Travel: The Grand Palace Bangkok

The Grand Palace

The Grand Palace, Bangkok is beautiful and a must see if you’re in Bangkok for even one day. It’s busy and open 365 days a year, so don’t let anyone trick you into telling you it’s closed. It’s open and waiting for you!

First thing, you need to wear clothes that cover your knees and shoulders, so wear pants or a long skirt and a t-shirt, otherwise you’ll be forced to borrow a pair of pants or a robe. It’s hot enough already (if you visit in April like we did).

Once you get inside you’ll be sort of lost, turing and wondering where to go. Sign up for the English speaking tour – it’s great. One tid-bit of advise, though, either take a lot of pictures before your tour or during your tour. We took them after the tour anticipating we’d catch up with the next tour, yet never did. The Grand Palace is one way in, one way out and once you leave the central area you’re done. In hind-sight we could have taken more pictures during the tour, yet it’s so hard because you want to listen, learn and enjoy your tour. Taking them after would have been best if we could have joined the next tour, but that didn’t work out. Or, solve all problems and hire your own guide, then you’ll get to go at your own pace.

Camera Story

Inside of the doors below is the Emerald Buddha and you can’t take pictures. This is a serious rule and don’t break it at all. One couple on our tour did break the no photo rule. They were better than the rules, or so they thought. Anyway, they had two cameras. The wife had a cell phone and the husband a DSLR camera hanging over his neck.

So…they each set up their camera before entering the door. She turns her phone on and starts to take a video, the phone is in her pocket and the lens is sticking out. The man just casually hits the shutter button (the one that takes the picture) every so often in hopes of catching a good one of the Emerald Buddha. He gets caught. Yes, caught. The guards yell at him and take the camera away. The camera owner is so livid and is desperately trying to see what they are doing. The two guards are deleting photos off of his camera – hopefully only the photos the man took of the Emerald Buddha. The guards give back the camera and the couple is mad. Like really irritated and I wanted to yell at them – what did you think would happen if you broke the rules? Stupidity.

Beautiful pictures of the Grand Palace – so much detail everywhere you look.

Oh, that’s us – trying not to squint in the sun!

Overall, we had a fabulous time at the Grand Palace and you should visit, too.

Bring water and get ready to bump into so many people…it’s busy all the time. Visit early in the morning for the lowest crowds and watch your eyes – Bryce got poked in the eye with the side of an umbrella. Take a lot of photos (where allowed, of course) and listen to your guide, you’ll learn something!

Thanks for visiting. Bye!