Spicy Water

I guard the gate!

Exiting the ferry or metro, one must inevitably exit thru a sea of stalls selling food, souvenirs and a plethora odds and ends. When the ferry stops at a tourist destination, the stalls multiply exponentially, providing a circus atmosphere. On the way to our last Shrine, Wat Po and the Imperial Palace, the stalls were particularly festive and loud. Harvey found himself drawn to a gentleman hawking cold water. It was his patter that made the sell, as he sang in broken English, “Spicy Water – best spicy water!” If Thailand is really the country of smiles, this businessman was the Ambassador of smiles.

Wat Po is the home of the longest reclining Buddha in the world. Instead of boring shrine pictures, I give instead, close up of the detailed tile work that covers all the temples, prongs, stupas and bases of Buddha’s. I am in awe of the custom work I have seen here.

We met up with Cousin Marissa and David for her birthday on our last day in Bangkok, prior to leaving for their winter home in Cha Am. The day began with a birthday tiara for Marissa and ended with drinks on the 64^th floor of Breeze Bar followed by dinner at a jazz club, The Saxophone Club.

Marissa, her tiara and cousin Harvey

Sunset drinks high above Bangkok

Cha Am is a 2-hour taxi ride from Bangkok, depending on traffic. Located on the beach, it is a weekend resort for the Thai people. Marissa and David have been wintering here for about 20 years and now own a delightful 2-bedroom condo. It is a great little town which luckily, we got to visit when it was not the height of season. You can get where you need to on a bike in Cha Am and there are plenty of restaurant options (Smoking Dirt Fish).

Beach Massage Parlor

PJ Park in Cha Am

Buh Bye Bangkok!

I am sitting in the Bangkok Airport, RIGHT NOW, waiting on our flight to Hong Kong. Buh bye, Thailand.

Talin Chan Floating Market

A different kind of Banana Boat

Salty-Sweet coconut bites of heaven

Lovely displays

Exit thru to the main canal

Foot Picture!

Stir fry boat.

Chicken wing boat.

Busy intersection.

Jacks on the Chao Phraya River-just down the street!

Stay tuned for the canal trip movie!

Roosters of Ayuthaya

Ruined in Thailand

Stupa's of Wat Yai Chai Monkgol

Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1351 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese, Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, French and Dutch, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the capital.

Reclining Buddha

Buddha's feet are the most holy. There are coins embedded in these.

In the sixteenth century, it was described by foreign traders as one of the biggest and wealthiest cities in the East. The court of King Narai (1656–88) had strong links with that of King Louis XIV of France, whose ambassadors compared the city in size and wealth to Paris.

On top of the Big Stupa

Thousand of Roosters around the  grounds.

Thailand was the only country in Indochina to never be taken over by Europeans.
In foreign accounts, Ayutthaya was called Siam, but many sources say the people of Ayutthaya called themselves Tai, and their kingdom Krung Tai "The Tai country.”

Wat Mahathat

Giant Prong

Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam/Thailand until the mid-1700’s, when sacked by the Burmese. The capital moved to modern day Bangkok. Ayutthaya was declared a historical site in 1979 and an Unesco World Heritage Site in 1991.

Stupa's at Wat Ratchaburana

About 1-hour north of Bangkok, we hired a taxi for the day and visited 4 of the Park sites.

Students find us wherever we are!

Mr. Sofi, our driver, would not take
us home till we visited this 40ft
tall Buddha.

Harvey gilded a Buddha for Pesach.