A nice lie in this morning before a Burger King for lunch (I know, I know) Then a plan for the day. We are going to go and see the 4 faced Buddha. This is one of the most important shrines in Bangkok and it is supposed to be one of the busiest. Hilariously when I check on the map it's location, it is right where we were yesterday, in fact we walked right past it. Brilliant. Back in a taxi. So for the third day in a row we are back in the expensive part of town, awww well, it's better than the tourist part. So Miao wants to make a wish at the Buddha so I decide to do the same. Of course this means the purchase of gifts to be offered to the Buddha, and because there are 4 faces, this means 4 sets of gifts. We buy, 4 flower wreaths, 4 candles, 4 sets of gold paper and 12 sticks of incense, 3 for each side, then we make our way inside. This shrine is right on a busy street corner, surrounded be high rise buildings and with the sky train running over head, not really the place you would think to find such an important shrine.
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There are more than a few people here, busy busy. Every one is working their way around the Buddha making their offerings and wishes at each of the faces. There is also some traditional music and dancing off to the side. There is an entire work force here, clearing away the flowers and raking the incense pits every few minutes because there are so many people making offerings that there would be no room if it wasn't constantly being cleared. So, let my wish and offering is probably only going to last 10mins before one of these boys has it all raked away. Ha. The amount of incense in the air is phenomenal, my eyes are streaming and I am not even making my offerings yet. Due to how busy it is, we decide that Miao will go first and I will follow her and take 5 million photos, then afterwards I shall go and she shall take the photos for me. So first off you light all your incense sticks at one of the open flames then you work your way round each face, make your wish, bow 3 times then place 3 incense sticks in the sand pit, put a wreath over the railing and place a candle. It isn't long before the tears are streaming down Miao's face with the incense, I'm snapping away trying to avoid the people, but at the same time get good photos for her. It takes about 20mins for Miao to get around all the faces, not that the area is that big, but just it is so busy. After this she takes the gold paper, and places it on the posts that are surrounding the Buddha. Next up it's my turn, here we go! It isn't long before I have the tears streaming down the face too, but I manage to power on and get round each of the faces. I never usually make prayers of wishes at temples, but I suppose this is a good one to do with it being so significant.
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Miao has announced that she got the price wrong when we were looking at the designer gear yesterday and that the prices were indeed cheaper here. She wants to go back and have a look. Pah! Fine. She is like a woman possessed, ends up with a Gucci purse and some shoes. God knows how much she spent, at least £400, boom, just like that! Once I've had enough shopping it is off for dinner. We decide that pizza is the food of choice for this evening! I spotted a Little Italy restaurant on one of our many taxi rides about these parts, so we head there. Get a pizza and some risotto. Delicious. Back in a taxi and home. A few goodbye drinks nearby and I got to see my first act of violence in Asia. From what I can gather, a European couple were claiming that they had paid for their drinks and the bar guy was saying they hadn't. The girl is piping up shouting away, and saying they are not paying again. Then the bar guy throws ice over the girl an the pair turn and walk off. Next thing the bar guy picks up on of the plastic chairs and throws it at the back of the guys head and it smashes. He turns round and then just walks off. Miao asks me why they guy did nothing. I explain that in a foreign country it is not a good idea to get in to a fight, especially with a local. Who knows what might happen. I explain that I would do exactly the same thing. Though of it started getting heated I would probably just pay again. After this we head back home, early rise tomorrow.