First full day here in Bangkok. I was back in my room by 4:30 since jet lag hit me pretty hard. But I packed in a full day. Visited the Grand Palace where the first 8 kings lived from th 1700's until 1946. On the grounds is the very impressive Wat (temple) Phra Kaew. I can just imagine what the giant pagoda covered in gold leaf is worth. I hired a guide for an hour. He's an ex military captain, retired, supplementing his income. Nice fellow with lots of good historical information. The buddha here is a little emerald/jade fellow sitting way up in the rafters. He's been a spoil of war a few times apparently between Thailand and Laos.
Next was a boat tour down the river a little and then down into these little tributaries (canals?) I've never imagined anything like that. Houses built out over the water on crumbling stilts. The water was teaming with fish too, big ones near the surface feeding on scraps of bread that kids would throw into the stream.
Last I went to Wat Po. I enjoyed this one more than the first. In there is the famous "Reclining Buddha". He must be nearly as long as a soccer field and several stories high at the head. I guess this is meant to be him before death (before going to Nirvana). This Wat had only a fraction of the tourists too. Quiet and peaceful place really.
So far Bangkok is pretty much as I imagined. Road regulations mean nothing. Business licences seem not to exist. Anyone can sell anything to anyone anywhere anytime. I picked up a cocunut from a street vendor for about a dollar, and he stuck a straw in it for me. Lovely. I bought a beer from a woman in a boat on the river. I also had my first green curry. It is about the same as the Thai curries back home but just that little bit better. The weather is hot and humid but not intolerable. There are lots of Chinese and Russian tourists here. The Chinese just seem to hop in and out of giant tour buses at the tourist sites. I don't see them anywhere else.
Early night for me. Need sleep.
