First Trip into the Heart of Bangkok
But above all, my first encounter with Thao Wessuwan. What an aura! How could one not bow? This would lead to a personal quest to find his representations at every stop on my journey.
After going to bed late the night before following a great game of petanque with Film and the rest of the group, we set off at 9:30 a.m. to discover Thailand's famous shopping malls. Off to IconSiam!
What a surprise! A colorful ground floor with countless atmospheres and cultures, complete with vegetation, waterways and... people! Quite a change of scenery, but fortunately — or not? — the escalators redirect us!
Gates to the magnificent, including some beautiful statues
There are also exhibitions on the outdoor rooftop, whose subject matter is rather unusual to Western eyes!
One last trip through the ground floor only makes us hungrier. We therefore leave the mall and begin walking through Bangkok's heat to find a restaurant. After a good half-hour's walk, we find ourselves in a small restaurant tucked away in a hidden alley. The atmosphere is familiar, and the hygiene seems impeccable — a detail we still paid attention to at the time!
The welcome was particularly warm, much to our surprise. Perhaps they were happy to meet some lost tourists at this unlikely place? They offered us tea and a wonderful atmosphere. Even the locals who came to eat here seemed surprised to see us Europeans lost here! Thanks again to them, it was a great moment and an exquisite meal! Oh, and... this is also where I learned that chili powder is not meant to be eaten raw...
We then set off again for the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo), located within the grounds of the Grand Palace. What can I say? What can I think? I am speechless. Between the lush gardens,
the statues laden with meaning,
especially with an altar on his back...
the imposing, finely ornamented buildings
But above all, my first encounter with Thao Wessuwan. What an aura! How could one not bow? This would lead to a personal quest to find his representations at every stop on my journey.
Our path then takes us to a balcony overlooking the Grand Palace: absolutely magnificent! This brings our visit to Wat Phra Kaeo to an end. A little rabbit even comes to guide us towards the exit!
Now, off to Wat Pho, with an unexpected encounter along the way... To be continued in the next episode