Wat Phra Keaw

After writing how lazy I am yesterday. I got the sudden urge to actually go and do something so off I went to the river hopped on one of the ferries and took a ride out to Wat Phra Keaw and the Royal Palace.
This is an amazing collection of temples statues and royal regalia with more gold leaf then you would think possible. The temple holds special significance in Thailand as it contains the statue of the Emerald Buddha the protector of Thailand. The statue is actually quite small but it sits high atop one of the most ornate altars possible and there is a constant stream of people coming and going to seek it's blessing.
After a view hours I decided that the heat, it's around 37 degrees during the day, and the bling of the gold was getting a bit to much for me so I retreated to the shade of the nearby amulet market. Here all sorts of amulets are sold that bestow protective or magical powers on the wearer if that doesn't work I also saw some tiger teeth for sale and the skin of what could have been no more then a tiger cub.
As always the markets are an interesting sight, I'll probably go and have a look at a few more tomorrow.

Fishy photo

I have belatedly added a photo to the entry Fishy story. Check it out.

Lazy

I think that I have finally managed to achieve what I most admire in cats, the ability to sleep all day only to wake up occasionally for something to eat.
I have now been three days in Bangkok and have still ventured no further then about three blocks from the hotel. My routine is get up for breakfast between ten and eleven in the morning, do some window shopping until about one in the afternoon, have a siesta till three or four, have a snack and a beer somewhere, cruise the chaos of kohsan road and return to the hotel for a swim and maybe watch some tv before turning in for the night.
Maybe I'll go and do some sightseeing today.

Fishy Story

The backpackers ghetto of Koh San road is still home of the weird and the wonderful and although I have no inclination of having myself tattooed, pierced or have my hair extended, platted or colored I had little hesitation to try out the latest craze of having my feet massaged by fish!
The process is simple enough you sit on a bench along a peddling pool with your feet in the water and hundreds of little sucker fish will gather and feast themselves on the dead skin flakes and debris on your feet. The sensation is a weird sort of tickling and the screams of unsuspecting people is fun to watch.



Click on this link for a video of what it looks like.

Arrival in Bangkok

After a long and boring flight I arrived in Thailand and swapped the plane for a taxi that tried to be one. It still brings a grin to my face when we pass the large red 70 kilometer per hour signs at close to a 140. And it does make for a quick ride.
Bangkok is hot and muggy with a temperature in the mid thirties and humidity close enough too 100 % from time top time there is a thunderstorm to liven things up a bit as well.
Anyway I am looking forward to wandering around town tomorrow and see what is new.