Phuket With Kids: 5 Family Favorite Moments in Phuket

January 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Phuket with Kids Prom ThepWith the gloomy sky and low temperature we are experiencing in Atlanta, I am yearning for the warm breeze and salty smell of the ocean we had many years ago in Phuket.

It had been over 5 years since we visited Phuket with Miss J when she was just a toddle. Mr. Z has yet to visit Phuket. So our next Summer trip we might try to plan a quick trip to Phuket with him. With many Phuket Flights from Bangkok, visiting Phuket from Bangkok is easy and convenient. No wonder, Phuket is one of top family destination in Thailand.

Even though with many things that had happened since we last visited, Phuket remains in our heart as one of our first family trip to Thailand. Here are our family favorite moments in Phuket.

Lunch at Floating Village

Phuket with Kids Floating VillageOn our way to visit Khao Ta Pu (or more famously known for James Bond Island), we stopped by the Floating Village for lunch. We had a great meal and had some little free time to walk around the village. It amazed me to see restaurants, shops and even school operated solely afloat the Andaman Sea.

Boat Ride to James Bond Island

Phuket with Kids James Bond Island Khao Ta PuWe bought a boat tour package to visit Khao Ta Pu or more famously known as James Bond Island. I won’t lie but we had more fun on the boat ride than on the island itself. The small boat didn’t seem save to be on the open ocean but in reality we were not worried.

Beach-side Thai Restaurant

Phuket with Kids Lunch by the BeachOne day during lunch after a tour to Phuket’s popular spot at Promthem cape, we stopped at a non descriptive restaurant on the beach. The decoration was simple but the view was priceless. It’s not surprising to see our family favorite moments will have a current theme of food-related. :) It’s part of the culture and upbringing here in Thailand. We love our food!

Fun Night at Phuket FantaSea

Phuket with Kids - Phuket FantaSeaA popular attraction in Phuket for family is Phuket FantaSea. Even though Miss J was still too young to remember anything. We could still remember her laugh and giggle as she watched the show at Phuket FantaSea.

Beach Time

Phuket with Kids Beach babyLast but not least family favorite moment was the beach time we could enjoy as a family. The long stretch of sand beach, the wind that blow fine hair and the peace we felt as we walk along the beach was some of the moment we couldn’t wait to go back there again.

And Happy Birthday Miss J!! It has been a blast having you in our life.

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Thailand With Kids: Little Tuscany in Palio Khao Yai

March 11, 2011 By 6 Comments

Palio Khao Yai - Thailand With Kids

From the picture above, you might think that we just went to Tuscany. But in reality, it was a picture we took from our trip last year to Thailand.

Thailand With Kids: Palio Khao Yai

To be more specific it was at Palio – Khao Yai, an outdoor shopping plaza where tourists flock to pose as a model in front of many Tuscany inspired building. We made a quick stop to check out cute shops, cafe and restaurants after our visit to Khao Yai National Park.

Check out other travelers Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

Family Vacation on raveable
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Chiang Mai with Kids: The Road Trip to Chiang Mai & Odd Things You Will See

November 5, 2010 By 9 Comments

Chiang Mai With Kids Roadtrip

Ah, I know we are in the midst of fall and yet I still have many great memories I want to share from our family trip to Thailand. We had a great time riding BTS in Bangkok, relaxing in Saraburi, and enjoying family time in Koh Samed. But we had another family trip that I have yet to tell you about.

The Road Trip to Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai With Kids Roadtrip van

One of the family trip we did in Thailand was a road trip to Chiang Mai. Typically, if you are visiting Thailand and plan a trip to Chiang Mai, it’s recommended to fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. It’s fast and affordable.

But when you travel with your whole family and extended family, it’s more fun and cheaper to rent a van. You can rent a van with a drive for about $60-100 per day (plus gas). It’s another great alternative for traveling in Thailand with children.

My brother-in-law has been to Chiang Mai numerous times so we were in a good hand. He was our driver and personal guide for the whole trip. And no, he is not for hire. :)

The route from Bangkok to Chiang Mai was pretty straight forward and easy to do. The roads are all highway but the condition of the road was much to be desired. Let just say that if you don’t want to rearrange your internal organ, try to sit in the front!

