| Keeping
in mind this was our second visit to the Grand Palace, and many pictures
are already on the Southeast Asia pages I will try not to duplicate
those pictures here. However, there might be some minor duplication
just for continuity of these pages. If you'd like to visit the Southeast
Asia pages with the pictures of the Grand Palace just click
here. A second window will open allowing you to easily
view them and then return to this page. |
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Without
doubt Bangkok's Grand Palace is one of the most interesting and
beautiful palaces Anne and I have ever visited. The architecture,
combined with the many golden mystical figures, sculptures and shrines,
is outstanding and enough to capture anyone's imagination. It's
easy to close your eyes and envision that you are in the old kingdom
of Siam when standing amongst the buildings of the Grand Palace.
For
months before we returned I could think of nothing else but returning
to the Grand Palace and concentrating on taking more pictures of
the beautiful mystical figures that adorn the grounds. Their shimmering
gold color is captivating and I knew I could get some good pictures
given the time and weather.
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Arlene
holds the
group's rallying symbol,
another umbrella,
but not a Panda umbrella |
Workers
perfectly
shape a tree at the
entrance to the
Grand Palace |
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Anne
leaving the lotus flower she folded on a
small shrine at the palace's entrance |
One
of the buildings with its ornate roof
pinnacles and adornments |
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| As
you can see in the above pictures when we arrived at the Grand Palace
every other tour bus also arrived at the exact same time. The place
was absolutely mobbed with the tourists, so much so that it was impossible
to get any shots of the buildings without a thousand unwanted soles
in the way. It was absolutely unacceptable to us. Why, I don't know,
our tour was only scheduled to be at the Grand Palace a little more
than an hour and then head back to the hotel for a free afternoon.
Anne, John and I decided to forego the free ride back to the hotel,
electing to stay at the Grand Palace in the hopes the crowds would
thin out. Amazingly within a half hour of our group leaving the crowds
just disappeared giving us the opportunity to spend the time and get
the pictures we wanted. |
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Temples
and statues of
Buddha are plentiful |
The
Reliquary in the shape
of a golden Chedi |
Anne
standing next to
a mystical figure |
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A
mystical figure |
Railings
on a stairway |
Anne
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Anne
resting |
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Repairs
are necessary, too bad! |
Anne
by one of the large
mystical figures |
An
off limits stairway |
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The
crowds near the Reliquary
when we first arrived |
A
small garden area in front of
one of the palace buildings |
Statue
in the garden |
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Let's
go to the next page for some close-up pictures of the golden mystical
figures ... |
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