Amazing Thailand

Like Philippines, Thailand is one of the Asian countries that is rich in culture. It draws its strength from its Buddhist traditions and its revered King. And making it my first of out the country was a good pick. The Thai people value their culture and the habits that culture has instilled in them.

As me and my mom tour Bangkok, portraits of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyade are hanging on the wall of every establishment, posters and pictures sticking everywhere, an example of their local custom.

Our first stop was the Temple of the Golden Buddha in Wat trai mit (end of Chinatown's Yaowarat Road). Our tour guide said, the Buddha is 3.98 m high and 3.13 m wide from knee to knee. And why is is called The Golden Buddha -- It is cast in solid gold weighing 5 tons. I read an article saying that the Buddha was discovered when it was accidentally dropped as it was being moved, revealing, under a casing of plaster, a beautiful solid gold.

Our next stop was a leather store filledwith fabulous bags, wallets and luggage. These products are made of exotic animals like Alligator/Crocodile, Stingray, Snake, Python and Ostrich.

The store only uses animal skins from legal breeding farms. We also travelled to a jewelry store but we were not allowed to take pictures.

The following day me and my mom walked to the streets of Pratunam, Thailand's largest clothing market. It is well-known for its shopping centers and wholesale distribution centers. And surprisingly the malls are just standing side-by-side. You may not be able to visit all of it but If you wanna buy cheap but fashionable clothes, you must visit The Platinum Fashion Mall. The clothes shops here can give you a big discount if you buy at least 3 pieces.

For the techies who want to match their needs and budgets, visit Pantip Plaza. Prices are very cheap and the range extensive.

But for those who are looking for a weekend market, go to Chatuchak. It is popular to wholesalers, traders and of course tourists. For first-timers, Chatuchak may look overwhleming may seem like an impossible task, but worry not. There are organizers who will give you a map. Chatuchak is a particularly good place to buy all sorts of Thai handicrafts, as there's a huge range, the quality is high and the intense competition keeps the prices low, cheaper than the shopping centers.

Our last stop was The Grand Palace, it was big and nice. It feels

different when you see something like this in real life. This is not only the home of the King and his court, but also the entire administrative seat of government. Everyone is allowed to experience the 150 year old palace but as a visitor there's one thing they are strict about --visitors must be properly dressed before being allowed entry to the temple. Admission to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Central Court of the Grand Palace is about 350 Baht.