We left really early in the morning to beat the traffic. Along the way, there were many roadside stalls that I can guarantee that you wouldn’t find it here in America.

Odd Things We Saw on Our Road Trip to Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai With Kids Roadside Shops

It’s very typical to see several man-made stalls along the way to provinces in Thailand. You will see people sell everything from fruits to hand-made products.

Barbecue Anyone?

On this trip, one of the shop we saw made us stop on our track.

Chiang Mai With Kids Roadtrip Gecko

From a far, we saw several bags hung from the pole. As we got closer we notice that those bags held something that moved. I don’t know exactly what they are but my guess would be that they were the cousin sor distant relatives of gecko.

Chiang Mai With Kids Roadtrip Toads Frogs

And on the ground, we saw a few bucket filled with toads (or were they frogs?).

Chiang Mai With Kids Roadtrip Barbecue Toads

So if you are hungry, you can pick up the barbecue toads Thai style here.

No, we didn’t try any of these. We are the Q Family Adventures but we are NOT that adventurous.

More Odd Thing Along the Way

Chiang Mai With Kids Milemarker

As we got closer to Chiang Mai, I couldn’t help but snap this picture of probably one of the largest mile marker I have ever seen. I’m sure my friend at Go Big or Go Home would be thrilled to check it out.

There are many more interesting stops along the way but with the pressing in time we could only drive by with no stop.

So what are interesting things you have seen during your road trip?

This post is a part of the latest blog carnival by Lonely Planet BlogSherpa around unique customs, which will be hosted by La Tortuga Viajera and going live on November 17th

See other Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

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Thailand With Kids: Haew Suwat Waterfall AKA “The Beach” Waterfall

October 22, 2010 By 5 Comments

Thailand With Kids - Waterfall Khao Yai Haew Suwat

On our visit to Saraburi, we visited Khoa Yai National Park as a day trip.

After we entered the national park entrance, we passed many wild animals including families of monkeys who claim the street as their own. As we ascended up the mountain peak, it is clear why Khoa Yai National Park is one of the most visited park in Thailand. The dense forest and green plants blanket both side of the road.

One of our stops was Haew Suwat Waterfall in Khao Yai National Park.

This waterfall is best known as the shooting location for the movie featuring Leonardo DiCaprio in ‘The Beach“. It was in the scene where he and his friends followed the map to the waterfall and in order to find this hidden place they would have to jump!

Thailand With Kids - Waterfall Khao Yai View The Beach

The waterfall didn’t look that impressive in this picture because we visited during the dry season. The water level was dramatically lower than usual. But during the rainy season, the park is packed with visitors and campers who can enjoy the waterfall at its best.

Thailand With Kids - Waterfall Khao Yai Trail

There is a walking trail to the bottom of the fall. The trail was easy to walk even with young children. But it still requires you to be careful on your steps. We marched along the trail with big trees protect us from the Sun.

Kids enjoyed climbing on the big rocks and twisted roots. Then we were rewarded with the view of the waterfall. Kids could wade in the water during this time due to low current. But during the rainy season, it is advised to be careful.

It was a quick stop on our long day at Khao Yai National Park. If you plan to visit, I would recommend to go during the rainy season. Yes, you will see more people. But with the park this size, being the only group here seems a bit too scary for me.

Family Tips:

  • Hiking shoes are recommended for walking down this trail
  • Bring extra outfit if kids plan to dip in the water
  • You might want to learn how to use squat toilet if planning to travel in the provinces. It will come in handy. Or try to look for handicapped restroom

Check out other travelers Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

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Thailand With Kids: Back to Nature @ Khao Yai National Park

October 1, 2010 By 16 Comments

Thailand With Kids - Khao Yai National Park

With just a short drive from Bangkok, Khao Yai National Park is a popular escape for many Thais as a great family weekend destination from the bustling city. The second largest park in Thailand with area of 2,168 square kilometers that expands to more than four provinces incorporates one of the largest monsoon forests along with plants, birds and wild animals.

