DAY 1 : THAILAND : BANGKOK

Weather : humid, hot : 33o

On Sunday we flew from Lisbon to Madrid

and then to Bangkok.

 

We are staying with our friends the Wises,

who are living in the Australian Embassy

residence in central Bangkok.

 

The residence is a beautiful building designed

by the Melbourne architect, Ken Woolley.

 

It featured in the October edition of Elle

 Decoration magazine.

 

Breakfast on the terrace with Anita, who had

just flown in from New York.

 

Teresa is presently taking a full-

time Cordon Bleu course. No

doubt we will all benefit from this

when she returns home.

 

We planned a sight-seeing day.

First we took a tuk-tuk to the river.

 

 

Unexpectedly we didn't arrive at the ferry

terminal but the more expensive individual

tour! We are gradually discovering that

everyone is in collusion (in this case to our

benefit)!

 

The tour included a river and klong trip,

which we found fascinating. We enjoyed

seeing the klong communities in action.

Washing has been such a continual feature

of this holiday - here we have klong style!

 

 

Satays, anyone?

 

 

Some huge water monitors resting.

 

We stopped at the Wat Arun - a large

Buddhist temple complex.

 

Detail on wat exterior

 

Much of the tile work on the structure was

created from plates and porcelain.

 

Another temple adjoining the complex.

Notice the attractive tile work.

 

We visited Jim Thompson's House. He was

an American who re-invented theThai silk

industry in the 1950s. He was an architect

who created his own compound by combining

6 traditional teak houses, decorated them

with antiques from China, Burma and Thailand.

Since his death it has become a museum, shop

and show piece of Thai design.

www.jimthompsonhouse.com

 

The Jim Thompson restaurant has an extensive

 menu and delicious food and drinks. I had

a lychee,lime and mint drink - so refreshing.

 

Having been dumped by our tuk-tuk

driver  in the city (somewhere?) - we weren't

 interested  in investing in his friends'

businesses (buying shirts, souvenirs etc)

 - we  eventually found  the very efficient

and modern Skytrain.

 

We weren't brave enough to take the maverick

 motor bike taxis - they look like a Ninja brigade.

 

A twilight walk in Lumpini Park with all the

Thai fitness fanatics - tai-chi, zumba, runners,

walkers, weights etc. Music playing, lots of

activity.Suddenly the Thai anthem

 came on the  loudspeaker  everyone

 stood still for the duration and then carried

on with their exercise as if nothing had

intervened.

 

SIGNS FOR THE DAY

 

I think everyone would agree with this!

 

I thought this was an interesting stereotype

of teenagers!

Notice electrical wiring!

  

 

Loving the warmth, the chili, fresh fruit and vegetables, yet another culture ... and surviving the whims of tuk-tuk drivers!

 

 

 

M&M

17/11/2012

Our email : mm_smith@bigpond.net.au