Bangkok, Thailand
Monday– Thursday November 29– December 2, 2004
At sunrise this is what Bangkok looks like from the far bank of the Chao Phraya River.
Wat Phrah Kaew is on the grounds of the Grand Palace of the King. The famous Emerald Buddha is here. The buildings in this large temple were built beginning about 1785, when the capital was moved downstream to Bangkok from farther up the Chao Phraya River.
Click on the photograph to the left to see a photograph of the Emerald Buddha.
Wat Phrah Kaew has extensive decoration. Sunglasses are a must here.
Here is the entrance to Wat Arun. It is slightly upriver and across it from Wat Phrah Kaew.
Wat Arun features mosaic tiles. Very nice on a sunny day.
Wat Pho has a nice roof line. It is the biggest temple in Bangkok. There is a reclining golden Buddha here that is almost 140 feet long. Unfortunately, it is not an easy subject to photograph.
Here is a group of tuk tuks waiting for customers. These are the lowest cost type of taxi in Bangkok. Another form of transit are buses—those with air conditioning cost more than those without, an attractive option in a city where a high temperature of 90° F is common. Bangkok also has both an elevated “sky train” and a subway, and an extensive local and express ferry network on the river. There are tremendous traffic jams for those who want to drive a car. Bangkok is a bustling city, with activity everywhere, 24 hours a day.
Markets and food stalls on streets are all over Bangkok. Here is a nice selection of two local fruits, Dragon Fruit and Mangosteen.
This photograph shows chiles, a key component of Thai food.
There is a lot happening on the sidewalks and streets of Bangkok. Food stands are always close by. This one is typical, where the food is made to order.
The King’s birthday was coming up soon, and flowers being prepared for the celebration were sighted frequently. This photograph was taken in one of the large covered markets.
San Francisco to Bangkok via Tokyo is a distance of 7,000 nautical miles/12,900 kilometers.
We arrived in Bangkok at midnight after 19 hours of flying via Tokyo Narita. We will spend a few days looking at temples, markets and traffic and eating Thai food in a great city.
Next—the area around Angkor Wat, (Siem Reap) Cambodia.