We visited there during the hot season so there weren’t many visitors. It felt like we were the only group in the whole park.

Thailand With Kids - Khao Yai Monkeys

Well, except the local residents of the park, a large family of monkeys, wandered along the main road as we approached their territory. The sign warned visitors not to feed them as they could become aggressive toward you. It was surreal for us and the kids to just see them walking around.

Thailand With Kids - Khao Yai Monkey and Babies

Even the new mom came to check us out with her baby!

Thailand With Kids - Khao Yai Elephant

As we drove up the mountain toward the visitor center, we passed the Elephant Crossing. Fortunately (or unfortunately depends on how you like to view it), there was no elephant crossing the road at that time.

There are two primary entrance to Khao Yai National Park. The North entrance is through Nakhon Ratchasima province and the South entrance is through Prachinburi province. We stayed in Saraburi so we entered via the North entrance.

There are many camp sites available inside the park if you want to have more adventures than driving around. If you look for privacy then camp during low season. But be careful of all the wildlife that will roam around the park!

Family Tips:

  • Hire a car or a van to take you for a day out in the park.
  • There are many view points to help break down the winding road up the mountain.
  • Bring the gum (for bigger kids) or lollipop (for younger kids) as you will ascend up the high attitude.
  • Stop by the Visitor Center for the map and bathroom break.

Check out other travelers Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

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Thailand With Kids: Perfect Family Escape @ Ndol Thai Villas in Saraburi

September 21, 2010 By 11 Comments

Thailand With Kids - Ndol Villas Saraburi Thai House

During our last week in Thailand, after a weekend fun with family in the laid-back island of Ko Samet, many adventures in Bangkok and a road trip to Chiang Mai, we decided to squeeze in another last hooray before we boarded 24 hours trek back to the US.

With less than 2 hours drive from Bangkok, Saraburi was a perfect destination for our family. The destination itself might not be top on the list of family destination in Thailand if it wasn’t for the gem we had discovered during our visit to Thai Tourism event where a unique and inspired boutique hotel had a booth with deep discount for their accommodation, Ndol Thai Villas.

Experiencing True Thai Villas Stay

Thailand With Kids - Ndol Villas Saraburi Pool

Ndol Thai Villas is a unique boutique resort hidden in the rolling countryside of Muak Lek district in Saraburi province. With merely an hour and a half from Bangkok, it seems that it is actually a whole world away from the bustling capital city of Thailand.

The resort area is comprised of 3 distinct accommodation types: Siam Wing – a traditional Thai Teak House style, Oriental Wing – the Pan Asian inspired rooms and the Villas – a private set of villas alongside the waterfall stream.

Hideaway Location with Truly Enchanted Surrounding

Thailand With Kids - Ndol Villas Saraburi Stream boat

The location of the resort is well-hidden into the tropical garden with big trees and well manicured garden that has been meticulously designed with added Asian inspired details. Everywhere we turn, we couldn’t help but be reminded of the old Thai lifestyle. The waterfall steam is on the property line provided kids with fun way to explore.

With our family and extended families, we chose to stay at the Siam Wing, the traditional Thai teak house units set around the resort pool that is a perfect fit for family with kids.

Thailand With Kids - Ndol Villas Saraburi Thai House detail

Traditional Thai Style with Modern Convenience

Each suite in the Siam Wing is individually decorated with antiques and artifacts. The room layout and size is varied so there is no two rooms are alike. But each with ample space for everyone.

As soon as we walked into the room, we felt like we had stepped into the old Thai house with teakwood floor, wood panel, and antique table.

Thailand With Kids - Ndol Villas Saraburi Bed

Yet, there is the modern technology that makes the stay more enjoyable like the small fridge stocking with complimentary drinks and snacks, en-suite bathroom that almost as big as a hotel room in New York City, the marble built-in tub that can fit a couple who surely will enjoy a relaxing bath under the moonlight.

Thailand With Kids - Ndol Villas Saraburi Bath tub

Thai Hospitality at Its Best

And when it comes to service, it was EXCELLENT. As soon as we arrived, each guest was served with chilled fresh fruit drink and cold washcloth for refreshment.

