We walked over to the parade grounds which were gearing up for a big celebration that night. Fireworks batteries like this one were set up all over.

The main stage of the ceremony

After the parade grounds, Kim and I follwed the crowd to the Grand Palace and its associated Wat. The Thai architecture was dazzling.

Sun glare on the Wat

Angles on Wat

The temple of the Emerald Buddha, Thailand's most precious Buddhist artifact.

Guardians of the Wat

Gilded Guardians of the Wat

Towering Wat

Okay, yeah, the pants. Turns out that shorts aren't allowed in many sacred sites, including the Grand Palace. Of course, a kind woman outside the palace gates was standing by to rent me this fashionable pair for only 50 Bhat. I could have bought my own pair of ugly pants for about 40 Bhat, but I had no choice.