Bankok, Thailand - The Grand Palace Complex

The streets of Bangkok

From the streets of Bangkok

we took a water taxi to

visit the Grand Palace complex.

It was an amazing ride.

The view of the Grand Palace from the boat

This is how the locals ride

We walked through the local markets

to get to our ride.

We rode in TUK TUKS to get around town.

The Grand Palace Entrance

The guard at the Palace entrance

The history of the Grand Palace complex:
(from tourist brochure handed out at ticket office)

The complex was established in 1782 and it consists 

of not only the royal residence and throne halls,

but also a number of government offices as well

as temples.  It covers an area of 218,000 square meters.

After King Rama I ascended to the throne

in 1782, the palace was built.  Prior to this, the royal

palace had been located in Thonburi.

It was a HOT day in Thailand -

so the boys wore shorts and

Haleigh and I wore capris.

The boys had to rent pants

and the girls rented skirts in order

to tour the grounds.

The walkway leading to the temples

The Upper Terrace

Four main monuments are 

found on this terrace

BIG ornate statues guard the grounds.

The Ratana Chedi

The Mondrop

The detail and SPARKLE was incredible.

We joked that all the buildings had been

BEDAZZLED.

The Royal Pantheon

Apsonsi - a mythical creature -
half woman half bird.

Khon figures stand guard

The 5 headed snake - honors the
5 headed snake that shielded Buddha
from the heat of the sun.

My photographers - NEW cameras for this trip.

The Galleries

Hallways surrounding the Grand Palace
complex are painted with incredibly detailed murals.

A shot of one of the many murals

Detail in the mosaics of every building -
this was porcelain - MOST were
BRIGHTLY colored glass.

The Borom Phiman Mansion

Ammon and the guard at the mansion gates

The Borom Phiman Mansion

The mansion was built to in 1903

by King Rama V for the heir to the 

throne - King Rama VI and from 1925-1946

was used as the royal residence for the king.

The Royal Monastery

of the Emerald Buddha

We were not allowed to take pictures

of the inside of this building.

This is the place of worship.

A big golden buddha sits at the front with

carvings and flowers surrounding him.

The Reception Buildings

used for receiving guests

The Dusit Group

Where the Coronation Day ceremonies

and viewing of the deceased royalty take place.

One of the Dusit Group's entrances

The exit from the main Dusit Group courtyard.

Bangkok, Thailand - Where we stayed

After a 2 hour and 45 minute flight

from Hong Kong to Bangkok, Thailand

and a 45 minute taxi ride we

arrived at our hotel at 1:00 AM.

It was a VERY WELCOME sight.

The hotel lobby

Can you find Ammon in this picture?

The view from our room

At breakfast

The hotel's spirit house

Every residence and business in Thailand

has a spirit house on the property.

It houses the spirits of those who 

previously lived there.  

It is believed that those spirits

watch over and protect the property.

Every morning offerings of 

food and drink are placed at

the front of the spirit house.

At 8:00 AM we left the hotel - ready to explore

Bangkok, Thailand.

MY Valentine's Day 2012

Valentines for MY Valentines

Chocolate conversation hearts with
homemade paper fortune cookies -
the fortune was a "What I LOVE about you" note.

For: Haleigh

For: Caleb

For: Ammon

For: MY LOVE

I took a trip to Tai O and Ngong Ping

with Joel and Linda Hiatt.

Tai O stilt houses

One of the bridges in Tai O

Construction in Tai O.

Inside the little temple in Tai O.
I liked the spiral incense hanging from the ceiling

The garden of Po Lin Monastery

Po Lin Monastery Temple

Po Lin Monastery

Po Lin Monastery

Incense burning at Po Lin Monastery

A very foggy day at Ngong Ping.  At times we
couldn't even see the Big Buddha.

In the evening Fred, the Hiatt's and I

took a walk to Discovery Bay Beach.

Discovery Bay is a popular place for 

Valentine Dining.  Couples from

all over Hong Kong come to spend their

evening eating and walking the beach.

Candles on the beach - placed in the sand
to form heart shapes.

Lastly - I ENJOYED a hot fudge sundae 

from McDonalds, with MY LOVE

and good friends, the Hiatt's

Fred and Steph on DB Beach

It was a 

HAPPY Valentine's day!!!

The Hiatt's Visit Hong Kong

Our friends, the Hiatt's,

came from HOME to visit 

Hong Kong.

We were able do and see a lot

in just a few days time.

Joel and Linda Hiatt

Shopping at Stanley

Witnessed a baptism.

Visited Nam Lian gardens

and Chi Lin Nunnery.

And made a trip to THE PEAK.

Lai See

A GREAT article on 

the RULES of Lai See

Gifts for Chinese New Year – 

Lai See 

Red Envelopes in Hong Kong

Lai See Gift Giving Guide

By Rory Boland, About.com Guide

Remember most Chinatown's around the world are 

Cantonese,

so their rules of lai see gift giving will be the same 

as Hong Kong, not like Beijing or the mainland.

You can usually pick up these small red packets

from the stalls that spring up in Chinatowns in the

run up to Chinese New Year.

WHAT IS LAI SEE?

Lai See are small red and gold envelopes containing

money and are given at Chinese New Year.

The envelopes must be red and gold as these signify

prosperity and good luck.  Packets of dedicated Lai See

envelopes can be bought all over Hong Kong, including 

the Mong Kok ladies market and in Chinatowns around 

the world.  The giver and the recipient are believed to 

gain good luck from Lai See.

WHO RECEIVES LAI SEE?

The general rule of thumb with Lai See is that it's given 

from a senior to a junior.  For example, a resident to a

doorman, a boss to his employee, parents to children. ...

IF I GIVE, HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE & HOW?

Lai See amounts vary widely depending on who is the 

giver and the recipient.  There is no hard and fast rule.

HK $100 for doormen and waiters is fine.  Bosses, parents,

and couples giving to single friends are generally expected

to give a little more.

The money should be given in a single note, not in multiple

notes and should certainly never contain any coins.  The

notes used should be new, and Hong Kongers often queue

at the bank for hours in the days leading up to Chinese New

Year to obtain fresh notes.  The custom is said to show that

the giver was thinking about the receiver of the Lai See,

whereas if they're given used notes, it's believed they were

forgotten about.

It's also worth noting that the Cantonese word for four sounds

like the Cantonese word for death so HK$40 or HK$400 are 

considered bad luck.  The total money given should also be an

even number not an odd one, as odd numbers are for funerals.

So, HK$100, not HK$105.

The kids 
received 
Lai See 
from
Fred's 
employees.

The BOYS in RUSSIA!

The boys found a "great deal"

on tickets to Russia, so they took

a guys trip while the girls stayed in Hong Kong.

They were FREEZING cold, 

(-6 degrees fahrenheit)

BUT they had a GREAT time

and saw some AMAZING things!

The hotel lobby

The Kremlin

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior

The Annunciation Cathedral 

St. Basil's Cathedral

Red Square

The Tzar's Cannon

Kolomenskoye