Pattaya International Fireworks Competition

The Pattaya International Fireworks Competition will be taking place again this year on December 16th & 17th at Pattaya Beach. Fireworks will be displayed from teams around the world including: Thailand, Italy, USA, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Japan, China, Australia and Germany. There will also be a fireworks display that will span over 3 km in honor of His Majesty the King’s 84th birthday coming on December 5th.

Buddha knows that there are fireworks all year round in Pattaya for one reason or another and sometimes for no reason at all but the Pattaya International Fireworks Competition is really a sight to behold and can be seen from almost everywhere in Pattaya. The beach is a great spot to watch the fireworks but it’s generally very crowded, other great spots include Pattaya viewpoint looking down on Pattaya beach and any hotel balcony above the 5th floor facing the beach.

As well as fireworks you can bet there will be lots of great Thai food on offer up and down beach road as well as refreshments and trinkets to buy and probably a few concerts set up at strategic points.

The Pattaya Fireworks Competition is a great night out to share with friends and family so be sure not to miss it!

For more information on upcoming Thai festivals and Events please visit the Thailand Events Calender.

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• Queen’s Birthday/Mothers Day Today
• Samui International Body Painting Competition
• Asia International Guitar Festival 2010
• Asia International Guitar Festival 2011

Wat Sup Prairo

Mo’s family lives in the South Western area of Petchaboon in the Amphoe of  Wichian Buri, more specifically the family lives in the Tambon of Sap Noi. In order to get to the family farm one needs to go down a very long dirt road about 20 miles, at about the halfway point you’ll see a very large statue of Buddha near the roadside and a few minor statues but not much more. This would be the entrance to Wat Sup Prairo.

I didn’t see the normal Wat buildings that I thought should be there set back against the mountains, instead I only saw a dirt parking area and a place to sit and relax. It wasn’t until we pulled in that I realized there was going to be some climbing involved, nothing treacherous but certainly steep and much without railings or guardrails. As I looked down there was indeed a Wat building surrounded by canopies due to a religious event taking place that day.

The lower part of the steep walkway up the mountain does have some handrails but only for a short way. Apparently up until 3 years ago the only way to the upper Wat was by traversing bamboo ladders up the side of the mountain. While there are steps of a sort now the majority is very steep and cut roughly into the mountain. The journey up was tiring on legs not used to steep ascents but there were ample areas to rest with stunning views.

Finally as you near the top of the mountain a deck juts out of the mountainside and just beyond that is the entrance to the caves. Around the entrance to the caves are statues, Buddhist flags and several elephant heads carved/concreted into the mountainside. As you enter the cave it appears at first that the temple is a small 2 room affair but when you walk around the corner to the second room you notice a winding pathway going down into the mountain.

Tomorrow I’ll take you into the caves and show you some stunning sights that Wat Sup Prairo has to offer and you’ll get to meet a new friend I made named Cantaloop.

Related Articles of Interest:

• Into the Mouth of the Mountain, Wat Sup Prairo Part 2
• Khao Chee Chan ( Buddha Mountain ) Revisited
• Khao Chee Chan Buddha Mountain
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• Beautiful Thai Women

The Erawan museum in Samut Prakan is someplace I’ve been meaning to get to for some time especially since its creator,Lek Viriyaphant, was the mastermind behind another beautiful work of art, The Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya.

The elephant of 33 heads, or the elephant of the universe as it is also known, is part of an ancient Buddhist and Hindu myth about the greatest god of paradise, Indre. The myth tells us that wherever Indre goes he mounts his elephant, Erawan, who before each journey transforms himself into a 16,000 meter tall white elephant with 33 heads. Most depictions of Erawan you will see only show him as having 3 heads.

Khun Lek sought to house his rare collection of priceless artifacts safely while still preserving traditional beliefs that the sacred objects housed there would bring blessing and prosperity to the land and its people, and therefore must not be lost to outsiders.

This myth of Indre inspired Lek Viriyaphant to build a museum that is a reproduction of Erawan, and while not quite as big as the mythical beast this monumental museum is still rather large, coming in at 44 meters tall and weighing over 250 tons.

Khun Lek’s son, Pagpean Viriyaphant, was put in charge of managing the building project and bringing a host of talented artists together to make sure Khun Lek’s vision was brought to life. One of those artists, Rakchart Srichanken, was the creator of the actual Erawan structure while others were in charge of such details as the magnificent stained glass ceiling and carvings throughout the museum.

