Day Three - Thailand

Hi All you guys back at home. How is the weather there? Here it is still hot hot hot! We have had a lovely day wondering around Bangkok, seeing a little more than just the Khao San Rd.

After a breakfast of muesli, yogurt and papaya we took a trip along the river on the express boat which runs a regular service along the river. Much better than a bus service in a city whose roads are littered with stalls, tuktuks and taxis. The skill of the pilots of these boats is at least practiced. Darting diagonally across the river and sliding into pontoons looks so easy. I doubt it is.

Interesting how the Thai public are allowed to exercise their own common sense when it comes to matters of safety. I doubt these river buses would ever be able to run as efficiently were they to be introduced into cities in the UK. I haven’t seen a hi vis jacket since we’ve been here. The dustmen still ride on the back of dustcarts and the policemen have big sticks.

We jumped on the river ferry and went to see the Grand Palace today, where the King lives and the Holiest temple in the country

Having taken a 30pence on the ferry we took a short stroll to the Grand Palace, Bangkok residence of the King and ancient temple steeped in history. The king wasn’t in when we visited so we had to make do with tourists and schoolchildren. The Golden Temple was the highlight containing the Jade Buddha, visiting the temple in barefoot we knelt and soaked up the serenity whilst tourism blitzed around us. Though the architecture was spectacular I felt dazed by the detail in everything. As opulent as any large Catholic cathedral without any of the fear and morbidity.

We left the serenity of the grand Palace behind and returned to the kerfuffle of Bangkok traffic for yet more street food; wantons, chicken liver on a stick, squid on a stick, chicken on as stick. There is a definite pattern with Thai food ....sticks. Neil left the market clutching so many sticks it looked like he had been playing Kurplunk!

Pool, relief from the humidity then out for dinner and drop the laundry of ar Miss Laundry who was clearly happy to see us return. Dinner was uneventful.

Pool, relief from the humidity then out for dinner and drop the laundry of ar Miss Laundry who was clearly happy to see us return. Dinner was uneventful.