Whirlwind Travels part 3; Thailand

Nimon Hao

Day 1: Arriving in Bangkok
Thailand stinks... I don't mean this in a real derogatory way... it just has kind of a funk... and Bangkok has a ton of pollution.

The Temple of the Golden Buddha... A pretty clear marker for the entrance to China Tow

Temples are sprinkled throughout Bangkok, this one can be seen form my hotel room.

Here's one of the hundreds of piers that service tour boats.

For 200 baht (about $6) you get a bout tour that lasts for about 2 hours; you get to see some very interesting parts of Bangkok this way.

Thailand has a pretty mixed history with Western powers, here is a Spanish mission (now it's actually a fish market)

It was at this moment that I wondered why I had my computer in my backpack... pretty bright move...

All of the temples start with the word "Wat" which I think actually mean "temple" (duh) but I couldn't identify one temple form the next without help.

This old Thai fort was put in place to protect that original Palace of Siam (The original name of Thailand)

As you traveled further along the canal you start to see how the people of Bangkok live... In some cases, how they lived, there was plenty of evidence that not all of the canal side houses survive the water.

Some of the "houses" weren't originally houses as all.

Even the canal side temples have piers for more local traffic.

It's interesting to see just how smoothly some of the canal side buildings have easily expanded over into the actual canal.

Here is a sentiment I saw echoed across Bangkok, in many fashions and means.

The canal that I toured wasn't even a major thoroughfare, and there were quite a few smaller ones just for teh neighborhood boats.,

One of the stops on my tour was the World's most depressing and possibly neglectful "zoo" ever...I watched this crocodile (or possibly alligator) for fifteen minutes (including a few minutes where the "zoo keeper" prodded it with a stick... and I'm still not sure if it was alive or not.

I actually found my self rooting for the cobra...

This is the Wat Arun, one of the more famous temples in Bangkok... and it was closed to the public in preparation for the coming new year.

The final stop on my boat tour was actually right at the Wat Pho (the Reclining Buddha) a rather impressive compound.

The temple compound was filled with statues and pagodas

Lots of pagodas

It is nearly impossible to get a full photo of the Reclining Buddh

 

But now you've seen his head and fee, so...

And here's the Buddha's Backside...

The art that covers the walls of the actual Reclining Buddha's building is truly striking.

I'm sure that there is a story here, but I sure don't know what is is.

The Wat Phra Kaew Grand Palace at night.

This is Pantoon... a rather random guy who I'm pretty sure wanted to get as much money out of me as possible... But he had to pay for a meal first, and then I never saw him again.

Here is the bowling ally hallway of my hotel... extremely noisy...

Day 2: Rural Thailand
So I scheduled a tour trip to see parts of Thailand outside of Bangkok... some parts were better than others.

So, here is where they day started.  And we had to approach by boat, and I had my computer with me again...

Now, this Floating Market was an hour drive north of Bangkok, but the canals seemed very similar.

There was definitely much more "nature" to see

It's hard to see, but there used to be a house here... I guess technically it's still here, but it's a lot harder to live in now...

As we approach the market you start to see off shoots of the main thoroughfares.

It's fascinating to see how many of the stalls can only be reached by boat (at least for customers)

I assume that the stall owners can access these stalls from land, or that there is a boat "bus" or "taxi" system that helps them get there.

The actual market is interesting, but it has a serious tourist trap feel

There are even "restaurants" that float up and down the market, but as soon as I saw that many of these "cooks" used the river water in their cooking and cleaning, I decided to avoid this food.

This place is pretty busy even for a weekday.

The original floating markets were mostly a meeting place for farmers (to sell) and city dwellers (to buy) to exchange local foods.

Even here there are little shrines for everyone to pray at any time (probably to as for absolution after cheating the tourists)

After the Floating Market we stopped at traditional Thai carpentry showroom.

All of these decorations and pieces of furniture are handmade.

roar...

If I had enough money (and more class) I'd love to own one of these gorgeous wine and liquor cabinets

Next stop: the river Kwai (and no sign of William Holden or Alec Guinness)

Thai prisoners were the ones to build the first bridge... they probably didn't look like this...

The new Bridge Over The River Kwai

My buddy at the Bridge.  This 7 month old Tiger was definitely the highlight of the entire day (and yes I was concerned that the bottle was almost out of milk...)

Luckily this her response...whew.

Tiger Temple was our final stop of the day, really it was the main attraction.

ROAR!!!

The monks here have been operating a sort of wildlife preserve/Tiger sanctuary here for almost 500 years.

There are many different animals to see, and feed.

But in reality the Tigers are the only "domesticated" ones (not so much domesticated as tolerant of people)

We were specifically warned that the biggest danger to our health were the water buffalo.

And they really know how to stare a person down.

In fact, many of the animals here didn't seem very happy to see any of us.

This is truely a temple... and nothing says "temple" like a 60 in flat screen TV...

Day 3: Around the City
No real plan for the day... time to wonder the streets... see what I might see...

As you have probably noticed, I like to wonder the city streets and see what I can see.

The Thai are a very religiously conscious people, so much so that you can even find small shrines in trees and on the side of roads.

Nothing quite like toast with yellow stuff and some white sauce... actually is was quite tasty.