Khun Lek wanted Erawan to be more of a symbol of the center of the universe than a vehicle for the god Indre. He wanted the Erawan museum to symbolize the spiritual heart of the land where sacred objects could be housed and revered by all.

The museum consists of 3 separate levels. The base of the museum, “Underworld or Naga World”, plays host to an amazing array of ancient artifacts and artwork that dates back to the Ming Dynasty and beyond. Here you will find detailed carved furniture inlaid with mother of pearl as well as Ming vases and rare Chinese porcelain tea sets. There are also ancient Khmer and Thai artifacts. These objects were collected by Lek Viriyaphant and his family over generations. Unfortunately, to preserve the priceless treasures no photography or filming is allowed in Underworld.

The middle section of the elephant is called “Hall of Earth” and is filled with more rare artifacts such as statues and beautifully made furniture but the real show stopper is the magnificently carved grand stair cases and 4 embossed tin columns with religious reliefs that stretch up to the beautiful stained glass ceiling that depicts a map of the world. Where the 2 stair cases meet at the main landing there is a small shrine to make offerings.

Further up into the elephants head is the last level or “Tavatimsa Heaven” where you will find even more rare statues and Buddhist icons in another shrine area that can only be described as stunning. Again, no photography or filming is allowed of the individual artifacts but you may take pictures of the room and shrine.

Outside the Museum the great elephant is surrounded by a moat of running water where you can make offerings of lotus blossoms that will float around the structure. There is also a large area in front of Erawan where offerings can be made with flowers, incense and bells and gongs that can be rung for good luck.

Surrounding all of this is a beautiful park filled with sculptures, flowers and streams to wander through and relax. We spent the afternoon into early evening at the Erawan Museum enjoying all the rare pieces of art and the beauty that the whole park bestows on you. I knew this would be a special place just because of the man who created it, Lek Viriyapant, who spent his life creating wonderful places for all people to enjoy and to lift Thai cultural heritage.

The Erawan Museum is open daily from 8am to 5pm with guided tours every 30 minutes. Admission price is 150 baht per person. More information can be found at The Erawan Museum Website.

You can find even more pictures ( almost 300 ) of the beautiful Erawan Museum and park  in the Thailand Photo Gallery Erawan Museum,Samut Prakan.

Little known fact:

The Erawan Museum is considered the largest elephant sculpture in the world and it took over 10 years to complete.

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Wat Yansangwararam

Wat Yansangwararam, also known as Wat Yan, was the second part of my Day trip on Sunday and it surely didn’t disappoint. The Wat is about 17 kilometers from Pattaya center and is very close to both Khao Chee Chan ( Buddha Mountain ) and Nong Nooch Gardens. Wat Yan is often overlooked for other destinations in the area but believe me when I tell you that this is one day trip that should not be missed, especially if you like taking photos as much as I do.

Wat Yan is Actually a very large temple compound comprised of many buildings that literally spring up out of the jungle. The first building you will come to as you wind around the road to the Wat is Viharna Sein (  Anek Kusala Sala ) which is a Chinese style temple built to honor Thailand’s Chinese population. Officially opened in 1993 by King Bhumibol, the temple houses a huge selection of Chinese antiques, artifacts and stunning Chinese art. Complete with dragons, terracotta statues and many beautiful depictions of Buddha’s life.

Just across a large reservoir from Viharna Sein sits Wat Yan. Covering 366 rai (146 acres) of land, this temple complex features a wide array of architectural styles and structures, surrounded by  gardens and beautiful flower arrangements. Among the structures are a Khmer mandapa, housing a replica of a Buddha footprint; a white, 40-meter tall chedi containing relics of the Buddha and his disciples; a Swiss Chalet; and shrines in Indian and Japanese styles. Monuments include statues of King Rama VII and his wife, the beloved Princess Mother; and wax statues of 20 revered monks. The site also contains wildlife preserves and breeding facilities, a school, and a hospital.

Wat Yansangwararam is believed to be the heaven for those who love to meditate and practice it sincerely. Meditation courses are on offer for anyone who wishes to be enlightened daily from 6am to 6pm.

In 1976, Wat Yan was dedicated to Somdej Phra Yanasangworn, then the Supreme Patriarch, or head of Thailand’s monastic order. The temple was subsequently put under the patronage of King Bhumibol, who established a development program for it in 1982. Over 27 billion baht ( $600 million ) is said to have been spent on its construction.

