Jim Thomson House and Lumpini Park

Today is our last day in Bangkok. Therefore, we have planned to see two places that are not very close but definitely worth the time and attention.

 

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Jim Thomson was an American who helped the Thai silk industry revive. His house, built in a traditional Thai style, is today a museum.

It is located just next to a pedestrian walk.

Next to the main entry, you can admire some beautiful Thai ladies making silk threads. The device is turning so fast that the camera does not manage to catch it.

The house is spacious. Big blinds can be folded, making it look as if the house did not have walls at all.

As a result, inside you can see the breeze. And feel at ease.

Actually, from the side of the garden there are no walls at all. So let's take a look at what e can find there. Here comes something that looks like a little chapel. I really liked these huge yellow flowers.

And there comes a little fish. Maybe not that little after all.

Let's sneak through the open window again.

I must tell you that I really liked the style and the architecture. I would probably have difficulties to get used to all this openness. But I have noticed that on the upper floor the walls are more solid. Which means more privacy in the end.

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To keep this nice and relaxing mood, our last stop in Bangkok will be the Lumpini Park. 

Lumpini Park has been created in 1925 by the king Rama VI. His statue can be found near the  southwestern entrance to the park.

Obviously, the current royal couple is also present.

The main element of the park is the artificial lake, bringing calm and serenity to the world running faster and faster.

You can meet there people practicing tai-chi ...

... and animals just enjoying the sunlight.

You can meditate a bit next to one of the small chapels ...

... or just sit inside one of those pavilions and think how to make the world a better place.

My plan is to sit for a while on one of these benches.

We have bought with Ata_ lots of postcards for our friends Postcrossers so now time to write all of them with nice greetings.

So our last stop for today will be this nice post office. Watch out for the postcards now!

MegaWats

No no, I am not mistaken, this post will not be about energy and megawatts. It will be about Wats, the buddhist temples in Bangkok. There are so many of them that I have decided to group them into one post, a bit like with the churches of Przemyśl some time ago. Actually, I have already shown you one last time, the Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Today a few more. Remember only to take your shoes off before to enter!

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Another temple that you will find close to the Grand Palace is the Wat Pho or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Again, it is more a common name for an area than for a specific building.

The main building is really interesting.

So are these conic structures in the yard.

I was again impressed by the number of tiny details and the colours.

The Wat Pho owes of course its name to a statue of Buddha.

Reclining means here "resting" or "relaxing". So you will not be surprised that he is lying down. After all, it is a man.

His feet are decorated with mother-of-pearl. The images show various symbols associated with Buddha, like tigers or flowers.

Looking at this wealth of elements and decorations you will surely not be surpisied if I tell you, that the reclining Buddha is not the only statue in Wat Pho. There are also standing ones ...

... and some other sitting.

I tried really hard to seat in this position but finally I gave up. I meditated a bit instead, together with my new golden colleague.

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Wat Arun is probably one of the best known landmarks of the city. Its name means Temple of Dawn. I've been told it really looks amazing when the first rays of morning sunlight touch it. Sorry my friends, we will have to believe the tour guide, no way that I wake up this early.

The complex is obviously huge.

The best known building is the tower. On postcards it is typically shown from the side of the river.

But the main entrance looks nice as well.

It is guarded by some statues. And yes, golden ones.

It is possible to climb up the tower. Actually to climb it up up.

You can see from the top the entire city.

Unfortunately, then you need to go down. It seems even more steep than the climbing.

Let's sit for a second in the nice park to catch our breath. You can use this time to watch a nice panoramic tour of the Wat Arun.

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Our next stop will be Wat Traimit. It is located in Chinatown.

It seemed to be a bit smaller than the other Wats.

A tiny bit of climbing again.

 Wat Traimit is best known for its staute of the Golden Buddha.

I know what you are going to tell me. All these Buddhas are gold. But take a second look. This is the world's largest solid gold statue. The gold in the statue is estimated to be worth 250 million dollars. Quite some money, isn't it?

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Last but not least comes the Wat Saket, better known as the Golden Mountain.

To reach the temple you need obviously to climbe up the mountain. Luckily the road winds calmly through a peaceful garden.

From the top, you can again admire the city.

I really like this contrast between the modern buildings ...

... and the traditional ones.

I believe it must be really great to spend time on such a mountain, calm and peaceful despite being located in a huge metropolitan area.

So let's pray a bit by ringing this bell. This will be our last stop for today.