Posts Tagged ‘Bangkok 2013’

Travel: Wat Saket – Temple of the Golden Mount in Bangkok

Tuesday, November 19th, 2013

The Golden Mount temple in Bangkok is a landmark of the city and a popular tourist sight.

Located roughly between Khaosan and Siam Square, the temple has a chedi (stupa) built on a small artificial hill, affording a panoramic view of the entire city.

Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan, or Wat Saket - more commonly known as the Golden Mount Temple, sits atop a steep artificial hill in Bangkok. Taken with a Samsung NX 2000.

Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan, or Wat Saket – more commonly known as the Golden Mount Temple, sits atop a steep artificial hill in Bangkok. Taken with a Samsung NX 2000.

We got to the Golden Mount temple by taking the local Khlong Saen Saep canal express boat from our hotel in Sukhumvit.

The Khlong Saen Saep canal express boat is a very useful boat ferry taxi to visit many of the tourist sights in Bangkok - if you can stomach the murky water and the thrills of hopping on and off the boat before it pushes off from its very momentary stop at each pier. Taken with a Samsung NX 2000.

The Khlong Saen Saep canal express boat is a very useful boat ferry taxi to visit many of the tourist sights in Bangkok – if you can stomach the murky water and the thrills of hopping on and off the boat before it pushes off from its very momentary stop at each pier. Taken with a Samsung NX 2000.

That ride in itself is a little adventure and a good way to sit among the locals and get a taste of how they actually commute.

It was also the most direct, cheapest and effortless way for us to get to the temple.

Panoramic view of Bangkok city from the top of Golden Mount. Taken using Panorama mode with a Samsung GALAXY Note 3.

Panoramic view of Bangkok city from the top of Golden Mount. Taken using Panorama mode with a Samsung GALAXY Note 3.

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Travel: Family vacation in Bangkok, Thailand

Monday, November 18th, 2013

A temple with a panoramic view, safari of wild animals, shopping every step of the way, massages and perennially congested traffic.

End of year is a good time to visit Bangkok, when it’s not so hot and it doesn’t rain so much or at all.

End of year is a good time to visit Bangkok, when it’s not so hot and it doesn’t rain so much or at all. Taken with Samsung GALAXY Note 3.

Thailand used to be a frequent destination for our year-end break, being so near to Singapore, and the friendliness of its people.

Our whole family had a whale of a time, “interacting” with the wax figurines. Visitors are allowed to touch and pose with wax replicas of Justin Bieber, Ronaldo, Tiger Woods, Oprah Winfrey and other celebrities.

Our whole family had a whale of a time, “interacting” with the wax figurines. Visitors are allowed to touch and pose with wax replicas of Beyonce, Justin Bieber, Ronaldo, Tiger Woods, Oprah Winfrey and other celebrities. Taken with Samsung NX2000.

What we liked most was how doting they were to little children – wherever we went with our young children, you could see the face of the locals brighten up with a smile, some going out of their way to chat with them and pat them.

Water fountain outside Siam Center.

Water fountain outside Siam Center. Taken with Samsung NX2000.

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