Temples in Bangkok

We had a great day today...  The weather was perfect... low to mid-80s and no rain until just a few minutes ago at 6:30 pm.  We had planned on going to the Grand Palace, Wat Po, and the Thai Red Cross Snake Farm.  What we didn't count on was that this is a Saturday, and the snake farm has a different schedule on weekends.  Thus, we missed the snake show, so instead we went to Wat Arun.  We ended up walking 9-10 miles today, which we needed after traveling for 30 hours.

We're on the Skytrain, which is an elevated electric mass transit system that spiderwebs throughout much of Bangkok.  It's modern, very clean, efficient, and will be our primary means of transportation in Bangkok.  Here are Bryce, Clarke, Nat, and Jacob.

Lori Loeb (Ajarn Mark's wife), Dixie, and Mackenzie.

Morgan, Lyndi, Addi, Schmidty, AT, and Hannah.

Kristen, Ajarn Mark, and Lori

We took a river taxi to go upstream from the skytrain station to Pier 9, where we got off and walked a half mile to the Grand Palace.  Here are a few students looking at the scenery on the banks of the river.

Nat and Kristen posing in front of two gold Nagas, the semi-divine half-snake mythological beings of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Addi, Schmidty, AT, and Hannah.

There is just so much to see in every direction in the Grand Palace.

Here's an obligatory group photo we always take near the entrance to the Grand Palace.

These mythical demon creatures (not Hannah and Addi) are holding up the base of the chedi.

Kristen, Nat, Lyndi, Mackenzie, and Dixie.

Inside the Grand Palace is an amazing array of spectacular buildings and statues. The students had one hour to wander around and enjoy the crown jewel of Thai cultural tourist attractions. 

Following the Grand Palace, around the block to the south is the famous Wat Po, a temple with a 150-foot long reclining Buddha.  Here are Hannah, Bryce, and Dixie.

On the other side of the Chao Phraya River from Wat Po is Wat Arun.  So we took 4 baht ferry ride across and back (8 baht round trip).

Lori Loeb, Dixie, and Kristen on the ferry.

Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn).  The name derives from the Hindu god Aruna, which is often personified as radiations of the rising sun. 

Jacob's such a sociable guy... he'll make friends with everyone.

AT, Hannah, and Schmidty.

Kristen getting a strategic angle for a photo of Nat.

Who wouldn't like a nice bowl of fish ball and chicken foot soup for lunch?

Clarke and Bryce on the ferry ride back across the river.

Schmidty, Lyndi, Dixie, AT, and Addi on the ferry.  Notice Wat Arun in the background.