Sawasdee Bangkok

Paul Hallman
2 days ago
5 min read

When we landed in Thailand our tour guide taught us that, "Sawasdee" means "hello," "hi," or "good day," and it can also mean "goodbye". It implies a wish for a "well-being" or "good health" and is frequently used with a polite ending, Ka - when a woman uses it, or Khrap - when used by a man. Quite often it is followed by a gesture - a sight bow and palms pressed together. During our time in Bangkok we were greeted by this constantly, as this country if so full of happiness and warmth. The greetings in our travel package said, "Welcome to Amazing Thailand, Happiness on Earth !"

A Photo of Bangkok from a mural in the welcome hall of the Royal Palace

So with so much to see and many photos that we took, we are posting two blogs on our Bangkok overnight. Day one was the Grand Palace and Day two was more of a fun day of adventure. Jan and I say, "Sawasdee" to those reading our posts, as it's fun to share our adventures.

Laem Chabang to Bangkok to the Grand Palace, Ramada Inn Riverside Stay, and Asiatique at Night

We stepped off the ship at Laem Chabang Port and boarded a bus bound for Bangkok, trading the calm of the harbor for the growing energy of Thailand’s capital.

On the 125 km drive to the city we noticed large industrial parks that had massive buildings which is a reflection of the manufacturing base in the country. The roadways were large and had considerable cars and truck but it kept moving. Many roadways are toll roads to that helps in keeping the volume off the highways.

Other items of interest were some trucks using propane for fuel and large billboards all along the roadways. They are at least 5 times larger than what we see at home. And some trucks were pulling multi trailers. We passed many high rise apartments on the way into Bangkok.

As we approached the city, Bangkok revealed itself as a vibrant modern metropolis—towering skyscrapers, an above-ground rapid transit system, and a pace that matched its size. Bangkok is home to roughly 10–11 million people in the city proper, and around 15 million across the greater metro area, and you can feel that scale in the constant motion all around you. During the drive we passed a site where they were converting a building to residential homes using modular concepts.

Our main destination for the day was the Grand Palace, one of Bangkok’s most iconic landmarks. Built in 1782 by King Rama I, it became the ceremonial and administrative heart of the kingdom and remains a powerful symbol of Thai history.

The Grand Palace is Bangkok’s most iconic landmark—a dazzling, sprawling complex that served as the official residence of the Kings of Siam from 1782 until the early 20th century. It remains the spiritual and ceremonial heart of Thailand. The palace grounds cover nearly 50 acres and are divided into several zones. Most visitors are drawn to Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which is considered the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.

Walking through the complex was like stepping into a world of gold and color—ornate rooftops, intricate mosaics, and details so fine you could stare at them for minutes and still notice something new. The reception hall was under the palace and was relatively new, and this is where the visitors gather to go through security and to be properly dressed for a visit to the temples. Jan had to use a set of "garments" to cover her ankles and became a fashion model with her new attire.

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha statue is carved from a single block of jade, seated just over two feet tall, and enshrined high on an elaborate golden throne. The King of Thailand personally changes its golden seasonal costumes three times a year — for summer, winter, and the rainy season. The complex is a breathtaking mix of traditional Thai, Khmer, and European styles—gilded spires, mirrored mosaic walls, mythical Yaksha guardian statues, and intricate mural galleries.

I took so many photos - so I will just post some of the interesting shots with some detail on the jade, gold and ruby stones that were used in the construction.

There was one [portion of the temple area that appeared to be carved stonework of a temple. It was located in the middle of the large temples.

We were able to walk through the main temple area but had to remove our shoes. The sun was so hot that as we walked into the temple our feet felt like we were walking across red coals on a campsite fire. We actually started to run to get off the marble walkway. Here are photos I managed to get of the temple, as the did not allow pictures to be taken inside.

As we came out of the main temple area we went past the ceremonial palace where the King previously resided, and as we passed there was a changing of the guard.

Throughout the city, we also noticed how deeply the Thai monarchy is woven into everyday life. Portraits and symbols of the royal family appear in public spaces, reflecting the respect many Thais hold for the institution. We were reminded of Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, who became Queen in 1950 and served as queen consort until 2025—about 75 years. She passed away at the age of 93 and was the longest serving Queen Consort. Her legacy remains significant, and Thailand continues to recognize the monarchy through major public observances such as royal birthdays and anniversaries which will last for as long as 12 months. Many people in North America know of Thailand through The King and I, though it’s worth noting the film is controversial in Thailand and has been banned there for decade and better viewed as a Western interpretation than a reflection of Thai perspectives.

After our Palace visit we bussed to a market followed by a short boat ride to our lunch buffet at a Thai Restaurant. Following lunch we took a Long Boat ride through the canals where we passed the marina where the Queen Boats are kept and many run down homes along the canals. Bangkok has over 1,600 canals in their city totaling over 2,600 kilometers in length and they are used for transport, drainage and has a huge historical heritage. Today nine of these canals are dedicated to floor control.

While at lunch we saw some large barges being towed down the river. They certainly were big and this is the way the move things around the area.

That evening we checked into the Ramada Inn Riverside, and the setting couldn’t have been better. When we checked into the hotel we were surprised at the size of our bed. It was so large that Jan slept in and Eastern Time Zone and I slept in the Western, at least that is what it seemed like. The view from our hotel room on the 9th floor, with the evening perspective of the city and dinner river boats cruising the river.

We enjoyed a fabulous buffet with the river beside us, watching the lights shimmer on the water as boats passed by. There was so much to choose from and the Thai food was excellent. I had the largest Oysters ever as well as Mussels, but that was only a portion of the seafood that was on the buffet.

Later, we walked down the street to Asiatique The Riverfront, a lively night market open until 11 p.m. It felt like part market, part midway—shops and stalls mixed with rides, including a huge Ferris wheel glowing over the waterfront.