collecting memories --emerald buddha in wat phra kheo

Be careful of touts working outside the palace area who tell you it is closed, and suggest their own guided tour instead.

This warning is on the website on wat phra kheo. Surprisingly I was not approached by touts the last 20 or so visits! But as Arun, Surya, Priya and I walked out of the Pier we were accosted by an old person who tried to dissuade us from visiting the grand palace as it was closed for the day. While I was inclined to believe him, luckily Surya did not believe that Grand palace would be closed and sure enough it was open.

I always enter Grand Palace with mixed feelings. While I am awe struck at the variety of structures we encounter as we enter the courtyard, I find it a challenge to take photographs at the palace. I have invariably come out feeling unhappy about the harsh light, we are there around mid day, and the milling crowd. This time was no exception and I almost tripped and fell as I tried to get some impossible angles crouching. My knees are not that flexible anymore!

While the palace still feels beautiful, I am reminded of the present day Bangkok wherein skyline is full of tall buildings which appear to choke each other! I asked Priya who is an architect, whether more space between structures would have made the grand palace grander. She said yes in agreement and I am sure the pictures would have been absolutely great, if it was so!

Surya, Priya's son titled this picture 'Wat Arun and Grand Palace'!

Emerald Buddha from a distance. Once you are in it, the shrine feels very serene.

It was not as crowded as I thought it would be.

An example where I did not bend enough to get the crown in full!

This time I did it right!

One only person seen in the picture. A rarity.

I thought I had bent my knees enough!

Well rounded trees and people!

It is likely that Priya saw a painting of a lady in the murals with same hair style as hers!

The walk through the pavilion is always a delight. I hope to read the stories depicted by the murals one day!

There you go! Another picture where I must have straightened my legs after focusing. We do that often while taking a golf swing and top the ball!

collecting memories --wat arun with arun, surya and priya

Our trip began with this idea of taking pictures of wat arun at dawn. Then it transpired that Arun, for whom this trip was planned, was not a morning person and once he invited Priya to join us ( A ploy?), I knew it had to be later than dawn. She had to see her son, Surya off to school before she could be free. I am not complaining as she and Surya who also joined us, (not her son this time!) made the trip very enjoyable. As you can see we had a lot of sun on our trip as we set off around 9 am!

The plan to take the skytrain and later a boat to get there worked very well. We were lucky as Surya knew the system well. We thus avoided traffic, saved time and had a very enjoyable boat ride.

Wat arun as seen from our boat.

Surya and the most efficient conductor I have seen on a boat. She could also speak good english.

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A princess? Impressive crown!

With her court!

Wat arun, http://www.bangkok.com/attraction-temple/wat-arun.html is very pleasing to the eyes by the river and I still hope to catch it at sunset! It felt good to be there after a lapse of time as very pleasant memories of visiting the place with my parents, my in-laws and both my sisters and brothers in law as well as our children remain with me.

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I noticed that there are improvements to the surroundings and the wat (Surya?) next to wat arun looked good!

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