Bangkok

Bangkok Traffic:
Washroom queue at Grand Palace

Thai outboard

Every time a Thai has said anything to us about Bangko, the first thing he or she has mentioned is the traffic. Bangkok is famous for traffic tie-ups. Ajaan Rien used to teach at Thammasat University in Bangkok and he said he had to leave home at 4:30 in order to get to work by 8:30. That is why he moved to Chiang Mai. So when we were approaching Bangkok on Wednesday afternoon, we were expecting the worst, but in fact we made a quick passage to our first event – a boat cruise on Chao Phraya (Royal) river. We actually went up one of the canals that extend off the river. In some ways it was like Venice. The dwellings along the canal covered the whole range from elegant to slum, often next door to each other. I had an opportunity to observe close-up the Thai equivalent of an outboard motor in action. It actually looks like a truck engine mounted on gimbals at the stern of the boat with a very long shaft extending into the water with a prop on the end. Steering is done by swiveling the engine around, prop and all. They seem to maneuver quite handily but it must take some muscles to do it.

We went to a BBQ place for dinner, much like the one we had been to in Chiang Mai. This time I was an old pro and found the bacon right away.

Angkor Wat Model

At the Grand Palace

Our last day in Thailand began with a visit to the Grand Palace. Construction was begun by King Rama I in 1782 and the palace has been added to and modified many times since. It is used for many ceremonial occasions but the king does not live there any more. As we approached, we were struck by the large number of tour buses – there must have been hundreds of them. Ajaan Rien told us that by the time we arrived at 9:00 am they had already admitted 10,000 tourists. Kathleen had to wait 30 minutes in the line for the washroom and then literally had to elbow her way out when she was finished. Ajaan Rien kept saying there were too many Chinese tourists. Also it was very hot and humid so one had to maintain a sense of humour to enjoy the experience A number of our students were suffering from heat exhaustion and tourist shock by the time we left around 11:30. But the sites were indeed worth it. They included a large scale model of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, several throne rooms and many spectacular Chedis.

Elephant War
National Museum, Bangkok

After lunch we had a tour through the National Museum with many interesting dioramas of events from Thai history. For once they let is take pictures (no flash) so I have something to remember it by. Our last visit was to see the reclining Buddha. It is a huge statue of Buddha lying down apparently waiting to die.

And that concludes our time in Thailand - we are now on our way home after eight amazing weeks in Southeast Asia.

Posted in Bangkok airport.  We got here in 30 minutes so we have 3 hours to wait.  Bangkok traffic is unpredictable.