Joseph and I have just returned from a weekend getaway to Bangkok. Joe had never been before, and I haven't visited since Amanda and I travelled there together in 2008.
To make things easier for us I booked a guided tour that took us to a variety of Bangkok highlights. We were collected from our hotel, and we took the Skytrain to Saphan Taksin, where we travelled by boat along the Chao Phraya River. When we reached Tha Thien Pier, we were nearing our first stop… Wat Pho, also known as the reclining buddha. This had been one of my favourite places when I was in Bangkok six year ago. And it was exactly how I remembered it. Incredible.
Wat Pho is one of Bangkok's oldest temples, that existed before Bangkok was established as the capital by King Rama I. It was built in 1832 and represents the entry of Buddha into Nirvana and the end of all reincarnations. At an incredible 15 metros high and 46 metres long it's understandable why this statue is so impressive. The soles of it's feet alone are 3 metres high and 4.5 metres long, beautifully inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and the whole Buddha is completely plastered, then gilded with gold leaves. It is breathtaking.
Next stop, the Grand Palace to see the Emerald Buddha. This is definitely a must-see when you visit Bangkok. It's spectacular. This was built in 1782 and was home to the Thai King for 150 years. The architecture here is beautiful and extremely intricate. It takes a while to take all the craftsmanship in. It's also a very popular place! Be warned, the weekends are very busy!
Of course, for me, the highlight of any Thailand trip is always the amazing food. Unfortunately we had to cancel the cooking class that I had booked us as I was unwell. However, even though we didn't get to make our own, we did manage to eat yummy local food on the river at lunch time...
To make things easier for us I booked a guided tour that took us to a variety of Bangkok highlights. We were collected from our hotel, and we took the Skytrain to Saphan Taksin, where we travelled by boat along the Chao Phraya River. When we reached Tha Thien Pier, we were nearing our first stop… Wat Pho, also known as the reclining buddha. This had been one of my favourite places when I was in Bangkok six year ago. And it was exactly how I remembered it. Incredible.
Wat Pho is one of Bangkok's oldest temples, that existed before Bangkok was established as the capital by King Rama I. It was built in 1832 and represents the entry of Buddha into Nirvana and the end of all reincarnations. At an incredible 15 metros high and 46 metres long it's understandable why this statue is so impressive. The soles of it's feet alone are 3 metres high and 4.5 metres long, beautifully inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and the whole Buddha is completely plastered, then gilded with gold leaves. It is breathtaking.
Next stop, the Grand Palace to see the Emerald Buddha. This is definitely a must-see when you visit Bangkok. It's spectacular. This was built in 1782 and was home to the Thai King for 150 years. The architecture here is beautiful and extremely intricate. It takes a while to take all the craftsmanship in. It's also a very popular place! Be warned, the weekends are very busy!
Of course, for me, the highlight of any Thailand trip is always the amazing food. Unfortunately we had to cancel the cooking class that I had booked us as I was unwell. However, even though we didn't get to make our own, we did manage to eat yummy local food on the river at lunch time...
Following lunch, we took a Tuk Tuk to the Khao San Road where we indulged in massages. Another fantastic highlight of Thailand! So cheap, and always so good!
Another boat ride, and our final stop at Jim Thompson's House. This was a new highlight for me as I hadn't done it before. American businessman Jim Thompson revitalised the Thai silk industry in the 1950s and 1960s. Strangely, he disappeared whilst on vacation in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. His house, which he designed and built himself, is now a museum with a large collection of Buddhist and secular art from all over Asia, including Burma, Cambodia and Laos. Again, this is well worth the visit!
One of the biggest highlights of our trip was our hotel. A recommendation from Kay, who runs our Thai office. We definitely want to go back and spend more time at Hotel Muse, after we were made so welcome this time round.
"Rising high above one of the city’s most desired residential districts, Hotel Muse brings to Bangkok a heretofore unknown hedonistic experience: a hotel dedicated to the golden age of travel and the most opulent of art and design. Hotel Muse likewise dedicates itself no less to the art of pure pleasure, for every conceptual element reflects a theme of fanciful indulgence.
The late 19th- and early 20th-century period was indeed a golden age for Thailand, a time of opening up and looking out, of engaging the wider world with an impassioned and resolutely independent turn of mind. So too was it in Europe, as the years saw the birth of luxury travel on glamorous trains and magnificent ships. In such a spirit, Hotel Muse blends the heritages of East and West, the styles of Siam and France, into a beguiling melange of timeless sophistication and unequivocal modernity."
Hotel Muse is out of this world! Spectacular rooms, incredible service, an extravagant rooftop bar and an extraordinary eating experience at The Medici Kitchen, that kept us entertained throughout dinner with singers. For more information on Hotel Muse visit the website : http://hotelmusebangkok.com