This really makes an excellent day trip when paired up with Khao Chee Chan ( Buddha Mountain ) which is just 1 kilometer up the road. Entrance to the Chinese temple is 50 baht per person ( Falang and Thai alike ) And a guide book ( in Thai ) will set you back another 100 baht. Wat Yansangwararam really is a treasure hidden away in the jungle of Satahip and one that most people tend to miss out on. Plan a day to take in the sights and I guarantee you wont be disappointed.

Over 300 pictures can be found in the Wat Yansangwararam Gallery and many more pictures of the beauty that is Thailand can be found in the Thailand Photo Gallery.

I first visited Khao Chee Chan, or Buddha Mountain as it is also known, back in 2008 and wrote about it’s history in the post Khao Chee Chan Buddha Mountain. Unfortunately, I was short on time that trip and spent most of the day at Wat Yanasangworn. When I got back to the hotel that night I realized that the memory card in my camera was corrupted and out of 500 pictures taken of the day only 7 survived. So, Khao Chee CHan and Wat Yanasangworn have been on my list of things to see again for some time.

Being a lazy Sunday I figured now was the time. I decided to go to Khao Chee Chan first before it got too late in the afternoon so I would miss the crowds, which I successfully did. Even when there are crowds it’s very easy to get great pictures of the worlds largest Buddha Image due to the way the small park is laid out.

There isn’t much to see at the park except for the beautiful Buddha image so you won’t be there long, that’s why Khao Chee Chan and Wat Yan make a great day trip as Wat Yan is just a few minutes down the road. I’ll be writing about Wat Yan later this week as it deserves a post on it’s own.

Khao Chee Chan is about 17 kilometers down the road from Pattaya towards Sattahip, not far from Nong Nooch Gardens which is also a great day trip on it’s own. A taxi or baht bus can be rented for the full day to take in both Khao Chee Chan and Wat Yan for around 800 baht. Khao Chee Chan itself is free to the public.

For the history of Khao Chee Chan ( Buddha Mountain ) please check out my original post Khao Chee CHan Buddha Mountain. And for many more pictures of the beautiful Buddha Image and park grounds please visit the Khao Chee Chan gallery. Many more pictures of Thailand’s beautiful Attractions and Events can be found in the Thailand Photo Gallery.

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Having been in Pattaya just a little over a month I haven’t had much of a chance to do anymore than settle in and get my house in order with school and other necessaries, that is until today. One of the newest attractions to Pattaya that has been on my list of things to do is visit the new Floating Market that was built towards the end of Jomtien.

After reading what Martyn over at Beyond the Mango Juice had to say about the Pattaya floating market on his post Pattaya’s Not Yet Famous Floating Market I figured it would definitely be well worth the trip.

I have to admit I went into this day trip not expecting too much. For the most part these types of markets are just tourist traps selling Thailand souvenirs and trinkets and while it may be packaged pretty, seeing the same Thailand t-shirts and wooden elephants stall after stall gets old fast. I will say I was very pleasantly surprised by certain aspects of the Pattaya Floating Market but I was also let down by quite a bit as well.

The Pattaya Floating Market is about 10 minutes down Sukhumvit road from Pattaya towards the end of Jomtien. There is ample parking for both cars and buses alike and you can’t beat the entrance fee which is free for all, they do ask for donations at the entrance to help keep the market going though. The first thing I noticed entering the market was how beautifully it was laid out, truly a photographers dream. If you enjoy taking pictures as I do then you will definitely be in your element. Even with crowds of people it was very easy to get the pictures I wanted without waiting or getting into odd positions.

The quaint village is broken up into 4 regions that represent Thailand, the North, Northeastern, Central and Southern part and over all it is very easy to navigate around the shops and jetties via walkways and foot bridges, There is also very good signage everywhere letting you know where to find the various cultural shows, shops, food and bathrooms. They also have red and green arrows on the walkways so you can easily find your way in and out of the market.

The floating market is very well maintained and clean with a host of beautiful flowers decorating the walkways and bridges with an emphasis on orchids.

The market boasts over 100 shops as well as the expected merchants selling their wares by boats along the walkways and jetties. One of the nicest things I found about the market were the boat merchants. All of them were selling traditional Thai food and treats and boy was their fare tasty. For a bigger meal there are several restaurants scattered around the floating market as well as treat shops never more than a few feet away.

