Bangkok 2008

We arrived in Bangkok at about 11:00 PM local time. We'd been in the air for 17 hours or so not counting our layover, seen 5-6 movies, eaten 4 meals and slept a bunch of hours. After a short jetlagged sleep, we joined a guided tour of Bangkok. The tour ended at 1:00 PM more or less and we were hungry. We ate a light lunch at one of the hotel's 4 restaurants. In my experience, great hotels around the world are remarkably international. Although this photo could have been taken in most any great city on most any continent, it was in fact taken in Bangkok, Thailand. The food was international - cosmopolitan - comfortable. Even if your most exotic travel experience has been the Omaha Hilton, you would have, in fact, felt comfortable here. [Jim, this means you.] This lotus flower was on the table. Elegant!

We arrived in Bangkok at about 11:00 PM local time. We'd been in the air for 17 hours or so not counting our layover, seen 5-6 movies, eaten 4 meals and slept a bunch of hours. After a short jetlagged sleep, we joined a guided tour of Bangkok. The tour ended at 1:00 PM more or less and we were hungry. We ate a light lunch at one of the hotel's 4 restaurants. In my experience, great hotels around the world are remarkably international. Although this photo could have been taken in most any great city on most any continent, it was in fact taken in Bangkok, Thailand. The food was international - cosmopolitan - comfortable. Even if your most exotic travel experience has been the Omaha Hilton, you would have, in fact, felt comfortable here. [Jim, this means you.]

Our first evening in Bangkok, we asked about a restaurant we might enjoy, one that would leave our intestinal tract in good order, and one that would leave our bank account in good order. Answer: Harmonique - walk to the corner, turn right and down the main street past the post office, right at the next alley (alley, you say!!!) ... you can't miss it. With some trepidation (at least on my part) we followed these instructions, refusing to be seduced by false corners, refusing to be intimidated by dark streets, and uncertain as we approached the restaurant. The food was great, even if we had to choose it from a cheesy picture menu. It was cheap. And it was worth repeating the next night with two new friends! FYI: Dinner turned out great. The food was tasty and we could "fart with confidence" the next day, which was a good thing.

We stayed at the Royal Orchid, one of Sheraton's properties in Bangkok, and our "tour" departed from the hotel's wharf. The river is an incredibly busy working river with barges, long-tail boats and everything in between using it as a highway. While we were there, it had a lot of stuff floating in it, mostly tree branches and clumps of leaves. It looked muddy, but not especially dirty. Along the river was this large palace, one we never learned the name of, and didn’t visit.

Our first real destination of the day was the Grand Palace, seen here from near the entrance gate.

Once inside this place is impressive. The architecture is impressive. The golden finishes are impressive. The art works are impressive. Its cleanliness and good repair are impressive. Even the thunderheads which threatened rain were impressive.

Once inside this place is impressive. The architecture is impressive. The golden finishes are impressive. The art works are impressive. Its cleanliness and good repair are impressive.

Inside the palace near the main gate are these two gigantic statues. I like this picture all the more because of the Thai boy posing for his photo; his parents are just off screen to the right.

In front of one of the main temples, these two statues stand guard. They are covered in finely worked gold and semi-precious jewels. The detail is incredible.

In front of one of the main temples, these two statues stand guard. They are covered in finely worked gold and semi-precious jewels. The detail is incredible. Here you can get a better idea of the details.

Clearly you'd expect the architecture here to be different from a European Cathedral, say, or the onion domes in Russia, or the Moorish arches of morocco ... and it is. The rich colors and decoration are beautiful. I've never seen anything quite like it.

Clearly you'd expect the architecture here to be different from a European Cathedral, say, or the onion domes in Russia, or the Moorish arches of morocco ... and it is. The rich colors and decoration are beautiful. I've never seen anything quite like it.

One of the smaller towers was apparently supported by a collection of the life-sized figures. Clearly they weren't supporting the actual weight of the tower, but they gave the appearance they were.

Look at the detailed painting of the faces, all of which were hand painted and unique to the artist's whims.

Obviously, we like this place. Fun!

More of the gold wrought detailed exterior finishes.

Also scattered around the grounds were many life-sized statues of historic Thai figures. Made of stone, the carving was intricately detailed.

Also scattered around the grounds were many life-sized statues of historic Thai figures. Made of stone, the carving was intricately detailed.

Painted on the wall, under a covered walk way, near the main temple was an extensive fresco depicting scenes from Thai mythology. Unlike Italian frescos, these were partially gilded. Since they are routinely restored, they all appeared to be in mint condition. You might find these pictures worth zooming in on.

Painted on the wall, under a covered walk way, near the main temple was an extensive fresco depicting scenes from Thai mythology. Unlike Italian frescos, these were partially gilded. Since they are routinely restored, they all appeared to be in mint condition. You might find these pictures worth zooming in on.

Painted on the wall, under a covered walk way, near the main temple was an extensive fresco depicting scenes from Thai mythology. Unlike Italian frescos, these were partially gilded. Since they are routinely restored, they all appeared to be in mint condition. You might find these pictures worth zooming in on.

Our second major stop was the temple of the reclining Buddha. If you ever get the chance to see it, it's most impressive.

Our second major stop was the temple of the reclining Buddha. If you ever get the chance to see it, it's most impressive.

Our second major stop was the temple of the reclining Buddha. If you ever get the chance to see it, it's most impressive.

In the temple of the Reclining Buddha, there are some really neat inlaid mother-of-pearl images ... like this elephant, for example.

If memory serves, this is the Emerald Buddha. It was pretty dark in here so the picture isn't the best. And while the Buddha image is interesting, I found the decoration in the foreground to be more so.

If memory serves, this is the Emerald Buddha. It was pretty dark in here so the picture isn't the best. And while the Buddha image is interesting, I found the decoration in the foreground to be more so. There is so much here, my eye would flit from point to point, object to object, detail to detail.

The third thing we did was visit a Thai market. To get there we rode these tuk tuks. We were given the following guidance, "These seem more dangerous than they are, and the drivers like to show off for tourists. If you are tempted to scream, try not to! It will only incent the drivers to drive faster!" Maybe it's because I ride motorcycles, but I didn't find them to be that daunting. It was fun, in fact.

The third thing we did was visit a Thai market. To get there we rode these tuk tuks. We were given the following guidance, "These seem more dangerous than they are, and the drivers like to show off for tourists. If you are tempted to scream, try not to! It will only incent the drivers to drive faster!" Maybe it's because I ride motorcycles, but I didn't find them to be that daunting. It was fun, in fact. Here's a view from inside these two-passenger rattle traps.