After check-in, we were asked to choose from their selections of Ndol’s signature aromatic scents for toiletries that will be ready for us in our room. How is that for personalize service?

During our stay, the staff is knowledgeable and attentive but not in your face. Most of the time, we felt like we were the only people there. (It probably was because we were there before the grand opening)

Thailand With Kids - Ndol Villas Saraburi Lotus

Within the driving distance, there are various activities that a family can enjoy. Jed Sao Noi Waterfalls is popular among Thais for a fun day with family. Farm Chokchai is a big hit for kids to get the taste of the cowboys in Thailand. Khao Yai National Park is a great destination for nature explorers.

So if you plan a trip to Thailand and look for a quick weekend getaway from Bangkok, you might want to put Ndol Villas on your short list.

Family Tips:

  • Driving in Thailand can be a challenge, I would recommend to arrange a transportation with the hotel. They will be able to help you arrange the transportation from Bangkok with the private van.
  • Depend on the season that you travel, the stream can change from gently stream in summer to ranging red clay color in rainy season.
  • As typical in countryside, mosquitos and insects are common. The Thai house style will have many holes and gaps for them to sneak in so be prepared.
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Food in Bangkok: Khao Mun Gai (Hainanese Chicken Rice)

September 1, 2010 By 16 Comments

Thai Food Chicken and Rice - Khao Mun KaiOne of Mr. Rojo’s favorite Thai dish that he recently discovered right before we headed to Thailand for our summer trip is Khao Mun Gai (Hainanese Chicken Rice).

This Chinese origin dish is one of the main staple of Thai people. The chicken is boiled in the salted water and the rice is cooked from that chicken stock along with ginger and garlic. Then it will be served up with cucumber and green onion garnish with salted-bean sauce.

With it’s simplicity yet savory taste, no wonder you can find this dish in almost every corner in Thailand.

For the very popular restaurant, this dish might be the only dish they sell and yet there might not be any available seats in the restaurant during the rush lunch hour.

The Scene Behind a Great Dish

Thai Food Chicken and Rice - Khao Mun Kai Chicken on DisplayBe warned though that most of the time, THIS will be what you will see as well.

The row of cooked chicken hanging by the neck as the cook works efficiently to cut up the chicken. For most, it might seem too gruesome for a lunch scene but for many it’s an easy way to spot your favorite dish.

I don’t know if Mr. Rojo had seen this, would he still try Khao Mun Gai in the first place. But for now, his love for this dish is unwavering.

Check out other food from around the world at Wander Food Wednesday.

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Bangkok With Kids: Cheap and Family Friendly Eat in Bangkok

August 18, 2010 By 15 Comments

Bangkok With Kids - Siam Paragon Food NoodleFinding family friendly food to eat in Bangkok is relatively easy as there are many choices ranging from upscale Thai restaurant, familiar Western fast food chains to street stalls. Thailand is known as the land of smiles. But we are also known for an array of food choices that accessible 24/7.

However, when we first arrived in Thailand, it’s very advisable to be cautious at where you eat. As much as I want to chow down on the first street food I ran into, we had to ease ourselves slowly to the food scene in Bangkok.

Street food is definitely my favorite place to satisfy my Thai food craving BUT my family especially Miss J and Mr. Z were not quite ready for that type of adventure yet.

Safe and Great Food Options in Bangkok: Mall Food Court

The next best option is the shopping mall food court.

Well, before you scoff at the food court option because you think it’s the typical fast food chains similar to the United States then you might want to hold that thought.

The food court in most major shopping malls in Bangkok is huge and abundant with different types of food from Thai noodle dishes, rice dishes, fruit smoothies drinks, snacks and fresh fruits. Typically it will be either on the ground floor or the top floor of the mall. This is where you can get relatively cheap food without sacrifice the quality.

Our Family Pick: Siam Paragon Food Court

Bangkok With Kids - Siam Paragon Food Fish Tank

Our family favorite food court in Bangkok so far is the basement floor of Siam Paragon. With the convenient location at the center stop of Bangkok BTS and the home of Siam Ocean World, the Siam Paragon had become our regular stop for lunch and dinner.

