This city is a sensory overload. It has extreme everything. The weather is hot, sweaty and extremely smoggy. The city is large, crowded and full of poverty, but it has the gentlest, kindest people in Asia. The temples here are so ornate, so golden and in such good repair it’s impossible to concentrate on taking one picture at a time. Every time I turn my head to check if I can back up, I see an even nicer picture. There is a lot of beauty here.
We arrived early Thursday morning and took a Tuk-Tuk to our chosen hotel. It was a nice oasis on a canal about 100 meters off the street. Even before we saw the hotel, men were grabbing our luggage and helping us to the entrance. Before I had arranged a room both Joan and I were served a refreshing fruit drink. Throughout our stay we were impressed with the genuine smiles the staff always wore.
We immediately set off for our first temple. Within 2 blocks we had walked into the large demonstration of Red-Shirts who, the day before, had painted the government buildings with blood. This is when marriages break down. I thought the demonstrators looked harmless and Joan was not walking through the middle of a demonstration in Bangkok, Thailand. So we sort of, kind of, went around the demonstrators and riot police and I kept my camera out of sight. (The riot police were good at directions too). While we were there we kept encountering demonstrators. They were from the north and they seemed to be taking in all the sights of the city, just like us. They were always friendly.
We only had 2 days but we saw 5 temples in all. They all were beautiful, but the Grand Palace was just plain over the top. It was 5 acres of spires, gold leaf, jewels, tourists and workmen. I liked the workmen the best. They worked without any safety devices on 30-meter high roofs.
PS. from Joan –I think that our timing in Bangkok was good- we arrived after the first big demonstration and left before the second one was to occur. I got used to seeing the protesters around (eating, chatting, sleeping in the shade) but we did try to avoid the main street they were occupying.
The beauty of the temples in Bangkok was truly awesome.
2 comments:
Joan, Tim; It sounds fasinating. Can't wait to see all your photos. We had a little snow yesterday. Have you been keeping track of the Canadiens? They are tied in 5th place. Haven't had much coffee lately. Enjoy the rest of your visit. Sharon
Hello there:
I was taking my afternoon "union break" and decided to check out your blog. Amazing photos. Cannot get over the temple designs. The crystal tourquoise water at Phuket, Thailand in the snorkeling photo can almost make you feel the heat of the sun and warm breeze off the ocean. How can one not enjoy themselves!! Keep accumulating those memories.
Travel Safe.
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