CB-Come With Me

November 1. Bangkok.

Another extremely hot and humid day, perhaps the most humid yet.

We spent the morning in Bangkok yesterday, cruising along the Chao Praya River that runs through Bangkok. The river is the lifeblood of the city, the primary way to move goods around. We board long-boats and skim along the surface, water splashing up on both sides. We pass boats with locals commuting to the docks to catch the skytrain downtown to work, river cruises packed with tourists sightseeing along the river, tugs pulling a chain of huge barges laden with all manner of goods to be distributed in the city. As we pass further we travel along canals where people live in small shanties on stilts on the water, some are dilapidated and poor, others - while small- display the signs of a home - plants in pottery urns along narrow decks over the water, a cat lying in the sun on a deck, bits of leaded glass and lacy curtains in the windows. We watch a young boy tossing bread crumbs into the water. Immediately schools of what appear to be catfish swarm to the surface snapping up the offering. The little boy laughs gleefully and tosses more. Every now and then amid the modest homes a large, modern, villa stands seeming out of place and ostentatious. Several temples are dotted among the homes along the river as well. Many homes have small replicas of temples in their yards. These are spirit houses where people offer small glasses of water and bits of food to the gods. Often there are two spirit houses, a smaller one stands beside the main one, this one is in honour of ancestors.

Maddie and Jackie.

Boats along the river.

Bangkok skyline and the river.

We end our tour at the Temple of Dawn, or Wat Arun, built by King Thon Buri, the King of Siam about 500 years ago. It was the original capital before King Rami I built the Grand Palace across the river. A magnificently ornate structure that more or less sits neglected across the river from it younger and prettier sister.