The table top aquariums scattering all around the food court area are a great option for family with children. While I took my time deciding what to eat, Mr. Rojo and the kids could wait and enjoy spotting different fish in the tank.

The Training of Food Adventurer

Bangkok With Kids - Siam Paragon Food Thai NoodleFor kids who grew up in America with mac & cheese and spaghetti meatballs, eating in Thailand can be intimidating. But with a little bit of encouraging and compromising, they could have a great experience trying new food.

Bangkok With Kids - Siam Paragon Food Eat with ChopsticksI ordered Thai noodle soup with fishballs (Kuay Tiew Nam) without much of the veggie or garnish per Miss J’s instruction and it had become her new favorite dish.

My favorite dish? Too many to list but that day I settled for boat noodle soup (Kuay Tiew Ruea) and followed by seafood in red bean curd soup without noodle (Khao Lao Yen Ta Pho Talay).

Does this make you hungry for more food? Then check out other food post from around the world at Wander Food Wednesday.

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Perfect Kid Vacation in Saraburi, Thailand

August 13, 2010 By 1 Comment

Thailand With Kids - Khao Yai, SaraburiDuring our summer trip to Thailand, we have visited many places in the span of 3 weeks. However, one afternoon with no plan to do, no place to go just a float and family was what remains etched in the kids’ mind and reminds them how perfect their vacation in Thailand was.

We took a short trip outside Bangkok to Saraburi to stay at a newly opened boutique hotel which was once a Thai house that has been remodeled for a perfect getaway for a family.

I will write more about our visit to this lovely and unique stay soon.

To check out other travelers Photo Friday, head out to Delicious Baby.

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Bangkok With Kids: Family Friendly Stops along BTS Skytrain

August 9, 2010 By 2 Comments

Riding the BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System) is one of the activity that we did in Bangkok that Mr. Z is still talking about and asking about till now. I think we could do that all month long and he would think that it was the best day of his life.

Purchase A Day Pass

The cost to ride the BTS for adult and kids (taller than 100 cm) can range from 15 Baht to 40 Baht. We decided to purchase a day pass for 120 Baht (it costs around $3.75) and made it a BTS day. A day pass allows us to be able to hop on and hop off in any stop or ride the BTS as many times as we want in one day. It’s a perfect choice for us.

Here are family friendly things to do near BTS stops in Bangkok.

The Sukhumvit Line

Ekkamai Station (E7)

The planetarium and Science Museum: It’s only a few steps away from the Ekkamai station. The Science Museum has various hand-on and interactive exhibits for kids in this multi-levels building. Unfortunately, when we visited, they worked on updating several exhibits. I hope our next visit, there would be more exhibits that work!

Another worthy note here is that a lot of displays are in Thai so it might be more difficult to read and understand. But our kids were bouncing between exhibits they hardly paid attention to the words or descriptions.

Phrom Pong Station (E5)

The Emporium Jamboree Land: The Emporium shopping mall is one of the high end shopping mall in Bangkok. If you plan to travel on the budget then don’t even bother shop in there. You won’t find anything worth purchasing.

However, it’s a great stop to escape the heat with a little break for kids. The Jamboree land is very small comparing to other kid indoor play area in other malls but there are enough rides and activities for kids to last a couple hours. We enjoyed making craft and played in the bounce house.

You can stay at nearby family friendly hotels*:

Siam Center Station (CEN)

Siam Ocean World: The Paragon – Siam Ocean world is one of the top destination for family in Bangkok. This underground aquarium is surprisingly fun and has a lot to offer as a day trip in Bangkok. The price is not cheap by Thai standard but comparable to other tourist attractions around the world. We have visited the Siam Ocean World in the past and I have to say I was surprised that I still enjoyed it as much.

You can stay at nearby family friendly hotels*:

Mo Chit Station (N8)

Bangkok Butterfly and Insectarium: Located next to the famous Chatuchak Weekend market, this insects’ natural habitat provide a sanctuary for over 500 butterflies.