I was really hoping that the market would have more than the standard tourist fare and I was happy to find 5-6 shops selling custom made Thai wood working, silk and the like actually being made on site by the artisans.

Unfortunately, for me, the majority of the shops were selling the standard Thai souvenir/trinket fare and to be honest it was very over priced. While these shops were nicely laid out and presented their wares well It would have been nicer to see some more real craftsmanship. Even so I thought even these shops added to the atmosphere well so I can’t begrudge a little tourist scalping.

The down side for me was the absolute junk shops selling, you guessed it, absolute junk! There was a 99 baht shop selling housewares and various other crap and a bunch of other merchants just selling the most ridiculous stuff imaginable. Molded Jesus heads, H.M.S bounty boats & lighthouse’s ( Thailand is known for these things ), and my favorite, a fat little falang doll wearing an overcoat that he eventually opened to reveal himself jerking off his big cock…Great for the kids.

As well as the merchants there are also several cultural shows that are scheduled on the hour throughout the day and quite a few colorful characters walking around making the experience more friendly, enjoyable and definitely more fun. Unfortunately I picked a soggy day to visit Pattaya’s floating Market so I didn’t get much of a chance to enjoy the cultural shows as everyone was packing in to get out of the rain.

One part of the market I found very nice and also relaxing was the Buddhist area where quite a few small shrines and Icons could be found, also great for picture taking opportunities.

All in all I would say the Pattaya market is great for a small day trip of a few hours walking around, taking pictures and eating some tasty Thai treats. You probably won’t be persuaded into buying much if you are like me but you will definitely leave with a full belly due to the host of great Thai food available…it not only looks and smells good…It is good.

It might be best to visit the Pattaya Floating Market during the week when it might be less busy, if a rainy Sunday was anything to go by then the weekends here will definitely be packed.

You can visit Pattaya Flating Market online to get more information on operating hours and event schedules.

To see more of my Pattaya Floating Market trip you can visit the Pattaya Floating Market Gallery that has almost 300 photos of the day trip or you can visit the Thailand Photo Gallery at anytime to find these pictures and many more.

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The Full moon party on Koh Phangan, Thailand has become the quintessential right of passage for many travelers to Thailand. Depending on who you talk to the full moon parties were started between 1987 and 1992 by a handful of backpackers who decided that the best place in the world to witness the full moon was along the crescent shaped beach at Haad Rin on Koh Phangan island. They began to organize small parties among friends at each full moon and over time word spread and the parties became much bigger.

Since it’s auspicious beginnings the full moon parties have grown so much in popularity that it’s not unusual to see between 20-30 thousand people attending any given full moon party and that number grows dramatically during the New Years Eve full moon party. What once began as a small get together with maybe some acoustic guitars or a boom box now comprises multiple venues with world class DJ’s and multiple sound systems.

In recent years the full moon parties have become synonymous with excess and known for rampant drug abuse as well as a huge upswing in the crime rate. There have been quite a few deaths and rapes associated with the event which is billed as the ultimate party experience.

If you plan on attending one of the full moon parties you might want to keep a few things in mind:

• While there is a drug culture related to the full moon parties, drugs are illegal in Thailand and if caught you will face significant fines, jail time and or deportation and blacklisting from the country.
• Plan ahead and book accommodations early. With over 20,000 people attending each party you want to make sure you have a place to stay.
• If you want to party but don’t want to deal with the noise all night long book a hotel out of town.
• If you want to leave the island the day after the party book your boat in advance as they fill up quickly.
• Police enforcement is stepped up during the party and while they are there for your protection they are also there to make arrests if you get out of hand.

With that in mind remember to look out for your own safety and while everyone loves to party it up doing so to excess could have very real implications. Listed below are the dates for the 2010 full moon parties. Keep in mind there is no full moon in February so there will be 2 parties in March.

Full Moon Schedule 2010

Saturday January 30, 2010

Monday March 01, 2010

Tuesday March 30, 2010

Wednesday April 28, 2010

Saturday May 29, 2010

Saturday June 26, 2010

Wednesday July 28, 2010

Wednesday August 25, 2010

Thursday September 23, 2010

Saturday October 23, 2010

Sunday November 21, 2010

Tuesday December 21, 2010

Saturday December 25, 2010

Friday December 31, 2010

Full Moon Party Dates 2011

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• Koh Phangan Full Moon Party Dates 2011
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The Pattaya Blues

While I am missing Thailand and have the blues in general those aren’t the blues I am talking about at the moment. No, I’m talking about music and Thailand has some of the best live entertainment you could ever hope to see while on holiday.

