Bangkok Off the Beaten Path Tips by templemonkey

This old temple was built before the Ayutthaya peroid.It was know as Wat Samorai until King Rama IV changed it .The King also resided here while he was in the monkhood,before his succession to the throne.
The temple is situated at the end of Samsen Soi 9 on the Chao Phraya river ,so there is a nice view .You can easily get there from Bunglumpoo by bus number 3,33.60 .
Inside the temple grounds you can see some nice simple Thai style monk quarters and an unusual stone bell tower.Climb to the top and check out the bell and view over the temple..In the main temple you can see a Thai Fresco mural painted by an Italian artist name Mr Regoli .If you want a little tour of this temple ask one of the monks who will be more than glad to help.

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Website: http://www.bangkok200.com.th

Khamthieng House is abit of old Thailand hidden away on Asoke road .This traditional Northern Thai teakwood house is about 160 years old and is located in the grounds of Thai Siam Society.The admission fee ia 100 baht .On display are equipment and tools used daily by farmers and fishermen in the North.There is also a Black Canyon to sit and soak up the peaceful atmosphere and imagine what Thailand was like in the past .

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Phone: (02) 661 6470

Walking into one of the thousands of temples in Thailand you might see one of these Fortune Box.Just drop in a coin and you get your instant fortune .This one was in Traimit Temple of The Golden Buddha not far from China Town.

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The amulet market is right next to the Grand Palace along Na Phralan Rd .Also close to Thailand's well know Thammasasat Univerisity and Silpakorn University of art .Take a stroll along Na Phralan Rd you will see the classic Bangkok street with people sitting on the ground selling mostly Buddha amulets,herbal products,balms,branclets, secondhand stuff and even false teeth.There are so many cheap food here as well,so I got so very hungry walking down Na Phralan Rd from the pier at Tha Chang .

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This 200 year old temple is right on the riverside opposite Tha Chang Pier.This temple is not one of the touristy temples but it is one of the nine sacred temple in Bangkok. Somdej Phraphuttachan one of Thailand's most revered monk was once an abbot here.
Although ,at first glance Wat Rakhang does not look very special it is very popular with the locals who come here to pay homage especially during the New Year.The first thing to hit you is the market in front of the temple with all sorts of captured fish,eels,frogs,crabs, birds etc.The main activity here is setting them "free" in order to "make merit "but at a price.You can also just feed the fish in the river in front of the temple if you want .Just walk through the market and turn right , go into the front temple building ,there is a temple donation box and a table full of bread.

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This old temple was built in the Ayuthaya period during the Reign of King Rama I .The temple is located just off Phra That Rd and is very close to Sanam Luang Park and the Grand Palace.Entering the temple from the side gate you will see about 10 impressive large sitting Buddhas .Outside the main temple I saw many women dressed in white and most of them crashed out on mats in the Ubosot .I thought they were nuns but I have just read that this is a well know meditation temple (Mahachulalongkorn Buddhist University) .So they were probably taking meditation courses here and were resting.
Inside the temple grounds I was attracted to a group of people standing around a Bodi tree in the courtyard and found out that they were looking to get lucky numbers for the next national lottery.As usual some lucky person once did and people flock here hoping to get lucky *.

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Phone: 02 623 5613

Hidden away on Samsen Road is Wat Intharawihan.The temple is famous for its huge bowl-carrying image facing east, which stands 32 meters tall and 11 meters wide, considered the world's biggest of it's kind.( Luang Pho To). Devotee believe that Luang Pho To can bless people with success,especially if they present the head of a mackerel fish,a boiled egg and a Lei flower.
The Temple holds an annual homage festival for the image from March the 1 st to 10 th , a much-awaited temple fair in Bangkok

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An enjoyable way to see Koh Kret is by hiring a bicycle and ride around the Island.It cost about 40 baht to hire the bike and the ride is around an hour depending on your pace.Follow the path that goes all the way around the Island.On the way you will see the local going about their daily lives.We stopped at the community center for a drink,enjoy the nature,took a few pictures and rode back as the sun was setting on Koh Kret Island.

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