Silom Line

National Stadium Station (W1)

Bangkok Art and Cultural Center: As we have reveals the little hideaway on the basement level of BACC, this place is a great stop for a nice quiet break in the crazy day. The Kids library has a great selection of books with both English and Thai.

Sala Daeng Station (S2)

Lumphini park: A popular green space in the middle of the city. Lumphini park has many things to offer for families. You can enjoy a leisure walk in the morning and observe the locals work on their Tai Chi or enjoy a peddle boat in the lake.

You can stay at nearby family friendly hotels*:

*Note on hotel recommendation: I have never had to stay in the hotels so the list is based on the rating I found and the location that I think it’s convenient to the BTS station.

Have you done BTS day during your visit to Bangkok? Is there any fun stops I missed?

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Bangkok With Kids: Escape the Heat in Wat Pho (The Temple of The Reclining Budha)

July 30, 2010 By 19 Comments

There was no doubt in my mind that our trip to Thailand would be hot. It’s just inevitable.

During our day trip to Wat Pho was no different. The best thing we could do just prepare ourselves physically (hat – checked, fan – checked, breathable clothes – checked) and mentally.

Get Ready to Explore Wat Pho

So we marched into Wat Pho late morning with a game plan to beat the Bangkok heat. First we would replenish ourselves with cold water and yummy popsicles as often as we could. Forget about checking out the site and walking the whole temple. We would just have to pick and stick only to the main area.

The Reclining Budha (Phra Buddhasaiyas)

Our first stop after an ice cream break was to visit the Reclining Budha. With the measurement of 46 meters long and 15 meters high, the Golden Reclining Budha is one of the most visit sacred destination in Thailand.

Built during Rama III’s restoration of Wat Pho, the Reclining Budha is designed to illustrate the passing of the Buddha into nirvana. The feet and the eyes are engraved with mother-of-pearl decoration, and the feet also show the 108 auspicious characteristics of the true Buddha.

Calm, Cool and Coins

As we walked around to the other side of the Budha, the 108 bronze prayer bowls are lined along the wall as visitors put a coin to each one as they give merit and wish for good luck.

Don’t worry if you don’t have 108 coins handy in your pocket, there is a donation table that already setup a bowl of coins for you.

As we dropped one coin at a time to the bowl, I could feel the stillness and calm inside the building.

Thai Massage at the Original Thai Massage School

Along with being one of the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok, Wat Pho is also known for Thai traditional massage school. And that was my game plan number two. As much as I would love to walk around the grounds, I knew that my family was melting rather quickly. So we played a game of “Get in the Shade” as we made our way to the back of the temple for the Thai Traditional Massage area.

To my surprise, the upgrade from fan to A/C definitely provided us with much comfort and relief we looked for. The Wat Pho massage that I have seen in the past was done in the open area where fan was the only source of air flow. Now that they had upgraded to A/C, we couldn’t sign up fast enough for massage sessions for the whole family.

Yes, I mean the whole family as in Miss J and Mr. Z as well. I guess we could say their first Thai massage experience were truly from the origin.

Family Tips:

  • Dress in appropriate clothes as a temple is a place of worship.
  • To avoid the heat, the morning hours will provide some relief from hot Sun in mid-day.
  • To cover the grounds with kids might be too much in the heat. So plan to break it up to small area.
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Bangkok With Kids: A Quiet Escape In the Midst of Chaos

July 9, 2010 By 8 Comments


Bangkok is a city of crowd street and chaos and there is no way to sugar it up. Where ever you go, you will surely see a sea of people on the buses, in the mega malls or along the sidewalks.

So where could you find a quiet place to escape those craziness for a few hours?

Hidden on the ground floor of the fairly new Bangkok Art and Cultural Center right in the middle of the city is the Art Library with special children room – Kid’s Corner.

Central Location

The Bangkok Art and Cultural Center (BACC) is located just off the last station (National Stadium) on BTS Silom line across from both MBK and Siam Discovery Center, the famous shopping area in the heart of Bangkok.

The Bangkok Art and Cultural Center was opened in 2008 as the city center contemporary art center to connect artists and create new cultural resources for both public and private sectors.

