Wat Pho IV

Around the terrace outside the gallery are found 26 rockeries. There were made up from stones moved from the garden in the Grand Palace. Two rockeries are of special interest. The one in front of the great stupas has a 'Siva Lingam' while another miniature rock hill features the 'Rishi' figures in posture of self massage. Apart from the rockeries, Wat Pho abounds in stone figures from China. The figures have been used as ballast of the sail when intensive trade with China were made during the reign of King Rama III.

Wat Pho III

Just outside the west Wihan, four great stupas called Phra Maha Chedi can be found each at 41 meters high. The four great stupas were built on three separate occasions. The first stupa was built in the reign of King Rama I to contain Buddha image, Phra Si Sanphet. The second occasion was happened when King Rama III built 2 more stupas on each side of the first one. The white glazed tile on the right was for King Rama II while the yellow one on the left was for his own behalf. The last great stupa in blue tile was built by King Rama IV to commemorate his own reign before he ordered that the future King shouldn't built any more great stupa in this already crowded temple. Apart from the four great stupas, there are 4 groups of five stupas which each group stays on the same pedestal and 71 small line stupas. There are a total of 95 stupas of various sizes in the temple compound.

Wat Pho II

The Reclining Buddah - Wat Pho

The main attraction of Wat Pho is the famous 'Reclining Buddha'. Built in the reign of King Rama III, this tremendous Buddha image is 46 meters (153 feet) long and 15 meters (50 feet) high. The statue was to representing the Lord Buddha trying to overwhelm one of the powerful demons and to convince him that his power is not the supreme. The figure is modeled out of plaster around a brick core and finished in gold leaf. Mother-of-pearl inlay ornaments the eyes and feet displaying 108 different auspicious characteristics of a Buddha. The building was built later to cover the Buddha image.

Wat Pho

Wat Pho or wat Phra Chetuphon, the oldest and largest wat in Bangkok, was built in the 16th century during the Ayutthaya period. The tempel was almost completely rebuilt in 1781 by King Rama I and again a major restoration in 1839 which took seventeen years to complete by King Rama III.It features the largest reclining Buddha in Bangkok and the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand.

On the way to Wat Pho

Our Taxi Boat stop. Note the King's picture (like i said -everywhere!)


The dried fish and other dried seafood you see at street stands all over Bangkok.



Entering Wat Pho, a famous Temple in Bangkok.

Boat Trip

Our boat trip from the area our hotel was in to the area of Wat Pho. These were the boats that were our water taxis, fun.

1st day in Bangkok

Here's the Wild Orchid where we spent the night, quite nice!

Next to it was this hair salon where Grace and I went to get our hair cut and colored. Very good Ladies!!! Plus, for a cut, highlight, and manicure...it was 600 Baht = $15.00! FOR REAL!!!!

1st pic of the group (27 in all) waiting around for our first boat ride around town. Everyone wanted awesome pics...so we split up taking the seats closest to the sides.




Rama IX Bridge. The 8th bridge across the river built in 1987 to celebrate His Majesty the King's 5th Cycle Birthday Anniversary, 5th December 1987

Arriving in Bangkok

Flying over. Thai Airways! 7 hours.



Once you arrive, Thai Airway flight attendants give all the ladies lovely purple Orchid corsages. I grew sick of the color purple since the WHOLE flight over (seats, walls, pillows, blankets, flight attendant outfits) were ALL purple, but it was nice to finally arrive.

NOTE how pale we looked then!

Once you get off the plane you begin to see just HOW loyal Thailand is to their king. He's EVERYWHERE! In the buses like this pic above or on millions of billboards along the highway...and we're talking pictures as tall as buildings!

At our first and only hotel of the trip: The Wild Orchid, a few blocks down from Koh San Road in Bangkok. This was also the last place we were able to take hot/warm showers for the REST OF THE TRIP!!!

I'm Back!!!!

I'm Back!!!

THAILAND IS AMAZING

This was our first day out...had to leave the snow and coldness all behind. Yeah.

We took a 5 hour bus to Tokyo and 10 hours later we were in Bangkok!

2 & 1/2 weeks was just NOT enough, but now I'm home in "record breaking snow" Niigata and wishing I could wear flip-flops and tank-tops all over again!

I'm not sure where to even start with my trip...so here's it from the beginning.

Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Holiday Greetings from Thailand!!!!

I wish I had some of my GREAT photos to share right now, but I will soon!

So far I've rock climbed along a cliff over the ocean, swam in the beautiful blue water here, set up a quota to get a full body massage every day, and tomorrow I'm going scuba diving in the SAME spot that the "Beach" was filmed and it'll be ONE YEAR from the tsunami tomorrow as well.

I've done WAY too much shopping already and way more to come...

It's great being back in the WARM weather..LOVE IT!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

Possibly my last post...

Alright, this might be my last post until I return back from Thailand....so to end the year right. Here's a few of my favorite things so far in Japan.
Top pic was taken at this bar/club called "China Lobby" It's this fun little awesome joint on Tree Street here in the Shi. Can't read the menu AT ALL, but it's still a cool atmosphere! 2nd pic is of my favorite Japanese band at the moment called ELLEGARDEN. They actually sing all in ENGLISH...can you believe it, but their English is GREAT! "Space Sonic" is there new song and the video has them singing in dresses, too good! I can't wait to see them here in Niigata. The last two pics are in honour of the last episode of Hana Yori Dango. I'm SO sad it's over already. The last episode aired last Friday and these are two important scenes from the Manga that made it into the TV series. This is mainly for Grace and Beth, enjoy! ;)

To everyone else out there....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!

and I'll see you again sometime next year (after January 7th)

Ja mate ne!