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thailand

Wat Arun Bangkok panorama

Thailand: Capturing Wat Arun at Sunset

Date: January 19, 2023

I began my afternoon of sightseeing by visiting Wat Saket and climbed up to the Golden Mount. Once I left that place, I decided to head towards Chao Phraya river

Boriphat road Bangkok Thailand
I was walking up Boriphat Road
Wood workshops Boriphat road Bangkok
The shops here are mostly in the wood trade, some run by Chinese migrants who came to Bangkok over many waves, decades ago
Wooden arts shop Bangkok Thailand
A lot of wood craftsmen in this community
Maha Chai road Bangkok Thailand
This is Maha Chai road, famous for its eateries

Maha Chai road is where you will find the restaurant Raan Jay Fai — famous for its goggles-wearing lady owner and her Michelin-starred crab omelette. Another bucket-list item for next time.

Rommani Nart park Bangkok
I walked through Rommani Nart park
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Wat Saket golden mount pagoda Thailand

Thailand: Bangkok’s Wat Saket and the Golden Mount

Date: January 19, 2023

I began my day covering some Hindu shrines in Sukhumvit before walking to Phetchaburi Road via Ratchdamri Road. My plan now was to head to Wat Saket, a popular temple in Bangkok that I had never been to before.

The fastest and cheapest way to get from the Sukhumvit area of Bangkok to Wat Saket is to take the San Saeb canal boat taxi service. I boarded a boat from Pratunam pier.

San Saeb canal ferry Bangkok Thailand
See the video blog at the end for instructions on how to get to the boat station
Saen Saep canal boat Bangkok
A ticket from Pratunam pier to the Wat Saket stop costs ฿14 (₹31/$0.38/€35)
Khlong Saen Saep ferry stop Bangkok
The boat made stops at a few stations but each stop is barely a minute long
Saen Saep canal Bangkok Thailand
It took just around 15 minutes to get to my destination

Taking a taxi post lunch, on any day, would have easily taken you more than 30 minutes — just to get out of the Sukhumvit traffic. So I highly recommend taking the canal boat service to get to the Old Bangkok side!

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Ganesha statue Centralworld Bangkok Thailand

Thailand: Hindu god shrines around Sukhumvit, Bangkok

Date: January 19, 2023

Yesterday I didn’t do much sightseeing and ended up shopping.

Puff pastry Meiji strawberry milk Bangkok
Since Retro39 does not offer a breakfast buffet option, I bought & kept some puff pastries in the fridge the night before to have in the morning

I stepped out after doing some work and got off at Chit Lom BTS station.

Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard Bangkok
That’s Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard building, which houses luxury condominiums and the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok
Praying at Erawan shrine Bangkok Thailand
At the corner, Erawan Shrine was busy as usual

Erawan Shrine is a famous spot which houses a statue of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of Brahma — the Hindu god of creation.

Erawan shrine offerings Brahma Bangkok Thailand
Daily there are offerings of coconuts, fruits, flowers, and money
Brahma Hindu god Erawan Shrine Bangkok
Brahma’s depiction in Thailand will slightly differ from how temples in India depict the god

Side note: Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura — an hours drive from Bangalore (India) — has carvings of Brahma from the 12th century.

As for why there are so many shrines for Hindu gods in Bangkok, it’s historical. Thailand used to be part of the Khmer empire, which was heavily influenced by Indian culture and Hinduism. See my Cambodia series and visits to Angkor Wat to know more about that.

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