Bangkok has been so great so far. Pretty hot here, but you start to get used to it. They give you cool wash clothes before you eat. Today we bought some packaged and floating ice right next to the diet cokes. Fabulous. We have been touring. The Grand Palace is on all the lists to go see. So we set off to go see it. We took the water taxi to get there. Between us and the palace were tons of street vendors. They were selling everything including false teeth. People are cooking on the streets as well. I haven't recognized much of what I see, but it's fascinating to see these women throwing it all together like they are in a professional kitchen.
Steve started up a conversation with a college professor randomly as we're strolling. This man is a professor of Thai history. He has a list of activities for us to try. He draws all over our map and pulls over a "tuk tuk" for us, and next thing we know, we are on our way to see the "Happy Buddha." No tourists were there and it was a magical spot. He was huge and golden and yes, happy. He was not too happy and not too sad, he was in between. Balanced. Our driver was waiting for us and he points us in the direction of what turns out to be a cremation cemetery. This place is a monastery with all these different sections. So we step inside this garden area. There are statues of what seems to be past monks made out of gold and enclosed in a glass house. There are boxes that have names and pictures on them. There are small houses, they look a bit like doll houses, ornate and I assume they are holding a spot for a spirit of a monk, or they are there to receive a sort of honoring. Candles and pictures again. Best part is a pond filled with turtles. Turtles are up on the sides resting and sunning. They are floating along and swimming. They had their heads out with there necks extended as if they had no fear. Steve starts up a conversation with a man who used to be a monk. He tells us the turtle is a symbol of long life. He wants to know our itinerary as well and is very excited that we are going to the royal factory. Our tuk tuk driver takes us there. It is a lapidary and they make jewelery for the royal family and the professor tells us its a good bargain. Thailand is known for rubies (long life, long love) and blue sapphire(wealth and success). Next we journeyed back to the palace with a new driver compliments of the Royal Factory and a guide who needed practice with her English so it was a fair trade.
The Palace was extraordinary. As soon as we begin to enter the complex we are instructed to rent/borrow the proper clothing. Long pants, no sandals, no shoulders showing. ETC. Steve had shorts on . He was loaned long green pants. The palace is no longer used as a residence for the Royal family. It's purpose is for ceremonies now. We saw where the king's coronation ceremony takes place. The palace is home to the Emerald Buddha. It is made from jade and is only 23"high. But it is considered the most prominent likeness of Buddha in Thailand. We took off our shoes along with everyone else and followed people to a big copper urn with lotus blossoms next to it. Our guide Mini took one and dipped it in the water and tapped our heads three times. We entered and immediately I felt the spiritual energy of the space. The room was filled with people, all praying and sitting on their feet. The feet are the lowest part of a person so you keep them lowest. It was magnificent.
They had military guards marching throughout the complex in white uniforms. Pretty impressive.
They professor gave us a tip on finding good Thai food. He said to go to China town and buy it right off the street from the vendors. So we headed for China town. We were hungry and bought a shish kabob looking thing. Looked like chicken to me, I was psyched. I ate one and it was chicken tail. Steve liked them. I didn't think I'd be so squeamish about trying the food, but I have been. Oh well. Then we went to see the Lady Boy show at the Calypso in the Asia Hotel! They have beautiful "lady boys" in Bangkok!!!!!
