Bangkok - Day 15

We are now on our last day in Bangkok.  Early this morning we headed for the Royal Palace and Temple.  It is huge!  Lots of temple buildings, all spectacularly adorned, many in gold leaf.  One pagoda is completely covered in gold leaf tiles imported from Italy.  This complex was built by Rama V in the late 19th century and is heavily influenced by his love of all things European.  We see this most directly when we leave the temple complex to enter the Palace section. 
The main palace was built in classical style complete with columns and large column-like windows.  After the building was completed Rama V realized it didn’t really “fit”  with the rest of the buildings so he had the roof removed and replaced with Thai-style roofs.  The result is a little startling.  Not sure it really makes the building “fit” any better.

Spent the afternoon relaxing and repacking for our trip to Vietnam tomorrow.  We had a farewell dinner on the river on another rice barge.  Fun time.  Our group has meshed very well and we have a good time together.  On to Phase 3 tomorrow.