February 18, 2019 - Bangkok, Thailand - Monday, Day 43

February 18, 2019 - Bangkok, Thailand - Monday, Day 43

After our early rising and breakfast, we went to the theater,  our meeting point for the overnight tour departure. We were not called for the face to passport inspection until 7:20. We were at the mercy of the local officials. On the way to that clearance the Hotel Director met us at the gangway and thanked us for the letter as well. That went smoothly and we were on the bus and leaving a 8:50. That was just 5 minutes later than scheduled. 

There were 27 of us on the bus. 6 were on the Gold overnight. They paid a premium for upscaled rooms, dinner and entertainment. Otherwise we were all touring the sights as one group. Alice and I opted to save the $150 premium each and go with the silver package.

We had a 2 hour plus ride into Bangkok. The city sprawls for 20 miles and the traffic is very slow despite efforts to encourage mass transit. One interesting feature is a separate 2 lane roadway for motor bike that parallels the highway. That is a big assist to the flow.

On our way out of the port we passed several large lots full of thousands of new cars awaiting Roll On Roll Off ships for loading. The largest industry in Thailand is vehicle assembly. I never would have guessed. 

We also passed a large used truck lot. Many gf these trucks were covered in dust. None were shiny. Sylvie, our guide, explained that this is where river boatmen come to by machines for their boats. Machines are engines. They buy them out of the trucks and modify them to use as motors for the long tail boats that operate on the river throughout 

Bangkok. We would better understand this later.

After driving past the old flower market, our first stop was a visit to Temple Wat Pho, the temple of the reclining Buddha. This gold leaf Buddha is 130 feet long and 45 feet high. It is beautiful. The temple enclosing it is respectfully large and impressive. The workmanship is pretty incredible. The grounds include many out buildings as well.

As we drove to the Grand Palace, Sylvie explained that this visit had to be moved to today from tomorrow because tomorrow is a holiday in celebration of the full moon. The Palace would be closed. As a result the grounds were mobbed today. Sylvie very efficiently moved us around and through the tWat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. This Buddha guards the sovereignty of the Kingdom.

The Emerald Buddha sits high atop a golden throne. Murals, golden spires and fantastic architectural designs pay homage to this Buddha.  My hope is that the photos I am including can somehow convey the magnificence of the structures here. The effort and expense that past generations  have poured into honoring their gods and their kings demonstrates extraordinary dedication. The Palace is no longer the King’s residence, but serves for hosting royal ceremonies and welcoming visiting dignitaries.

Next we drove through Chinatown on our way to the river. There we boarded a boat to be ferried up and across this busy river. Restaurants, hotels and malls line both sides of the river. Large numbers of boats of varying serve as  ferries sightseeing boats. It is hard to imagine how the Chicago River could support this level of activity.

We were served an excellent lunch in a very nice restaurant with excellent views of the river. The menu consisted of all local dishes. Sylvie warned that the green curry chicken dish would be spicy. Hah, she must think we are wimps. I found it to be very good but rather mild. Vegetable and fish dishes were all tasty. Everything was served family style in abundance. While Alice and I enjoyed the meal we thought of Bangkok Cafe in Arlington Heights where we often dine It is owned by 5 Thai sisters. They have introduced us to Thai food in an authentic way.

After lunch we boarded a boat to cross the river and meet our bus. After a drive past the old and new downtowns, we arrived at the Royal Orchid Sheraton. Checkin proceeded slowly. We do not know why. When we got to our room on the 14th floor we were amazed. We looked out over the river and the skyline. We just stood and gawked a while before freshening up and changing for dinner.

We met Sylvie in the lobby for dinner. She led us out to the river where we boarded another ferry for the ride across to an upscale restaurant. Here we were served a 7 course meal accompanied by traditional music and with a dance program added between courses. Everything was excellent. When desert came it was accompanied by a wooden case like a cupboard with clear door. On several shelves were small sweets. Each one was different in texture and taste. This complemented the ice cream we were served.

At 9:30 we were ferried back to the hotel. Alice and I crossed a skybridge into the adjoining River City Mall just before it closed at 10:00. This was a small mall with a variety of shops primarily featuring shoes and clothes. Back in our room we turned off the lights and just watched the river below us for a while. Traffic was slowing down as the hour was late, but the lights and activity proved a fitting end to a wondrous day.

What will tomorrow bring.