10 Days in Paradise

Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit

The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (of Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn.

That is the official name of the city of Bangkok, Thailand where I spent an incredible (but short) 10 days,
stepping straight out of a dream into a paradise rich in culture and filled with tremendous beauty!

Obviously, barely over a week isn't enough time to fully appreciate the splendor of the most
enchanting and captivating city I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing!
I truly believe a year, or even a decade, would not be enough.....
Despite that, I've put together these modest photo galleries depicting my brief adventure in:

Click on any photo to open the gallery, then on the thumbnails to see the large pictures. Enjoy!

My Thailand Family

I was invited to Thailand by my good friend Jasmine, on the far left. Her whole family is as wonderful as she is: full of warmth, joy and tremendous generosity!
I had such a glorious time and I know I'll never be able to repay the debt of gratitude I owe to each and every one of them, especially Jasmine.
Thank you, Jasmine, for encouraging me to follow my dreams!

Temples

I visited three glorious temples during my stay in Bangkok:
Wat Phra Kaew (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha), Wat Pho (The Temple of the Reclining Buddha), and Wat Trimitr (The Temple of the Solid Gold Buddha).
Never before have I experienced such spiritual and emotional awe.....
midway through the day, I was literally in tears.

Dusit Zoo

Formerly, Dusit Zoo was a part of the Royal Dusit Garden Palace with the local name of "Khao Din Wana" which was set up by King Rama V
as his private botanical garden.
Since 1938, this huge 47.2 acre area featuring about 288 mammals, 1018 birds and 292 reptiles, has been open to the public.

Thai Human Imagery Museum

A wax museum that showcases important figures in Thai history, some of the displays in the Thai Human Imagery Museum were so breathtakingly realistic,
I had to look twice to make sure they were actually made of wax!
A beautiful garden outside completed this wondrous experience.

Safari World

The ultimate safari experience, Safari World features hundreds of animals from around the world. Safari Park was the most exciting part, but we weren't allowed to leave our vehicle, and pictures were difficult if not impossible.
Attractions also included several shows within the Marine Park,
and many performances, tours, shops & exhibits.

Vimanmek Royal Mansion

Originally a residence for King Rama V and the Royal Family in 1901, the Vimanmek Royal Mansion is now a museum open to the public.
It is the world's largest golden teakwood mansion, and houses many displays of the past including: Royal Carriages, weapons & armor, and tours within the Mansion itself (where, like the Temples, pictures are not permitted).

My Hotel

Situated in the pulsing heart of downtown Bangkok, I stayed at the wonderful Ambassador Hotel. Friendly, capable, courteous staff, a wide variety of services available, easy access to the amazing BTS Skytrain, and several extremely enjoyable shops close by made my stay here an absolute pleasure!

Various Images

I cannot adequately describe all of the enjoyable sights & sounds I witnessed, or the experiences that captivated my heart & soul in Bangkok. Even these few pictures pale in comparison to the glorious memories I will forever hold as a standard by which to dream, but I offer them to show a glimpse into a world I never knew existed, but where my heart, mind & soul yearn to return.