Canals and Coconut Smoothies

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Hey wat's up w/the negative press about Bangkok? Okay, I guess it's like strolling around a little corner of LA and saying "I love LA", but I had a great time today! First of all the air is gorgeous and clear - unlike up in Chiang Mai where it felt like we were smack dab in the middle of a forest fire in the smoke and the haze.

I had a restless sleep coz it was soooo hot in my room - the air con felt like warm, moist air was breathing on me all night - and I was alone! But this morning after finding coffee and a baguette, I got myself to the "boat taxi" stop - what a great thing! I was planning on just meandering down the river to the other Wat that I missed yesterday - Wat Arun - but I ran into a couple bargaining for a longboat to take them around some canals. I eavesdropped and ended up sharing this boat as we cruised thru this wonderful canal "street" with river life facing the water. Shakey shacks of tumble-down patched - together houses; kids jumping into the water (ummmm that would be nooo wayyy) people mending baskets, hanging out the wash - you get the idea.

We ended up at a very cool floating mkt (not the big,famous one, but rather a more local one right on this canal). The couple I was cruising with were from Kodiak, Alaska - nice intelligent folks. REally fortunate to run into them.

We ended up right at the Wat Arun after 2 hours on the canal and parted ways. Hot, sticky, hot, sunny - but not too much to handle. I had already drunk so much water and so much fresh squeezed OJ, I didn't think I could hold another drop - but you just sweat it out. Went back to my favorite juice guy (he had a beard and could have stepped off the ashram in Mendocino, but was Thai). As I sat there I chose a couple of fried bananas to munch on. A serene looking Thai - Chinese woman (turned out she was 78) suggested a shredded papaya salad like she was having. Perfect English. We struck up a nice little connection (remember I'm sitting on a plastic stool under an umbrella on the street). She took me by bus to China town - showed me a temple where monks were chanting, the incense burning, the people bowing. This was definetely not something I would have found on my own. I let her go on her way after she showed me how to get the bus back. Turns out she was a "correspondant" with a company and helped out with English.

I made my way back to my hotel about 5 pm. Ordered a big coconut smoothie at the little backpacker lobby and just sat for a while letting the swiveling steel fans blow air at me.

Decided to hang for a while in my room until about 7 pm - wanted a good Thai meal for my last night here and I got it. Coconut (again!) curry/chicken soupy thing with cilantro, lime, yellow peppers, sliced ginger root, stalky lemon grass and steamed rice. Fancy restaurant: price for dinner (including lime juice lemonade) $5.00 All the while Jack Johnson music going in the background of this tiny restaurant "Thousand Thank Yous".

Tomorrow, Bali!

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Comments

[Ricardo]

And Now, for somethng completely different
Glad you enjoyed Tailand and as I have said before your writing is great, I can see the old lady under the plastic umbrella talking with you. Your words are as a clear as your photos - which I really hope to see soon upon your return. What a great adventure. See boys, that's how its done right! Any idea when you arrive SFO?