My first trip to Thailand I was amazed at the quality and quantity of live music from Bangkok to Pattaya. From pop and dance music to hard rock and blues you can find great music any night in any number of bars and clubs. Even bars that are no bigger than a storage shed have live bands that will keep you rockin throughout the night and coming back for more.

One night I was sitting in a bar on walking street talking to a friend about all the great live music and he asked me if I had been to the Blues Factory which was just up the street on Soi Lucky Star just opposite Marine Disco. When I said I had never been there he motioned for our bartender to checkbin us and we were off to the Blues Factory.

The Blues Factory is a great venue to listen to live music and have a great night but what I was unprepared for was seeing one of the best guitarists I had ever seen, his name was Lam Morrison. I was blown away by his guitar work and his band and I have seen him play quite a few times since.

Lam Morrison The King of Thailand Blues

Known as Thailand’s guitar King  Lam has been around the music scene for a while. Picking up the guitar by 13 it wasn’t  long before Lam started his first band called VIP and started touring around the American bases during the Vietnam war playing the rock music the soldiers loved to hear.

Due to the fact that rock music wasn’t a very big scene in Thailand the VIP found it hard to get gigs after the war ended and the G.I.’s returned home. Although gigs were few and far between at one gig in Bangkok a German tourist saw the band and told Lam he should go to Germany and play. While touring through Germany Lam won a guitar dueling contest and earned his guitar King title. After Germany he continued to tour through Europe and North America.

When Lam returned home to Thailand he was signed by EMI Music and released his first album entitled Night in Bangkok. The album took off and sold over a million copies which was a first for a rock artist in Thailand. After the release of the album he went back out on the road touring through Europe with such bands as UFO and Deep Purple.

Lam plays quite a few instruments including the piano, bass and harmonica as well as singing, but it’s his guitar work that brings them in and keeps them there. While there are many bands playing the night clubs and bars of Pattaya there is definitely no one of the same caliber as Lam Morrison.

Lam has been playing as the house band at the Blues Factory since 2002 with a years break or so in 2007 when he opened his own club. He is back as the house act at The Blues Factory and should definitely not be missed if you are going to be in town during the holidays or after.

Lam is truly a national treasure and one of Thailand’s best kept secrets. You can check out a few of his videos below and check out his show times at The Blues Factory. If you are heading to Pattaya set aside a night for some excellent music from a guitar virtuoso playing both rock and the blues, I’ll guarantee you’ll thank me for it.

Pattaya Blues

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With tourism down dramatically many Thai companies are trying new advertising to combat the the ever growing slump they are seeing in their bottom line. It’s not enough that the world wide economic situation is keeping tourists away, Thailand can’t help itself when it comes to making even dedicated travelers think twice.

Thai politics have been a major concern since the coup in 2006 and the recent events regarding Cambodia have some  travelers on edge. The continued violence in the South of Thailand with the Muslim community and the recent attacks on freedom of speech have been keeping Thailand in the news for all the wrong reasons.

You would think the easiest way to go would be accentuating the beauty and diversity that is Thailand and calling out the cultural aspects of the country. Instead the advertising  that has been coming out just leaves potential travelers scratching their head.

Medical tourism has long been a strong suit for Thailand with procedures generally being one third of those in the West. A good dental bridge in America might cost you $4000 once all is said and done but in Thailand the same bridge would cost $600.00.

While the majority of tourists are aware of these deals the advertised deals usually draw the wrong attention. Local ads like the one below are a usual sight. I have to admit though,  the ad is compelling. Come to Thailand for a short stay and for under $10,000 you can go home a new man…don’t want to be a man anymore, go home a new woman.

Thai Air is also rolling out new advertising but one might wonder what demographic they are targeting. The new ads, while very well done and quite beautiful, don’t really convey Thailand, do they? They have opted to leave out their planes or pictures of Thailand for beautiful pictures of Thai women in flowing colorful gowns.

I’ll give them this, it does make me think of orchids and beauty so it does draw me to Thailand but I’m an easy sell and usually ad campaigns aren’t there to preach to the chorus. These ads will be rolling out to America and Europe soon.

