Exploring Beyond Bangkok

Heading north from Bangkok we stopped at the King's summer palace.  Originally built in 1632, rebuilt after a fire, this location is cooler than Bangkok and situated on lush grounds. The palace grounds are patterned after the Forbidden City in Beijing - though I did not think so!

beautiful building on island in lake used to be on land until water was rerouted here

looking at tower and chinese pavilion

chinese pavilion seen from tower

door of Chinese pavilion

elephants everywhere on the grounds of summer palace

We stopped for lunch at a restful hotel where we got to see water buffalo up close.

cannon ball tree-Buddha slept under one

lunch!

water buffalo and baby

We stopped at a Wat to see the monks and their beautiful Buddha - considered by many to be the most beautiful.  Monks were taking an exam under a big tent - so we were especially quiet.

monks taking a test

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beautiful buddha draped in cloth

side view

more buddhas

10000 buddhas

monks go shopping

Chinese graveyard. Buddhists cremate their dead