A taste of Malaysia

Wat Pho you say Wat Pho when I say Wat Pho

One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
You'll find a god in every golden cloister
A little flesh, a little history
I can feel an angel sliding up to me

One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can't be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walking next to me

Lyrics by Tim Rice et al

We actually spent four nights in Bangkok and for sure it was an eye opener. Our intention was simply to use Bangkok as a gateway to the surrounding regions.  But at first touch Bangkok reaches out and grabs you.  You simply cannot ignore its appeal and vibrancy.  It breathes, pulses, it has a rhythm all its own.  It consumes you and after four days it spits you out shaken, exhausted and forever in love.

The roof top pool at our hotel.

This was the most expensive place we've stayed so far, 

$42/night

We used the metro and Skytrain to get around the city.

Took us awhile to figure it out.

Part of the royal complex.

Thais loved their late king.  His successor not so much.

Let's start with the shopping. The variety is limitless.  Giant modern malls offer every conceivable good.  Terminal 21 which was next to our hotel divides each floor into famous world cities.  The first floor is Rome and of course everything is of Italian design. The second is Paris, and of course French fashion, then comes New York, Istanbul, San Francisco, with a replica of  the Golden Gate bridge spanning the central well complete with street cars converted to diners.  Sorry Toronto you don't quite rate.  Finally Hollywood has a giant Oscar like a Buddha and movie theaters.

A tribute to the film industry on the Hollywood floor.

There is even a seven story mall that only sells electronic goods.  Anything modern, digital and connected is available.  Shopping centers are modern art and often interconnected to the subway and the Skytrain. Shopping which is not one of our favourite pastimes was more like visiting a museum combined with an art gallery.  We wandered and wondered for hours.

Chinatown was simply amazing.  Alleyways not more than 10 feet wide all interlinked and protected by make shift roofs wander for miles through the old city.  Impossible not to get lost in that warren of pathways.  But fascinating as well.  Some streets are all material, others food, some entire streets of metal smiths, some drugstores, jewelry, handicrafts, clothes, small appliances, etc. etc. etc.

Wat Pho is the biggest collection of Buddhist temples, statuary, art in the country.  It is home to the giant reclining Buddha and so much more.  Just when you think you seen enough temples to last a lifetime Wat Pho leaves you speechless with wonder. There is no entrance fee for the locals and they visit the site religiously.

Where's Waldo?

Finally rivers run through almost all of Bangkok with floating markets, the flower market, restaurants and temples lining the shoreline. We didn't take a boat instead we wandered the rivers by strolling along the banks.

Our hotel was close to the famous Soi Cowboy red light district.  Bars, massage parlors and restaurants line the street.  It was interesting to watch the girls, boys and lady boys compete for the few customers in the off season.  The girls etcetera would gather in the evening in front of our hotel to lure men off the street.  I suggested to Dianne that maybe we were actually staying in a Notel and she countered that it was more likely a "Ho"tel.  Good one Di. It was dangerous for me to go out alone in the evening.  An obvious westerner, old enough to be desperate but not too gross and pretending to more money then he has, was just the right type to get molested.  Only by having Di with me were the lady boys convinced to leave me alone.  Suffice to say I was groped and hated it.

From here we take the bus to Siem Reap and a week at Angkor Wat.  There is so much to do and see and luckily we have the time to cover a big chunk of it.