace (including Queen Sirikit
Museum) - 500 baht for tourists.
Wat Pho entrance fee - 200 baht.
Massage (an hour) - 250 to 300 baht an hour.
Wat Mahathat
TOTAL COST FROM (INCLUDING
ACCOMMODATION):
1,342 baht (approx. £33).
48
Day one: Temples, palaces & a giant Buddha
7.00:
After a long-haul flight, the best way to unwind
and aid your jet lag is a tranquil morning meditation,
paying tribute to Thailand’s Buddhist roots. There is no
better way to immerse oneself in the art of meditation
than an omniscient Thai monk. At Wat Mahathat – one
of the oldest temples in Bangkok – classes are given
each day to assist students with the art of meditation
through teachings on three themes in which the
Buddhist Path is divided: good moral conduct, mental
development and of course, meditation. With plentiful
of classes offered throughout the day starting at 7am,
get lost in the serenity that the temple oozes and stand
back to admire the magnificent cultural history.
Give motor transportation a miss today and walk down
to the Memorial Bridge Pier to catch the Chao Phraya
Express Boat to Tha Chang Pier carved by sandstone
and marked by two striking elephant statues, the
temple is not far from the pier and is difficult to miss for
its distinguishable image.
11.00:
Exploring the Grand Palace is a must when
visiting Thailand and fortunately is only a five-minute
walk from Wat Mahathat. It is a mesmerising temple
with spectacular architecture throughout, built on an
interestingly dense history waiting to be unearthed.
13.00:
For lunch, head down to the popular street
food vendor Chaiyo, steeped in 20 years of experience
serving locally loved Khao Man Gai (Thai variation of
Hainanese Chicken rice), made right in front of your
eyes with chicken that couldn’t be fresher. This family-
run vendor, however, only has half a dozen tables, so
you may have to opt for its takeaway option.
14.00:
Make a quick visit to the Queen Sirikit
Museum of Textiles to view Asia’s sweeping centre for
traditional Thai clothing. With exhibitions that change
periodically, the Queen Sirikit herself praises the
museum for its preservation of Thailand’s rich textile
art for future generations.
15.00:
A 10-minute walk from the Grand Palace is one
of the largest temples in the city: Wat Phra Chetuphon
(Wat Pho), home of the giant reclining Buddha. With
the intricately crafted Buddha’s feet measuring at five
metres long, the grandiose structure is enough to
make anyone feel insignificant and is a must-visit for its
world-renowned status and its gold-plated splendour.
17.00:
With the temple of Wat Pho considered the
birthplace of Thai massage, it is almost a sin to visit Wat
Pho and not indulge in a spot of R&R so head on down
to their massage school to experience the best stress-
releasing therapy that Bangkok offers.
18.00:
Follow the sweet and sensational aromas
towards Thip Samai, to indulge in the best Pad Thai
found in the city.
20.00:
A mere 20-minute walk away is an explosion
of vibrant colour throughout the streets, so go and
tease your nose with a fresh, floral scent by taking a trip
down to the biggest wholesale and retail fresh flower
market in Bangkok – Pak Khlong Talad.
TRANSPORT
Orange flag boat - 15 baht.
FOOD
Chaiyo – 25 baht.
Thip Samai - 70 baht.
ACTIVITIES
Wat Mahathat - free
Grand Palace (including Queen Sirikit
Museum) - 500 baht for tourists.
Wat Pho entrance fee - 200 baht.
Massage (an hour) - 250 to 300 baht an hour.
Wat Mahathat
TOTAL COST FROM (INCLUDING
ACCOMMODATION):
1,342 baht (approx. £33).
