Bangkok

I just returned from a trip to Bangkok last week. Thailand is a very different experience from that of Ternegganu. Instead of chants in Muslim blasted from Mosques preaching conservative who knows what..... in Bangkok, one can hear the cocaphany of girls yelling "massage!" to passers by or taxi drivers offering a visit to the "ping-pong show." (Which, is not played with paddles.... I will say no more.) This city offers a very different side of the coin.
There is also an extremely high population of white folk. Travelers, ex-pats and the like all flock here. As a result the tourism and commercial industry are booming. Below is Khoasan Road, the mecca for tourism and commercialism in Bangkok.

However, it's not all sex and commerce. The people, the food, the hospitality, the architecture are very nice. There is a beautiful backdrop of Buddhist temples and ideals for those who seek them.

Below is The Royal Palace. It is very common to see a sign that reads "Long Live The King."



In addition to general sight seeing, I had the pleasure of getting reacquainted with an old friend, David Lawitts. He has been living in Thailand for three years completing a masters study. He also happens to be fluent in Thai, which was of great assistance getting around. Below is a dock where we waited to take a boat taxi to china town.

Below from left to right: David, Anna, Adam

This is The Temple of Dawn as seen from our boat on the river.

Finally, here is a picture of a Tuk Tuk. These are like tiny cabs you can find throughout the city. However, unlike real cabs that take you from point A to B, a Tuk Tuk will take you on a meandering journey making at least one stop at a massage parlor or tailor shop that commissions him to do do. If you are white, and have not been told this already, chances are you will find out for yourself.

They stake out tourists passing by and hope to catch their fish.

More to come.............