Ain't Life Grand? (The Grand Palace Tour, Thailand)

at the main entrance

THE GRAND PALACE TOUR:
What to Bring:

all that talk about the demon guards of the palace on top of the 41 degree Celsius heat honestly made me think of being in hell =D Who would've thought an umbrella and a pair of shades could make a difference

1. Shade - with the marble or brick flooring and gold leaf and bejeweled buildings, the heat can be magnified twice over in this area. a hat or an umbrella would be perfect not to mention wearing sunglasses

you can rent or buy one of these just across the street from the entrance

2.Cover Up! - for women whose legs are exposed (I wore shorts), you'll have to buy or rent a sarong across the street before entering the gates. They're pretty strict on this. Rentals cost about 30-40 baht, but you'll have to deposit 100 baht, which will be given back to you when you return the sarong. I bought mine at around 135 baht.

maps are useful, but hiring a guide is also a great idea. Our Mr. Miyagi look-alike from the karate kid spoke in perfect English, (he also sounded like a cross between Pat Morita and James Earl Jones), and was very knowledgeable about the place and the local customs and traditions (seriously! I Googled stuff about the place when we got back B-)

3. A Map - Upon paying the admission fee of 400 baht (which includes a ticket to Vimanmek Mansion, which is open til 6 pm). They will provide you a map, but the one we got was all in Thai. Once inside, you'll have to see all the sights as once you step out of the gates, you can't go back unless you pay up again. Making sure that you get to see all the sights, bring a detailed map of the place, or better yet, haggle and try to get the best deal from a tour guide. There's quite a lot of them outside the palace and near the ticket booth. 400 baht is a fair rate (we've heard higher rates).

the gold leaf and bejeweled temple roofs reflected the sun, adding heat to the already hot place

4. Anything to Keep You Cool - kids and elders are more likely to suffer from heatstroke. Bring adequate cold water, cooling gels, apply sunblock and have moist towelettes on hand especially if you have companions who fall under the category mentioned earlier. Most of the buildings have huge industrial fans in them, but walking to and from the temples could dehydrate you if you're not careful.

monkey demons

Cambodian, Thai and Sri Lankan architecture

don't point your toes at him

5. Mind Your Tootsie! - upon entering the temples, keep in mind that your toes must never point to Buddha as it is a sign of disrespect. A tour guide is quite helpful in pointing out when to take off your shoes, where to go, etc.

beautifil handpainted porcelain tiles from 18th century China

the Thai version of a Beefeater (Yeoman Warders). He doesn't move too like the ones in London =D

the "guest house"
This is used to house visiting dignitaries. according to our guide, the last time this was used was when the King of Spain visited the country last 2006

a temporary air conditioned tent for for an official function

The Cliffnotes on The Grand Palace:

The official residence of the Kings of Siam up until 1925, and now mostly used for ceremonial purposes and for housing visitors of state, this has been around since the 17th century. One of the most popular tourist destination in Bangkok, this is a great place to learn about culture and architecture as well as history.

The Grand Palace is open every day from 8:30 to 3:30, unless its being used for a state function. Some parts of the compound, specially the temples are considered sacred and that photos may only be taken from the outside.

Did You Know? - should the country's king not be  able to produce a  male heir, having daughters  is just fine, as the next ruler will be a queen :)

**Note: should anyone offer you a day time Canal Tour, you're better off with the evening River cruise. More on that in another blog from our site :)

off to the Canal Tour (shudder the thought!)

From TMW, may all your wanderings be better than ours!