If you can get past the dirt and grim, Bangkok is a city with great energy & atmosphere where shopping reigns supreme. We stayed on the West side of the city in the Banglamphu area, which in the last 20 years has developed into a world famous "backpacker ghetto". It offers cheap accommodation, ranging from 'mattress in a box' style hotels to reasonably priced 3-star hotels. It definitely has a rockin pulse & a wicked crazy night scene - not that we went out that much. The few times we did, we had a great time. We met up with our friend Martin, from Rarotonga, and he showed us that all the food carts turn into bar carts at midnight. Taylor and Denis came up from the wedding and we wandered around Khao San road, eating scorpions and drinking beers until exhausted. We just couldn't hang as the scene didn't get into full swing until about 1am. One could go 24/7 there, if that's what you are in to. Us, well, we went to look at some old crap :) as usual.
The guardian at the gate
Our last day in Bangkok before heading north, we spent visiting the reclining Buddha. Supposedly this is the largest of it's kind in all of Thailand. I think it was pretty big, and maybe they should extend that statement to include East Asia?
The reclining Buddha - so big it doesn't all fit in the picture.This temple was so much more. First, the Buddha was huge and indoors. Second, it was just one of a series of Buddha statues and temples in the complex. It was really quite something. We just thought it was one outdoor structure. We had no idea just how cool it would be, and it was located directly across from the Palace. I had shorts and a tank top on, so we couldn't go in there. However, that was fine by us because by time we were done with Wat Pho, we had had it. There is just only so much you can absorb.
Standing, lucky Buddha
One of many halls lined with Buddhas - so cool!
One of the temples
I think this was the happy Buddha?
Inside a temple making offering in a borrowed Hawaiian shirt
Brian snacking on a Scorpion - oh yes he did!
