Thailand Vol. 1




Royal Grand Palace
Traveling to Thailand I got my first taste of the real Asia since my arrival in Singapore in September. While Singapore is a homogenized version of Asia, Thailand represents the real chaos that greets a traveler to Asia and Bangkok with its monumental traffic jams, infrastructure that is failing to maintain pace with economic growth and taxi drivers without a clear idea of where they are taking you is a typical large metropolis. That's not to say I didn't enjoy Bangkok in parts, it's just quite a jolt to the senses. While the city has a reputation for being wide open the Thai people themselves are conservative and extremely devoted to their King. His likeness is everywhere and the city hosts a magnificent Grand Palace compound and temple. In fact there are dozens in Bangkok to visit, if the traffic doesn't kill you first.



Bangkok Day Trips Bangkok offers a number of day trips out of the city. I decided to take one to the Thai Cultural Center. On the way there we stopped off at a Animal Park. There I saw a quite exciting alligator show with the performers literally putting their lives on the line by placing their head within the alligators jaws.




Damnoen Saduak Floating Market The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is located at Damnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi Province, about 105 kms from Bangkok. According to history around 1866 King Rama IV ordered that a 32 kms long canal be dug at Damnoen Saduak. This canal would connect the Mae Klong River with the Tacheen River. Today it is a prime destination for day tours out of Bangkok and like any self-respecting tourist it was on my must see list. While it does get crowded I found it well worth the visit for the color and atmosphere. I arrived early in the morning to take a longtail boat along the canal before reaching the site of the floating market. The sellers were still setting up shop so I was able to get some good pictures. later I got off the boat and walked along the market stalls lining the canal and had a little to eat watching the world go by. I was approached by a group of kids practicing their English for school.