THE Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP), Baguio Council, were given an opportunity to travel to Bangkok, Thailand. This capital is a fascinating and exciting city to visit - known for its ornate shrines, vibrant street life, and center for the arts, fashion, and entertainment. Bangkok is among the world’s top tourist destinations, and has been named the world’s most visited city in several rankings. With a limited time, we were able to visit some fascinating sites.
Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha) is undoubtedly the impressive 3-m tall, 5.5-ton, solid-gold Buddha image. It was “discovered” some 60 years ago beneath a stucco/plaster exterior, when it fell from a crane while being moved to a new building. I concur that it is one of the must-see temples in Bangkok. However, you should be in good health to ascend the numerous steps to view the Golden Buddha. The heat and crowd will definitely add to your stress. A visit to Wat Pho is a “must” for any traveler to Bangkok. It is one of the largest temple complexes in the city and famed for its giant Reclining Buddha that measures 15-m tall and 46-m long. The whole statue is covered in gold leaf and looks incredible when you get up close. This figure is so large it feels like it has been squeezed into the building. The amazing feeling of taking in the sight of the enormous golden figure cannot be explained with words, and even more rarely captured in photos due to its massive size.
Another “must-see attraction” is the unique Mekong Market. It is called “Risky Market” because there is a train track that runs directly through the middle of the market. Literally within seconds of the train passing through the market, vendors have to pull their goods, and themselves, out of the way. You’ll be fascinated to witness the precision timings and movements of everyone involved. The market sells a lot of fresh and dried fish so the smell is awful, but you’ll survive! The sights, the smells, the people... it is sensory overload. We stopped at the Elephant Camp of Damnoen Saduak and enjoyed riding the elephant, following a path through the jungle and canal. The journey lasted 30 minutes where the elephant goes through the water for a little swim (my favorite part), but you won’t get wet. It was fun. Our journey continues...