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Published: April 15th 2008
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Our first side trip from Singapore was to visit Bangkok. We were met at the airport by our driver Mr. Boonya and our first stop was at the Grand Palace. The Grand Palace covers an area of about 60 acres. The palace compound can be divided into three sections: the Outer Palace, the Middle Palace, and the Inner Palace. The Outer Palace includes the Royal Temple (Wat Phra Kaeo) and some administrative offices. Wat Phra Kaeo has no resident monks but it is one of the richest artistic sites in Thailand. It houses the Emerald Buddha -- a Buddha carved in jade. The Inner Palace, built in a Western style in 1903, serves as the home of the current king. The nearby Borom Phiman Mansion is a Royal Guest House. We were not able to tour the guest house because the Kings brother died and was in state. We did a self tour and enjoyed the sights and sounds without knowing the details of what we were seeing. It is really hard to comprehend the time and talent that went into creating the things we saw. There were so many sights that it is really hard to decide which pictures to
include.
After leaving the Grand Palace, we headed to the Jim Thompson House and lunch. Jim Thompson was an American businessman who helped revitalize Thailand's silk and textile industry in the 1950s and 1960s. A former U.S. military intelligence officer who once worked for the Office of Strategic Services he returned to Thailand after the war and made it his home. A civilian once more, Thompson devoted himself to revitalizing a cottage industry of hand-woven silk, which had for centuries been a household craft in Thailand but was dying out. Thompson located a group of Muslim (Cham) weavers in the Bangkok neighborhood of Bankrua and provided hitherto unavailable color-fast dyes, standardized looms, and technical assistance to those interested in weaving on a piece-work basis. He is credited with inventing the bright jewel tones and dramatic color combinations nowadays associated with Thai silk.
After leaving the Jim Thompson house, it was time to check in to our accommodation's for our stay. Rather than staying at a fancy hotel, our granddaughter booked us into a new Bed and Breakfast that was opened by a travel adviser she had used. As we drove through the area I had real reservations that
we had made a good decision. The criteria for measurement in my western mind was Singapore with its wide, clean and organized streets. What I was seeing was narrow and crowded streets that, while not dirty, were cluttered with motor bikes in various stages of disrepair. The ground floor of most buildings had been converted into repair shops, what appeared to be factories, markets, and I am not sure what else. We finally turned the corner into a narrow alley, went half-way down the block and turned into a covered parking area of a freshly painted building. I was very relieved to see a new and modern building. I believe we were the first paying guests because there were a few minor details that someone forgot, like clothes hangers and someplace to hang our clothes. The owner apologized and said that some of the furniture had not yet been delivered. Our rooms were clean, the sheets fresh, the water hot and the breakfast each morning more than adequate. We had temporary hangers by the time we returned from dinner. All things considered, we would probably stay there again if we ever go back.
The next morning we set out
with a full day in front of us. Our first stop was the "Train Market" at Maek Long about 60km south of Bangkok. There is a short video of the Train Market at Video One. On our way we passes many salt ponds that used evaporated ocean water to obtain salt. Our driver timed it just right and we arrived about 10 minutes before the morning train was scheduled to arrive. The market place is built along the train right-of-way and many of the vegetable displays on the ground were just inches from the tracks. On hearing a warning siren, the vendors began to roll their display trays back and swing the awnings into a vertical position. About a minute later, I looked down the track that was now visible and clear and saw the headlight of a train coming toward me. With its horn sounding and moving probably 5kph, the train rolled through and into the station on the other side of the road behind us. As soon as the last car of the train passed, the awnings were let down, the trays rolled out and it was back to business as normal. Not something you would ever see
in the USA.
Our next stop was the Water market at Damnoen Saduak about 66km west from Bangkok. Video Two is of the Water Market. We parked the car and boarded a "Long Tail Boat" so named because they use an auto engine with the propeller at the end of a 10 foot shaft. The operator maneuvers the boat by moving the propeller up or down and right or left. The canals were first created in the early 1800's on command of King Rama II as a means of transporting the crops from the fields to the city. Many homes are built on the canal banks and people use boats as well as cars to get around. The canals leading up to the Market were quiet and uncrowded but as we approached the "Main Street" we encountered more traffic. The "Main Street" was like any city at rush hour, slow moving, noisy, and heavy with engine exhaust. Vendors sell fresh vegetables, cooked food, clothing and all manor of trinkets. Very interesting but we were quite glad to see the end of the traffic so we could get back to the car.
We had plans to attend a Cultural
Show at the Rose Garden just outside Bangkok so we headed back to town. In route we made a stop at a china factory where all of the china is hand painted. Most of the work is done to fill orders from all over the world. They did have a small selection for sale and we could not leave until we spent some of our Baht. When we were there, one US dollar exchanged for about 31.5 Baht. The cultural show at the Rose Garden was quite interesting. They demonstrated a typical Village Wedding with the processions and dances. The dancers were very colorful in their costumes and graceful in their dancing. I have included a short video of the dancers, see Video Three.
Our last day in Bangkok we managed to do a little shopping before lunch on the Oriental Hotel Patio and then on to the airport for the trip back to Singapore.
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