When we first walked in, we were greeted by two giant astronaut-looking model with the height at at least 2 stories tall. Definitely a fun way to start our tour of this center with kids.

The center seemed to be very much ignored by most of the people in Bangkok because even on the busy day where we could see thousand of people walked by, the area was largely quiet and empty!

The Hidden Gem on the Lower Ground Floor

Walking around in the BACC didn’t take long if kids were young and didn’t fully appreciate the different types of art. BUT, heading down to the lower ground floor and kids will enjoy the Kid’s Corners in the Art Library.

Visitors could use the library free of charge. They just asked that you sign in at the guest book.

The Kid’s Corner was clean and spacious with bright color suitable for little ones. There are books lining along all 4 walls with several simple toys for the little ones.

The book selections are surprisingly good. I found several bilingual books with both Thai and English languages.

So if you are in the Siam Center shopping area and look for a place for a downtime, check out BACC library. Best of all, it’s free!

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Bangkok with Kids: Climbing the Golden Mount at Wat Saket

July 2, 2010 By 7 Comments


Visiting Bangkok with kids for many families mostly involve a stop at one of the mega mall in Siam Square like the Paragon, MBK or Siam Discovery and a tour of the temples and palace. But for us, we started our visit in Bangkok with shopping and then more shopping.

So after a few days it was about time my kids started to ask about temples, more specifically the Golden Temple (as they called). They had seen the Golden Mount (which is part of Wat Saket) from the distance when we went shopping at Bo Bae Plaza a few days earlier and it had been on their mind since.

The Golden Mount at Wat Saket Rajavaramahavihara

The Golden Mount was built in the 19th century during King Rama III and finished in the reign of King Rama IV. In Thailand, we called ‘The Golden Mountain’ but the Golden Mount is not a real hill but the result of soft ground that needed support structure.

The Unusual Place for Graveyard

What unusual about the Golden Mount is not only the history but also the graveyard that is part of the structure. Around the base of the Golden Mount along with trees and vines, there are various shines ranging in size from small with a picture to elaborate one with Budha statue. It was creepy and peaceful at the same time to walk up the 318 steps and looked at the resting place of many departed soul.

Based on the history, Wat Saket was used as a burial and cremation site which was not permitted inside the city wall during the 18th century. During the plague in the reign of King Rama II over 30,000 bodies were brought here.

The Journey to the Top

As much as I wanted to claim an expert badge in traveling, sometimes I went on and did some foolish thing that will disqualify me from such claim. One of those things was visiting and climbing the Golden Mount during mid-day in one of the hottest month in Thailand. That’s NOT advisable.

But sometimes, kids’ enthusiastic blinds your reasons. We took a Tuk Tuk from Wat Pho to Wat Saket. A ride that my kids will forever talk about. Arriving at the quiet temple in the afternoon, we found our way to the base of the stairway.

Without any hesitation, Miss J and Mr. Z climbed up the steps one by one as we ascend to the top of the Chedi. Luckily for me and Mr. Rojo, there are a few break in between for us to catch our breath. Even better, when there are a few distractions to slow Mr. Z down from running all the way to the top while we slowly making our way up. Ringing the bells along the wall of the Golden Mount was one of such distraction.

I would love the say the walk up is easy BUT it was hot and we were tired. So I would say prepare yourself for quite a work out as you walked those steps. The cool thing was that as we went up higher in elevation the view of Bangkok revealed. The steps are wrapped around the Golden Mount so we had a complete 360 degree view.

Once we were at the top, we rewarded ourselves with ice-cold popsicle. There is nothing better than an ice pop on top of the Golden Mount. By this time, Mr. Rojo almost passed out with heat exhaustion and questioned ourselves why did we let the kids talk us into going up in the first place. Well, all things considered it was a really great experience for them.

Family Tips:

  • Try to plan your visit in the evening or early morning to avoid the heat
  • There is a small shop at the top that sell drinks and ice pops. But the best thing to buy is chilled facial wipe. It will help cool you down and sure will help you beat the heat in Bangkok.
  • Wear comfortable shoes.

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