Bangkok for the Day

Today was not about the big sites, but rather seeing the city as if I was a resident. Metro, walking around the city to the malls or parks, and trying street vendor food. I know- what?? Street food. Well those of you that know me know that this was a farce. As I walked out of my hotel this S-10 was sitting out front with the "restuarant all'a truck bed", and I fully accepted that I will leave Bangkok without trying the truck/street food. Sorry for those of you who wanted a story about how a chicken foot was in my eggroll or that the chicken curry had a full head in it. Because these would have been the stories- I saw them on my walks today. (As I shiver about the things I saw today). For the high heat of the afternoon I went back to the hotel and tried to get a tan and relax a bit. The pool area was great- clean, nice loungers, but the pool was FRIGID! And it was a salt water pool, which was annoying because you have to shower before laying back down or you end up being sticky like when swimming in the ocean.

Metro system is great- quick, but cramped. Lots of people take the metro as traffic is horrendous in the city. The metro tracks are double decker in most of the downtown area- which means they are mammoth concrete structures. I was walking down the walkway and saw this perfect moment where the tracks show all the way up and the traffic below. As I snapped my photo there were 5 other people next to me snapping the view. I am a trend setter :-) - I saw this Monk sticker and was like "How is no one else taking a picture of this!!!" and then after I snapped the picture I noticed a real REAL Monk in the orange wraps sitting down the train starring at me! AH! Caught!!!! By a real monk!! What are the odds that the first time I see a Monk I'd be taking a ironic picture about him. So no, there will not be any pictures of me with a Monk on this trip. On a side note, can you imagine this sticker in Rome- but of a Cardinal, or a Nun, LOL, I would definetly be taking a picture of that sticker too.

Grand Palace Details

This green temple was the showstopper for me. The green and gold was so rich looking.

The "less shiney" doors picture was a different temple right when you walk in. It was decorated with mirrors- I don't know how that would have been done back back then, but now they are pretty dulled down, and not so reflective.

Bangkok Day 1 (continued)

The Grand Palace complex was stunning. Absolutely unreal. I had not read in advance anything about it, therefore was told I couldn't enter till I got pants (I had on shorts since it was 92 and muggy today), luckily the locals take advantage of this, and have these lightweight cotton pajama pant type pants that all the tourist were throwing on over their clothes. (On a funny side note- I saw a guy in the Bangkok airport wearing a pair of these- and I was like "omg- he is just a mess!" and now I have a pair of my own!" LOL). So when you see the one picture of me below, DO NOT by any means think I willingly bought these at a store, and said "yes- this is the most appropriate look for the day"- I have not gone Grey Gardens on you.

The level of minute detail on all the buildings was unlike anything I had ever seen. I took over 100 pictures just on the outsides of the buildings. When the light hits all the metallic chips, and jewels, it really shimmers. Many of the temples' had "windchime" like bells at the edges of the roofline, so the palace grounds have a nice musical chiming all day long. The entry to the palace was only 500BHT ($15) and was so worth it.

Bangkok Day1

Wow, what a day. I started with a walk around the hotel's neighborhood when it was still nice and quiet. I got a city map with the all the metro lines and away I went! My goal was to see the Grand Palace which is the biggest royal complex in the world- bigger than Versailles if you can believe that (or so they say). I could have taken a taxi, but wanted to experience the city so I took the metro which was super cheap- only $1.09 each way! I then had to take a water-taxi to the palace complex which took another 30 minutes but only cost $5.00 for an entire day pass up and down the river.