Began in Bangkok

The first two days we were in Bangkok.

I was over-whelmed by the noise, so many people, pollution, and prostitution.

It was a difficult place for me to be and gave me a new appreciation for my home

and where I lived.

On the first full day, we took a canal boat tour.

Even on the river people were trying to sell you things.

Several times our transportation would take us to jewelry stores instead of where we wanted to go.

They were trying to get us to shop as they got a cut of the sale.

It became very frustrating and we finally refused to get out of the taxi until they took us where we wanted to go.

Everywhere you looked there were Buddhas.

This is the reclining Buddha.

There were Reclining Buddhas, Emerald Buddhas, Smiling Buddhas,

Serious Buddhas, Fat Buddhas, and Skinny Buddhas.

We ended our first day by visiting the Jim Thompson home.

Here we had a lovely Thai meal and the home and grounds were like an oasis in the city.

Jim Thompson was an American that fell in love with Thailand early in the 1900's.

He developed their silk industry and even today is one of the best silks.

The second full day we spent visiting the Royal Palace.

The king of Thailand is very much beloved and his image was everywhere.

Part of the Royal Palace.

It was very opulent.

The grounds covered a large area.

The weather the full two weeks in Thailand were from 90 to 100 degrees with very high humidity.
This also created a challenge for me.

On this particular day at the end of the tour I was sitting and resting before we headed back to our hotel.
Two college students approached me and as a way of practicing their English they gave me a survey.
They were quite cute and it was fun to talk to them.

This ended our time in Bangkok and we were happy to move on.
Double click on any of the picture to see them larger.