Travel Report #18: Slow Boat to China Tuesday, 17 November 2009: Day 55 – Thailand (‘Thunderstruck’ – Bankok & Pattaya, Thailand)

Dear Family and Friends,

Monday, 16 November: Having no good idea of the distance from Laem Chabang (our ship’s berth) to Bangkok we strike out with our 8 companions to find a public bus to the Bangkok MTR (subway). Turns out, there are none. Taxi driver demands at the terminal are outrageous! We venture further and further outside the terminal gates hoping to find a reasonable fare. It seems to us ‘the taxi Mafia’ has fixed the price to Bangkok. Peer pressure seems to be keeping drivers ‘in line’. Most of our group of companions relent. Four of us, with Fern and Albert, eventually find a driver, Mark, willing to take us to the local bus station. Once in his taxi, away from his peers – we start ‘the serious’ one-on-one negotiations. The upshot of long bartering… we reach mutual agreement for Mark’s FULL DAY of taxi service for $90 USD. We’re off on the day’s adventure. Holy Smokes! We have no idea how long the ride is to Bangkok – more than 2 hours northbound on toll-way high-speed highway (speed limit 80KPH but we average 120). The price; a great deal for us, and, a good deal for the driver!

Arriving Bangkok city centre our first stop; Wat Pho , the ‘reclining Buddha’, about 30 or 40 meters long, and… completely covered in gold. We hear the continuous tinkle of offerings of coins into a long line of iron pots. And… around the temple non-stop eye-candy of over-the-top opulence in honor of Lord Buddha. Melting in the tropical humidity and heat – 96F – our next stop, the Grand Palace (and Wat Phra Keo – Emerald Buddha). All of us are soaked in perspiration, and yet, they do not let us enter! Kerrell’s Capri pants are deemed an inch too short – she must ‘rent’ more-appropriate clothing to cover her lower legs. (Fortunately Bob’s short pants come with a zipper for conversion to long pants.) Inside the palace we are over-whelmed by the non-stop splendor. EVERYWHERE one’s gaze pauses, is unbelievable gilt and glitter – all a testament to devotees to Buddha. Kerrell poses with palace guards – Bob almost stumbles over a dignitary being escorted to his limousine. Much too soon we must depart the palace in our rush to meet our driver, Mark. At our request he has arranged a tour on the Chaophraya River . This is the primary river through the core of Bangkok. It has many subsidiary channels. We are in a “long tailed boat” (A narrow

boat and big engine with very long propeller shaft straight out the back – search your memories of a James Bond movie!) Turning off the main river we enter a channel lined with quaint homes-on-silts and large reptiles sunning on floating logs! Oppressive heat is momentarily suspended by a tropical downpour, announced first by a startling lightening bolt that strikes mere meters from our boat. There is no discernable pause between flash and explosive thunder! In mere moments we are engulfed in a tropical downpour so dense we can not see. For a time long-tailed-boats gather under the protection of an over-

head bridge – from our perspective; dual duty – protection from rain and protection from lightning! Never-the-less, we become thoroughly soaked in the warm tropical moisture.

Before starting our long journey home, our driver takes us to MBK Shopping Mall , SIX STORIES of bargains. Bob buys a nice looking suit – cheap. Back at our ship we settle payment to our driver, and we arrange to meet him again the following morning for a tour of Pattaya .

Tuesday 17 November: In Pattaya , (south of Laem Chabang) we visit an amazing park, Nong Nooch . We get close-and-personal with several elephants prior to a cultural show of ethnic dance, Thai boxing, drumming, and… elephant pantomime depicting a historic Thai battle. Thence, we proceed to a show where elephants

perform amazing tricks to amuse the large audience. Bob is reminded of an elephant lamp he made for his young daughters. One elephant grabs Bob and elevates him high off the ground – a strange sensation

being lifted by that muscular trunk knowing it could crush in an instant! Following the elephants we encounter a docile adult tiger – Bob ‘leaps’ at the photo op(strangely, Kerrell shies away from the opportunity). This big cat feels warm to lie on!

Nong Nooch park is huge and has a petting zoo, bird and butterfly garden, and… amazing manicured gardens as spectacular as any at Versailles adjacent Paris, France.

On our return we visit “the largest jewelry store in the world” – Gems Gallery Pattaya, seeming acres of display counters and countless precious gems (no pictures allowed there). It even includes a train ride reminiscent of “It’s a small world” at Disneyland –touching on geology of precious gems – sapphires and rubies are mined in Thailand. After a brief stop at an Outlet Mall, we head back to the ship.

Tomorrow… the “Party Island” of Koh Samui – adjacent the island of Koh Pha Ngan – site of the world-famous Full Moon Party (recently attended by our daughter, Ashnola). We are really looking forward to that port-of-call!

‘Till next we have the pleasure of seeing you again, very much love to all,

Bob and Kerrell – “Sawasdee” (Taiwanese – Hello / Goodbye) – from Thailand