Awww... another relaxing city park. Wait... What the heck is that in the bottom right hand corner...

oh... it's just a giant lizard... ten feet away... hanging out... cool...

Everyone seems to find this park pretty relaxing...

except for maybe this guy... there is no way that this guy is relaxed... you can't possibly relax like that.

Now a relaxing swim, I can see how that might appeal to some (not me, but the lizard population of this park sure seem to like it)

And of course Tai Chi... who doesn't find that relaxing?

The Thai know their place in Asia... They are a commercial center for all of their neighbors.

And the way that they entice customers to shop in their specific mall or shopping center is usually very attractive.

Don't forget that the year of the rabbit is just around the corner.

The architecture of simple malls is also entertaining.

Who doesn't want to walk on an illuminated blue sidewalk... OK who even bothers to think about it...

and of course there's all the dancing otters and stingrays and sharks and... maybe mermaids...

Year of the odd shaped rabbit... and is that a Peanuts style Thelma?

Poor Mayor McCheese... From powerful mayor to lowly Thai tourist guide.

Smile all you want, but I still don't trust this guy.

Now this guy bear thing, he seems trust worthy, just look at those shoes

Yakaniku beef and buns made of steamed pressed rice... a very odd way to make a sandwich, tasty but weird.

Gotta get around Bangkok?  Can't find the Metro or the Skytrain? Don't want the safety of a cab? Than try a Tuk Tuk! what could be more thrilling than riding on the back of a supped-up vespa driven by a guy who failed to become a taxi driver... thrilling...

Golden Mountain.  The very top of Golden Mountain.  After a ton of stairs.

The Giant Swing... Their name for it, not mine... I was thinking "Really Large Gate"

Even the local population of marble horses enjoy viewing the many temples across Bangkok.

Most temples actually have many different shrines, that have many different purposes.

I have no idea what this guys purpose is, but I bet it's nefarious...

Each meditating Buddha represents a different abbot of the temple... Some were apparently more revered than others.

Yet another picture of the King... this time connected with a parking garage... very royal.

The street art is quite impressive here.  I wonder how they got the frog AND the fish to stand still for so long...

Yet another Pagoda, the detail on many of these is really quite impressive.

Very beautiful detail.

An odd mix... Irish Mexican Food... an odd and rather poorly done mix...

Day 4: Chatuchak Weekend Market
     Before you start examining the pictures from the market, let me set the stage.  Close your eyes.  Open your eyes, you can't read my description with closed eyes... Picture the largest flea market you've been to (if you haven't been to any flea markets, well... you're missing out), now add a dash of Barter Town (before Blaster Master left), and a big helping of methamphetamine. That's the Chatuchak Weekend Market.

As you enter the market the only sign of it's size is teh sheer number of people moving in the same directions as you, other wise it looks like any street market in Bangkok.

But the crowded walkways between the stalls  start to highlight just some of the differences.

You can actually buy just about anything here.

What says poor decision making ability like getting a tattoo at the same place you buy your sheets, handcuffs, papaya, and picture frames...

I wonder if these are directly endorsed by the Boy Scouts of America...

It's ridiculously easy to get lost in this place.

For the first time I see the true appeal of shopping... Just make it a full contact sport...

There isn't so much a food court here but an entire neighborhood dedicated to street food.

"Who Runs Barter Town?"

Wall-E!

It's not a complete trip to the street market if you don't see a dozen different street performers of all ages.

See... They sell everything.  Where else can you buy the latest Tom Clancy novel and an oil painting of Frida Kahlo?

These kids are performing to earn money for school... I'm not sure if the guy is supervising or just practicing his scowl, but either way he's doing a great job...

More support for my general dislike of clowns...

So i wondered what happened to the shoes that disappear from temples across Bangkok, well you can buy them back for a mere 199 baht (about $6)... a reasonable price to get your kicks back... if you find them.

This market becomes the economic center of Northern Bangkok, Taxi's and Shuttle buses line the road waiting for their next fair.

Never a bad way to end a day...

Day 5:The last day
Time to wrap up my trip, one more day.  Who knows what today might bring.

I'm not really sure how old this Mars bar was.  I mean, I can't think of the last time I even saw one... So long I couldn't even remember what was in it.  It was tasty.

 

Democracy Monument... With a single protester.  Democracy in action.

The day time street markets are very interesting to walk through, but very little of any quality is offered.

Here is the entire royal family.  I'm not sure if these are always up, but they are definitely everywhere.

Here is the road I need to cross in order to get to the train station... way worse than Frogger.

Who knocked over the giant trashcan? It's gonna take hours to pick this up...

I just wasn't brave enough to walk through this gate... you just never know when he might stop yawning...

The statues and displays are really quite interesting, and they are everywhere.

Even in this very polluted city, nature finds a way to thrive.

My final Thai sunset... don;t get all weepy on me now!

How do I not order this!?! Half a pineapple filled with... stuff... rice and .... surprisingly little pineapple

It was clearly horrible...

Well hopefully you enjoyed my vacation, I sure did.  And to think, I only have 17 days till classes start up again... yeah, 17 days... what a shame... My next post will hopefully highlight Spring Festival and the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Zaijian