Thailand: Bangkok – Wat Phra Kaew Temple & Grand Palace

Wat Phra Kaew Temple & Grand Palace is the number one attraction in Bangkok – massive hordes of tourists from all over the world line up to get in. And for a good reason – besides having a huge religious significance (the temple is know as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and holds a jade statue of him, and is the most important relic in Thailand), the complex of palaces and pagodas is just surreal. Gold, gold, and more gold everywhere, with carvings and statues and decorations everywhere and spiky Burmese-style pagoda dotting the ground. You nearly go blind from all the gold reflections. The Grand Palace has been the official residence of the kings for the last 200+ years. The entire compound is surrounded by white walls and multiple security check points to get in.