Looking back, I think it was meant to be, as we spent the most amazing time together. Setting up early in the morning, on a Grab motorbike, to meet her at the Independence Palace, under the scorching rays, heating my brain through the humid, hot air, I felt it was gonna be an epic day. It started off very epic too – Annika did not have data, so she texted me she would wait for me at the main gate where they sell tickets. Of course, when I arrived, I did not see her there and ended up running around the main fenced territory very epicly and very annoyed (for reference, the Independence Palace is HUGE, and includes several temples as well).

For the additional reference, it was on me. Annika was there, just hiding in the shaded corner, and I did not look around properly. We started off by paying the taxes for foreigners entrance fees (500 baht, by the way!), and went on to criticize the all paintings. I say criticize, because they were really weird, sometimes even disturbing. It also appeared that the Thai culture (and it was highly evident at the Independence Palace) somehow managed to combine elements of Greek mythology (faunes), German tales (mermaids), Orthodox elements (pictures of the saints), and Egyptian symbols (the Osiris eye), together. A cultural mish mash, together with other unknown creatures, demons, feminine men and masculine women, depicted different stories on the palace’s walls.

A separate paragraph is well deserved by the mini replica of Angkor Wat – really, really accurate replica. It was part of the elevated structure, together with highly rich-instructed columnar temple, and giant golden stupa. And yet again, columns were somewhat Greek – while the gems and colorful glass, with which those were instructed, looked absolutely Indian. I highly recommend visiting the Palace, it is one of a kind due to the unique architectural and landscape design, cultural heritage, and definitely worth every penny paid for the entrance. Here, here & here you can find the 360 vids of the Palace.

Afterwards we took another Grab to see Wat Paknam – a huge Buddha statue, which apparently showed us a huge middle finger, as we arrived just to see it all covered in construction nets. In the nearby building, they featured a small museum of Buddha statues, some fabric, and other attributes. Inside, they also built another stupa – but from what it seemed to be malachite, with a small Buddha figurine at the very top.

Not expecting to see Annika again, I walked through the night Bangkok back to my hotel. Imagine the smell of fried meat, spices, and flowers, all combining in a bouquet to hit your nose; the harmonious “zhhhhhh” of the bikes, and periodical honking of the cars. Streetlamps, light yellow color, and massage spas, with the doors widely open. That is what Bangkok at night is like.

I joined Annika at her hostel later than evening, where she showed me the clothes she got (and I helplessly attempted to cover the camera while she was changing). After my approval of the two out of three things she bought (denim vest and trousers), she showed me her rooftop. The roofs of the Independence Palace and Wat Arun silently watched us on our both last day in Thailand, drinking lemon vodka and sharing girl’s stories.