This morning we boarded a long tail motorboat for a trip on the canals into the Thonburi area of the city. This area retains the laid back charm of a more traditional Bangkok way of life which still exists today. We boarded on the Chao Phraya River and were taken along the main river to The Bangkok Noi Canal, the turn off point to Thonburi backwaters and canals.
Bangkok is almost an indescribable city. It is huge, modern and developing at the same time. The modern aspects are SUPER modern and rival what we might find in our large cities in the USA. The malls and markets are remarkable testimonials to their choices of international cuisine. The skyscrapers are very impressive. Traffic seems to be much more controlled in Bangkok than the rest of Indochina, but there is still work to be done on their infrastructure specifically for trash collection and controlling pollution.
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| House on the water |
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| crocodile sunning by a house |
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| Another residence |
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| Modern Bangkok as seen from the Sky Top Bar |
Following the boat trip we visited the exquisite Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). Wat Arun is a Buddhist temple in the Yai district of Bangkok on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. It's name is derived from the Hindu god Aruna. The temple was restored in the 19th century and was finished around 1851.
The main feature of Wat Arun is its central tower which is encrusted with colorful porcelain. The central tower is topped with a seven pronged trident which is referred to as the Trident of the Hindu god Shiva.
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| closeup of porcelain encrusted flowers |
It was time for a tuk tuk ride to the Jim Thompson House Museum. It was built by this American businessman and architect in 1959 to house his extensive art collection and other artifacts, as well as the center for his silk weaving trade.
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| Silk Weaver |
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| Spirit House on the property |
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