Come on, Laura. Can't you walk a bit faster? Our bus leaves two
minutes.
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Hang on a sec. That's my phone. I've got a text.
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Don't read it now!
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But it might be important. Oh! It's from Robert in Kenya.
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Can't you read it on the bus?
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He wants us to send him information about schools in the UK.
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You can email him later.
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Yes, and I can tell him about our school.
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Good idea. Send him some photos, too.
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He says he needs the information by the twenty-fifth. When's the
twenty-fifth?
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It's next Tuesday I think.
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He says do we know there's a solar eclipse in Nairobi next week.
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He needs to tell the Science team about that, not us.
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It's interesting though.
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When is our next team meeting, by the way?
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I think it's on Saturday afternoon. I'll check when we get on the
bus.
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If we ever manage to catch the bus. Come on!
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Listen 5 times
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Conversation 2
What's your school like, Ross?
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My school! Well, it's pretty big. There are about 1500 students.
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Wow, that is big.
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It's a new school. It was built three years ago. So, it's very
modern and it's got great facilities. And we've got fantastic
grounds too, where we can do sport, football in the winter and
athletics in the summer.
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Sports not really my thing. What are the classrooms like?
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Ohh, brilliant! They're bright and comfortable and we've got all
the latest technology, computers and so on.
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It sounds amazing, much more up-to-date than my school.
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It's great. We've got a huge sports hall where we do gymnastics
and basketball, and there's another big hall, too, with a stage
where we put on plays.
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Ohh, you're so lucky! I love acting. I wish we had a hall with the
stage.
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Let's see what else can I tell you? We've got some great science
labs with all the latest equipment.
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Do you have lunch at school? Have you got a canteen?
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Well, we have got a canteen. But it feels more like a proper
restaurant, really. And the food's out of this world.
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You're making me jealous. Your school sounds perfect. It sounds so
much better than mine. I bet your school uniform is amazing too.
Something really fashionable.
Visitors from all around the world are truly amazed by the beauty
and magnificence of the richly decorated buildings of the Grand
Palace.
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"Stunning", "Dazzling", "Like a dream", "It's must!" Comments like
these appear repeatedly in online reviews written by visitors from
every continent.
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The palace is one of the sights in Bangkok that every tourist
should see.
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If you only have a little time in the city, make it your first
destination.
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Facts about the palace
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The Grand Palace stands majestically in the east bank of the Chao
Phraya river.
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It is a complex of many buildings and the whole site measures more
than 218,400sq m.
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It is surrounded by a protective wall which is 1,900m long.
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There are three parts to the palace complex: the Outer Court, the
Central Court and the Inner Court.
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History
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The Grand Palace was built by King Rama I in 1782.
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At first it was a group of traditional wooden buildings which the
king used for his residence and his administration offices.
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More buildings have been added gradually over the centuries.
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The Grand Palace is no longer the permanent home of the kings of
Thailand but many builings are used for government offices, or for
important occasions and ceremonies.
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The palace remains uniquely important to people of thailand.
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Architecture
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Golden towers and colourful, steep roofs rise impressively above
the palace walls.
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Architectural styles include Thai, with other features from China,
Cambodia and Europe.
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King Rama I encouraged Thai culture and literature.
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He told his architects to decorate his palace walls Iavishly with
scenes from the Thai story, the Ramakien.
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These remarkable murals can be seen on some of the oldest
buildings in the Outer Court of the palace.
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Statues representing legendary crestures stand fiercely on guard
at entrances and adorn facades, terraces and staircases.
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Important building in the palace complex
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This building in the Central Court was first a royal residence.
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Now it is used for royal ceremonies.
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This building was a royal residence for nearly fifty years and
foreign guests were received here.
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Now it is a great hall for state occasions.
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This is one of the oldest buildings in the palace complex and is
built in an ancient architectural style.
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This building has eight towers, each one a different colour with
its own special meaning.
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There are many other buildings to see in the Outer Court and
Central Court including libraries and galleries, with murals
showing historic events and battles.
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In the past, the Inner Court was the residence of the queen, the
royal children and their servants.
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It is not possible to visit this part of the palace.
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The Grand Palace is open every day, 8.30-15.3.
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Tips from International Visitors
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Go by boat
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"The river boat express stops a short walk away. You get a great
view of the palace from the river." Isabella, Argentina
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Wear the right clothes
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"Shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed. If you don't have the
right clothes, there is a place where you can hire them for your
visit but it's better to have your own." Shirin, Sri Lanka
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Take...
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"an umbrella. It will either pour with rain or the sun will burn
you, so you'll need it whenever you go." Kiera, UK
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"plenty of water drink. You'll be walking a lot and you'll get
very hot." Mai Ling, China
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Ignore the tricksters
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"They wait around for tourists and try to take them to some other
place. They want your money! Walk on and don't stop." David,
Scotland
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"A friendly man told us that the Grand Palace was closed. He said
that he would take us to a palace that was open. He took us there,
but afterwards he wanted us to buy expensive Jewels from his
friend's shop. Later. we found out that the jewels were fake and
the Grand Palace wasn't closed at all!" Dan, Canada
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Don't forget
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"Your ticket also admits you to the Vimanmek Mansion Museum which
is near the Grand Palace. It's worth a visit." Tracey, USA
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1982 was the 200th year of Bangkok and the Mansion, built by King
Rama V as a residence, was repaired. It is now a museum.
