We got up early and had the driver take us down to a "port" on the Chao Phraya River (the river that runs through Bangkok). We took hired a long boat and sat VERY low in the water while traveling downstream.
This was our actual boat. As you can see, the river is nearly as clean as the Mississippi. Anyway, we took the boat down to the flower market, which my mother would love. Even I found it rather interesting--note that a bunch of these bright orchids is 35 baht, oh about $1. (Hopefully you can click on a photo to make it larger.)
After exploring the flower market, we hired a tuk-tuk which took (haha!) us to the Grand Palace. The Grand Palace was built by King Rama I in the 1700s. Each subsequent king has taken the official name Rama (we are currently on King Rama IX). The name is for the hero of the Ramayana, a particularly popular (and LONG) traditional story.
Our tuk-tuk. Please try and note the amazing sound system: He seriously bungee corded speakers to the roof.
The Grand Palace was really too much to try and take in--sooo many colors and sooo much decoration. No picture could ever do it justice, though of course I tried.
So longboat--> flowermarket--> tuk-tuk-->Grand Palace, and though the weather was much cooler and more breezy than usual, I was still completely worn out. When we got home, I took a nap.
To end, some pictures from last weekend, as promised. These are of Wat Po.
2 comments:
I can give you the comic book version of the Ramayana...though even it is longer than the one of Krishna that you read freshman year....but it's a great story...I have it on DVDs...it takes 60-something full DVD discs for the video version....fun stuff!
Wat-Po looks beautiful! and tuk-tuks remind me of rikshas...but nicer :)
Looks like you're having an awesome time, I'm a little jealous! I guess Galena has it's historical qualities as well :D
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