Bangkok Breeze Through

Though Bangkok will not make any 'top' list for the year, it has been an interesting enough place to spend a few days while getting acclimated to the fairly significant time-zone difference to SE Asia. 

The city is generally dingy and un-charming, but we've found a few highlights in our time on the ground: spending a few hours cruising around the local neighborhoods in a long-tail boat was a pretty nice way to just settle into our first morning here – the Grand Palace, though very busy with tourists, was just incredibly beautiful and intricate – cooking lessons at The Blue Elephant almost have me convinced that I could prepare a Thai meal for friends when I get home – and under $10 an hour for a body-bending Thai massage is something that I'd be thrilled to find stateside. We are on our last evening here before we depart for our (almost) two weeks in Myanmar, and I think I'll find one more budget massage and am looking forward to another fantastic dinner here with the folks & Kristin.

Quick layover in Tokyo to discover the Japanese have it dialed

Kasem Bridge just up river from our hotel is reminiscent of some recent designs in the states

Breaky at the beautiful and oasis of Praya Palazzo

Our very cool long-tail driver

Cruising the narrow canals in the boat

Stray dogs abound

Boats are definitely a main means of transport here

Quick visit at an orchid farm

A mini-long tail hauling both garbage & ass 

Some confused architecture here in Bangkok – LA meets Boston meets The East

Long boats lined up in the locks

An evening drink at The Dome

With magnificent downtown city views from 64 floors up

K & me up above Bangkok

An old building among the new is the location for our cooking class

Local Thai women making Thai iced coffee & tea at the market

Mom getting local with her Thai iced tea out of a plastic bag – a bag that will no doubt end up in the Phraya River

Good looking, inexpensive fruits at the local market

Mixed in with odd looking fruit

And crabs bound in reeds

This machine takes coconut meat, and distills down to coconut milk

Other tasty treats on street corners

Master chef teaching us the art of Thai cooking 

Kristin & mom prepping at their stations

Minced fish red curry getting wrapped up in a banana leaf for grilling

Me and mom showing off our new art

Super tasty wok fried pork

However beautiful my presentation is does not compare to the master

The meal I pulled together – may be repeated, may be the one and only time

Kristin in her rental shirt, ready to vist the Grand Palace

Early arrival and beautiful skies for our visit to the Grand Palace

Though a very touristy place, the grounds are also used for many government activities

Beautiful sculptures

And ornate decorations

Are everywhere

Many images repeated

Kristin became part of the tourist attraction when she settled in to draw

Endless beautiful Eastern art 

Silhouetted  buddha

Striking architecture under striking light