Going East

Friday 22, Bangkok

01 Afghanistan

We arrive without hotel reservations and find that there is an Asian conference in the city. This would account for the problem trying to book over the inter net. The lady at the hotel desk at the airport is very helpful and finds space at a hotel close to our original choice and a little over half the price. What type of accommodation would we find?

The taxi ride is rather hectic as it is evening rush. The hotel is convenient and quite acceptable. We settle in and then take a walk along Silom Road dodging the street vendors. In the Silom Village we find an outdoor restaurant with an interesting menu and take seats. Shortly there after it spots with rain and we must move inside to avoid an evening shower. It soon clears and after finishing dinner, we continue our walk. The rain soon returns with a vengeance and we get soaked running back to the hotel.

02 Temple of Dawn

Saturday morning we walk to a pier and take the Bangkok River Ride to the Temple of Dawn and the Grand Palace. A visit to the Royal Barge Museum was not possible due to the high water that was flooding many of the piers.

In the afternoon we had our first experience on a tuk tuk and got taken for a ride. We were seeking the World Trade Center and the negotiated price appeared reasonable. After starting off on this covered motorized tricycle the driver suddenly stopped and said he take us somewhere to looking, looking, looking on the way to the WTC. Only 10 minutes and he get "petrol" coupon. Ok but we did not stay long enough at the first place (a tailors) so we looking, looking, looking for 10 minutes at the jewelers.

03 Temples (Various)

When we tried to get a tuk tuk back the price was 3 times as much but no looking, looking, looking!

Sunday and another tuk tuk driver persuades us take a canal trip. We have our own boat and driver (no English) but and interesting two and a half hour ride around the canal on the west river-bank. Again the "Floating Market" and the Snake Farm are kick-back stops for the driver.

04 The chef at the Thai Resturant.

05 The flooded boat docks.

06 Mavis has a Chinese Foot Massage

07 The Room Key.

08 Bangkok has Temples Everywhere!