March 26
After sailing thru the Gulf of Thailand, we arrived in Laem Chabang, Thailand at 7:00 a.m. It was very hot and humid already. We left the ship at 8:00 as we were taking the ship’s transportation to Bangkok. It took us 2 hours to get to the city center of Bangkok where we were dropped off at the Asia Hotel on Phyathai Road. The tour escort spoke good English and helped us with directions to the Grand Palace which she said is the most important thing to see in Bangkok. She recommended that we take the Sky Train to the Chao Phraya River and take a boat to Wat Po temple exit. This exit is where the160 foot reclining Buddha resides and is also known as the birthplace of the Thai Massage.
We found our way to the Sky Rail and already we were sweating. The temperature was 96 degrees but the humidity most have been 200%. On the way we passed the Bangkok Google Office.
Once we figured out to purchase a ticket we proceeded to find the correct train. In doing so I got confused, the heat was draining me. We ended up following a sign that we shouldn’t have and ended up walking through the exit so we had to pay again to get the train. Good thing the ticket only cost 35 cents in US money. We got off at the right exit, and now had to find the express boat. After getting through the people trying to sell us tours we found the express river boat which we boarded. Off we went down the Chao Phraya River, the views from the river boat were amazing. Hotels, Restaurants and Temples everywhere. We cruised by the Wat Arun temple, Wat Muang Kae temple, under the Phra Pok Kiao bridge, along China Town, past the Peninsula Hotel and then got off at the Wat Po Temple. The city of Bangkok has over 400 temples (and 12 million people to fill them.)
We walked through the grounds of the Temple then headed for the Grand Palace grounds. At one entrance a Thai person told us that the grounds entrance was closed until 2:00 as the Monks were having a celebration and wanted to take us somewhere for lunch. We were warned of this practice and continued walking. We walked another 1/4 mile and finally found the entrance. Here again Thai people tried to sell you a ticket and a tour. We walked to the ticket office and finally entered the grounds. The first reaction was WOW! I never saw so many old building with gold everywhere. Just unbelievable, it should be added to your bucket list. We then entered the The Royal Monastery of the Emerald Buddha, we had to remove our shoes before entering. Also Betty and I had to wear long pants, which not helping with the hot humid weather. The inside was beautiful with gold everywhere. While inside you must not point your feet toward the Buddha, we opted not to try and sit on the floor, we might have never got back up. You also could not take any pictures. (The guide on the bus said that if you didn’t visit the temple grounds you truly did not visit Bangkok. We now understood what she meant. Neither words or pictures can describe the beauty. There was so much to look at that it was over-whelming.)
Luckily our shoes were still outside the Monastery. We then entered several other buildings, in the Galleries the walls were painted with scenes from the Ramakien which tells the story of the Buddha. Below is the painting called Phra Wiharn Yod.
You could spend many hours here although 2 hours were enough for us due to the heat. We had a hard time trying to find a exit, found a couple but only Thai people could use them. After awhile we located an exit to the street. I hailed a cab as we could not have walked much farther. Of course the cab driver did not know where the Asia Hotel was so I showed him the map and a card the tour guide gave us. He still was not sure. The traffic was terrible and he rear ended another cab, but no damage was done. After 45 minutes we were at the hotel. The cab ride cost 89 Bhats which is $2.90 US. I tipped him 50% of the fare and he gave me a very deep bow with palms together put close to his chest. (That is the highest form of praise in Thailand.) How can you make any money at those rates. Many drivers will not set the meter, I can see why. But we were warned to get out of the cab if they refused. We wanted to go to the MBK shopping mall where they sell original high-end items but also fakes of the same thing. But we would have had to walk and decided we didn’t need to shop. Instead we went to the restaurant in the Asia Hotel called The Trivoli for a Thai lunch. Betty had Egg Noodles with Chicken and Banboo and I had Fried Egg Noodles with Shrimp and Chilli Sauce. Both were excellent but not spicy enough, we forgot to tell them to make it spicy, they do not serve it that way to Americans. I enjoyed 3 beers with my meal as I was very dehydrated, a local beer “Singha” made in Bangkok. After lunch we still had a 45 minute wait for the bus so we shopped around the hotel and bought a few items. The quality of merchandise in Thailand seemed much better than China, and prices were very reasonable.
The bus ride back took a little over 3 hours and once on board we went up for a hamburger and something to drink. Just a habit that we must eat. Then it was off to the room for showers and a movie, The Lincoln Lawyer. (On the first segment of the trip I joined the Book Club and our first book was the Lincoln Lawyer. The second segment started and the book was The Lincoln Lawyer. The third segment, the book was The Lincoln Lawyer. Sensing a trend here, I decided to spend my time elsewhere.)
Tonight we are sailing back through the Gulf of Thailand on a southerly course as we make our way to Singapore which is the end of the 3rd part of this world odyssey. A lot of people are leaving the ship and we will pick up new passengers for the last part of our trip.
