There is a lot of great stuff to see in Bangkok and we decided to book a tour to see all the highlights in one day.

The tour started with a quick visit to the new Wat Traimit in Chinatown which houses the 5 ½ ton solid gold Buddha. The building housing the statue was only built in 2010. This Wat is near the main Palace complex in Bangkok's Chinatown neighborhood.


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Grand Palace

The Grand Palace also known as Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang is a huge complex along the river in the center of Bangkok. It was the former residence of several Thai kings. It is still used for ceremonies but not occupied by the King or his family since 1925.

The complex dates back to 1782 and has been expanded many times since then. The major buildings here are the Grand Palace itself which is a strange building that seems to combine several building styles and Wat Phra Kaew which houses the Emerald Buddha. This last building can be entered but photography inside is not allowed. The Buddha is dates back to approximately 43 BC in India. It is one of the most important Buddha figures in Thailand. It is always covered by solid gold clothing that is changed seasonally.


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Reclining Buddha

It's easy to get Wat-overload in Bangkok but another one of the can't miss Wats is Wat Pho housing the 43m long Buddha. Although it's a huge Buddha there isn't a lot of room around it in the building. That means it's pretty crowded.


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Canal Tour

Bangkok was built on the shores of the Chao Phraya River near the Gulf of Thailand. Over the years many canals have been dug around the city to make it easier to move goods and people around the city before modern transportation. Many of the original canals have since been filled in and built on but a number remain.


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