Ending our 2nd day in Bangkok with the incredible Wat Pho (Day 2)

Last Updated on June 24, 2019 by PowersToTravel

After our Khlongs Tour, we trudged back that long half-mile road from Tha Chang to our hotel where we deposited my batteries in my charger.   They had just made it through the canal and then the final one pooped out. So, the hotel became our next stop.  (Once again I was congratulating myself on my excellent choice of hotel!)

A couple of blocks from the hotel we found a small storefront restaurant, the Rap Arun, and found a table.  What did I choose?  Pad thai of course.  I was ever in search of a pad thai in Thailand to rival that from our Siam Square in Middletown Rhode Island.  What did Greg choose?  The Tom Yun Goon soup, of course, and for the same reason.   Tom Yun Goon is a milk-based spicy shrimp soup, not to my taste being spicy.  However, Greg didn’t find it spicy at all in Bangkok.

Tien Market

As we sat in the back of the little restaurant we became aware that there was an large shaded market out back, in a warehouse.  We saw beautiful boxes of spices, similar to those in the markets in Morocco, booths of bananas, dried fish …

After our lunch, which while it was okay, still did not compare with home, we strolled the market and I reveled once again in my choice of hotel and neighborhood.  I felt so sorry for the typical tourist walking the cement streets in the modern city, while we smelled the scent of the jasmine rice, the pungent fish, and the spices, so close to home.

We stumbled into our hotel for a nap to re-invigorate us as well as my batteries.

After a nap of about an hour and a half, we emerged, ready for Wat Pho.

Wat Pho

Even though Wat Pho was only one block from our hotel, I left it last for the day because I had read that the light is excellent later in the day, and it is open later than other temples and sights.  So at about 4:30pm, we quickly found the gate, paid for our tickets and entered the temple complex.  The timing was excellent because there was no wait for this very popular temple.  We first made our way to the temple building which houses the long, golden reclining Buddha.  Oh!  If I was disappointed by the smallness Emerald Buddha, all disappointment was forgotten at the sight of the enormous Reclining Buddha.

The statue was so imposing and yet so peaceful.  Once again it was almost impossible to take a picture the full length.

Emerging after a long slow walk through the few crowds that were there, we strolled the remainder of the complex, many of the stupas / pagodas / temples made in the same style as Wat Arun, with textured ceramic flowers and objects attached to the intricately stepped exteriors.

Here at Wat Pho the canvas for the flowers is orange and green and blue, and at Wat Arun, it was white.  At Wat Arun, the sun shone, unfortunately at Wat Pho the clouds rolled in, and the light dimmed.

It wasn’t possible to capture the true beauty of the temples, but I tried.

At last we returned the two blocks to our hotel.

We collapsed into bed for another nap.

Once again, we woke up late in the evening.  “I’m starved!” (that was me.)

“I don’t want to get dressed.”  (that was Greg.)

“I’ll go see if I can get take-out from the bar.”

I ran down to the bar, found it closed.  I ran to the restaurant, found it booked by a special party.

Sadly I stumbled back into the room.  We had another granola bar for dinner.  At this rate, we’ll be way below budget.

But, wow, what a day!

Biggest and the Best

Biggest Surprise of the Day?  I have to choose two – the rural nature of the Khlongs and the sheer size of the reclining Buddha at Wat Pho.

Favorite Experience – Once again, I have to say it was the Khlongs Tour.  The noise, the sun, the smells and the motion was all encompassing, yet so relaxing once it began.

Check out this article of mine too:

Thailand Travel Blog – Itinerary, Impressions and Diabetic Travel Tips