With not too much planned today, we have a slow start by getting up around 11am, having a cappuccino each in the below cafe while we wait for a Grab taxi to take us for some lunch

As it’s conveniently placed for our following activities, we go to McDonald’s Ratchadamnoen

A quarter pounder meal for Dave and a big mac meal for Daisy

Just outside is the Democracy Monument; Thailand is a Kingdom but they do have a democratic political party as their government

Sadly, it seems that the political party in Thailand isn’t doing the people very well as there have been several signs around this city stating that; as such, the King appears to actually have more power as he’s connected with military power

Just down the road is the Royal Pavilion Mahajetsadabadin which has a statue of King Rama III

This is in front of Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan which is a Buddhist temple complex

As we enter the complex, it’s hard not to notice the Loha Prasat – this is known as the “metal castle” for its 37 iron spires

It’s 20 baht each to go in, which is technically a restoration donation, and it has an exhibit about the place’s history

It turns out, this is one of these Loha Prasats that have ever existed in the world – the first was in India, which has no remnants of it’s existence remaining, and the second in Sri Lanka

After this, we go explore the many levels of the building – each has a different theme that helps those who don’t follow the Buddhist faith to understand

The final, top level provides a nice view of the city

We then come out of the complex and cross the road to the old city wall

You can go through it to take you to see Mahakan Fort, which appears to be abandoned and under renovation

It’s bordered by the river which we notice has a Monitor Lizard bathing in the sun!

The Phan Fa Lilat Bridge is here so we cross over and Dave spots a very large Monitor Lizard swimming!

We scamper around trying to get a good view but he sneaks away

A man in the street notices us looking in the water and we start talking; he lets us know that there’s something that was announced by the Thai government yesterday meaning that tuk tuks are very cheap this week

He suggests a route for us, at a very reasonable price, and agrees it for us with a tuk tuk driver

First stop, on this spontaneous trip, is to Wat Sunthon Thammathan (Wat Khae Nang Loeng) – this place is home to what is known as the Lucky Buddha

The main temple isn’t actually open but we’re able to visit a replica outside which you’re allowed to take photos of, unlike the real one

There’s a man there who’s very shocked we’re here as it turns out this place isn’t typically popular with tourists as it’s more for locals; it’s only open two or three times a year!

The main temple was open earlier today but it still seems we’re very lucky to even visit

The man tells us a bit more detail about the Thai Export Factory we’ve heard mentioned already: it’s doing a promotion at the moment, to remove tax to a degree, as they sell Thailand’s precious mined jewels – these are what Thai people purchase to secure financial safety after they retire, as there’s no pensions here

Following this stop, we’re then taken to the factory, called Prime Dragon Jewelry, to see it for ourselves

We wander around but nothing is in our price range, as well as it feeling like a generic jewellery shop, so we move on; we go to another shop as our driver can get a free fuel voucher if we do

Next is Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram, or Marble Temple – we’ve been here before on a previous visit but this time we notice yet another Monitor Lizard in the water!

We have an ice lolly each, from a shop conveniently in the temple grounds, to keep up our sugars and hydrate a little

On the way back to the tuk tuk, there’s another giant Monitor Lizard climbing into a drain we think is his home!

Finally, we get dropped at Wat Sa Ket Ratchaworamahawihan, or The Golden Mount

There’s a temple on ground level with a large golden Buddha

Our attention is then turned to the main event here – as it says in the name, the temple is situated on a hill that has 344 steps up

Thankfully, we’ve tackled this later in the day when the sun’s heat isn’t as severe

As we get to the building, we notice it’s the one place people are being guided not to remove their shoes – must be for safety reasons

There’s a small stairway that takes you right to the top to get a 360° view of Bangkok – we’re too early for sunset and we’re visiting as they’re completing restorations on the giant golden stupa on top but it’s very beautiful

We come back down and Daisy gets us a bartered ride on a tuk tuk back to our hotel where we freshen up and get back out

Tonight, we’re heading to another location we’ve been on a previous visit for dinner: The Silk Road is a restaurant within a building of a couple hotels and isn’t the only restaurant here

About 1.5 years ago, we came here and we’re ordering the exact same dish – it’s a little pricey but certainly worth it

Duck pancakes with the crispy skin as an appetizer followed by the rest of the duck prepared in hot basil and chili

At the end of the meal, we’re given a free desert of bitter blackcurrant jelly in a tea as well as some chrysanthemum tea

Stuffed, we walk down and around to the Phloen Chit area to pick something up for Daisy before ordering a Grab back to our place where we prepare for our trip tomorrow

We have to bid Asia bye tomorrow which is sad but we’ll definitely be back!

Time for bed ????