It’s not easy for any country in the current economic climate but at the very least most countries know their strong points and aren’t struggling to find their identity or appeal.

Thailand should take a cue from The Australian tourism  campaign of the 80′s and 90′s. Find a well liked Thai comedian and have him throw a shrimp on the barbie while extolling the great diversity and beauty that Thailand has to offer. Well, they might need to change it to a grasshopper in the oil or a rat on the barbie but you get the idea.

I haven’t seen a Thailand tourism ad in America for a long time but they may want to start with the company that did the below ad back in 2007. Someone there understood marketing.

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Wat Phra Kaew,  also known as the temple of the Emerald Buddha,  resides within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok and is considered the most revered Buddhist shine in all of Thailand. The Emerald Buddha itself is actually carved of jadeite, stands 26 inches tall and sits atop a large gold alter in the center of the temple.

Only the King of Thailand is allowed close to the Emerald Buddha when the seasonal gold costume it wears is changed three times a year. The summer costume consists of a crown and jewelry, the winter costume is a golden shawl and the costume worn during Buddhist Lent is a gilt robe and headdress. The costume change is an important Thai ritual performed by the King who will also sprinkles water over the gathered monks and the faithful to bring good luck during the upcoming season. The other two costumes are on display in the nearby Pavillion of Regalia, Royal Decorations and Thai Coins while not in use.

According to popular belief the Emerald Buddha started it’s journey in Sri Lanka but modern historians have discounted most of the Buddha statues early history and are confident that the Buddha image was carved sometime during the late 14th century to the mid 15th century in Northern Thailand. Although,  the statue is carved in the style and attitude of  Buddha images found in Southern India or Sri Lanka with the Buddha in a meditation pose. The meditation pose has never been prominent in Thailand which may have lead early historians to assign an alternate history to the Emerald Buddha.

The history from this era says that the Buddha was once hidden in a Chedi  in the Chiang Rai province, but a lightening storm in 1434 damaged that Chedi exposing a stucco likeness of the Buddha. Upon closer inspection the stucco was falling off exposing the Jadeite Buddha below. Being such a beautiful dark green it was confused as being made of emerald at first, giving the statue it’s name The Emerald Buddha.

The King of Chiang Mai at the time heard of this wonderful discovery and decided that the statue must reside within his province. Three times he sent an elephant to Chiang Rai to retrieve the Buddha and three times the elephant stopped at a crossroads while returning with the Buddha. This was seen as a sign from Buddha himself and a temple was constructed in Lampang where the Emerald Buddha stayed for 32 years.

The next king of Chiang Mai decided the Emerald Buddha should be housed in his province as well and this time the Emerald Buddha was successfully moved from Lampang to Chiang Mai where it resided in a temple until 1552 when invaders from Laos stole the emerald Buddha. The statue remained in Laos for the next 214 years until General Chakri, who would later become King Rama I, brought the statue back to the capital at Thonburi after a successful war with Laos.

In 1784 When King Rama I moved the capital across the river to Bangkok he had the ordinance hall built where the stature still resides to this day. The ordinance hall was a plain stucco structure when it was first constructed but King Rama III would change all of that.

Large stucco moldings were installed and the whole hall was gilded and adorned with glass mosaics.  A pair of Khmer lions, believed to be from the Khmer Bayon period of the 13th century, guard each of the six entrances. At the base of the ordination hall is a row of golden Garuda’s each holding a Naga in each hand. The Garuda is the King of all birds and the mount of Vishnu the great Hindu god, the Naga is the king of all serpents and the enemy of Garuda. The Garuda holding the Naga is believed to be a very powerful image to chase away evil spirits.

The ordination hall also contains two other interesting Buddha statues. Both ten foot tall statues are cast in bronze and stand crowned at either side of the Emerald Buddha. These statues were commissioned by King Rama III in dedication to King Rama I and King Rama II.

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Thailand,  and rightly so. The attention to detail inside as well as outside the ordination hall is stunning. The compound surrounding the ordination hall is equally as stunning with the various monuments and buildings glinting in the midday sun.

Getting a picture of the famous Emerald Buddha is sometimes easier said than done though. No pictures are allowed inside the ordinance hall which leaves you only two vantage points to get your photo. The first is through the open doorway at the front of the hall and the second is through a small open window cut into the front wall of the hall.

Wat Phra Kaew is absolutely a must see while in Bangkok and it is sure to give you memories that will last a lifetime.

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