Rebekah in Thailand: The Grand Palace

This afternoon, Mom and I walked around the block just to see what we would find. I love being able to just roam freely in a foreign country, it makes me feel less of a tourist, yet obviously I am one. But we found this little street market with people selling all sorts of foods, jewelry, shoes, and clothes. We ended up buying a dress and an awesome pair of leggings, so that was very exciting.
By the time we got back to the hotel it was time to leave for the tour of the Grand Palace. In respect of the temples, we had to dress modestly: no sandals, covered knees and shoulders. But in case you forgot they had shawls and pants outside the walls that you could rent while you were inside, because the guards wouldn't let you in if your dress wasn't modest enough. Once we got inside, I was in complete awe of the buildings. The design on each one of the buildings was absolutely breath taking. On one wall, there was a hand painted depiction of the story of King Rama and the monkeys and the demons. Each building had mirrors, and jewels, and gold all the way up the walls, it was incredible.
While some people visited this site because of their religion, my mom and I visited mainly just to see it and to learn more about Thai culture. It was interesting to hear all about the royal family and the religion practices of Buddhism. In the main temple, which housed the Emerald Buddha, there were monks praying, and people kneeing, bringing flowers, candles, and incenses to him. Different religions interest me because I like to learn about the different things they believe and the different teachings they follow.
While I am not very good with my words on the subject of the beauty of the Palace, I think pictures will help you have a small glimpse of what I experienced today. To see the Grand Palace should be high on the bucket list for everyone, not because of religion but because of the sight and the culture.