Friends, perhaps I’ve become disenamored of my titling protocols – Parts 1, 2, 3…? I don’t really mean Sea Change; I mean now I’m in South East Asia, specifically Bangkok, about to take another Intrepid tour: the Thailand & Laos Adventure.
And, just like I’ll never have a February 12th, I’ll never have a March 4th in 2024. Thus did I take a midnight flight from SFO to Taipei and onto Bangkok, where I had a pretty full March 5th. Beginnings: plane ride, cash exchange/phone SIM at airport, funky bits in Bangkok’s Chinatown, but first a couple of airport clips…
The nearby Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan (Golden Buddha) Temple, just from the outside unfortunately (closed for the day). Interesting anti-tattoo sign, etc. Some shots of the Chao Phraya River, and a pigeon…
The Talut Noi neighborhood, with tree shrines, some old buildings, auto parts, graffiti art, and alleyways…
More funky old alleyways with cats, art, shrines, patterns, odd juxtapositions, and random glimpses of Bangkok. Note the river side gathering. The last couple are proof that the rather dirty looking river can support life: Huge catfish came when I nice lady fed them some bread (check the clip!)…
Eventually, I came upon the amazing River City, a multi-story mall of galleries of art and antiques. It is a vast labyrinth of coolness, amazing objects, and interesting photo opportunities. What can you find…?
Go back and look at the last batch. Zoom in. Appreciate the artistry. There’s so much, it’s overwhelming. Christians have the madonna & child, Muslims their geometric designs, and here in Thailand, Buddhas are everywhere/everything…
Anywayz, more of the river where I had an OK dinner, the walk back, more street art, and a lovely dragon sculpture at my hotel made entirely of recycled materials. Hotel by TukTuk…!
That was just my first day after I got off the plane, but it’s enough. I write this having had another eventful day of site seeing, met my new tour group, and will see more of Bangkok tomorrow. In the late afternoon we will board an overnight train for Chiang Mai. Of course I’ll share when I can, but before that, go back and look again…