Bangkok

First impression of Thailand - it's hot....and getting hotter. At least it seems that way. We're trying not to complain because we'd both rather be hot than cold. We thought we could handle heat but at home that's alot easier going from our air conditioned homes to ac cars and ac office buildings. The only time were usually in the heat is when we're at the beach where we can get into the water to cool off. I'm not complaining but it's hot - 100 degrees hot! We luckily can afford to pay for AC cooled rooms - a hefty $18-20 as opposed to $10-12 rates. :)

Ok on to Bangkok. A few sights around town... As you can see, they don't hide from color in their architecture, or anything really. Kerry loves the color! Bangkok itself is not particularly beautiful but the grand palace and some of her temples really are nothing but elaborate! 

Wat Pho: home of one of the largest Reclining Budda statues - 46m long and 15m high, covered in gold.

Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace, temple and residence of the monarchy for centuries. Still the base of many government offices but we believe the monarch family actually resides in a newer palace across town.

Interesting things we learned: the Princess's birthday anniversary (as the Thais call it) is April 2nd - she is turning 60 which is apparently a huge deal though we didn't quite understand exactly why, something with circles. Anyway, the entire country is setting up to celebrate, Bangkok of course the biggest. We saw them setting up for the festival but these "booths" are massive structures that they are building and painting - they are going all out. Also interesting, the day of the week you are born is more important than the date. So although they celebrate on the day of your birthday, your color will also be the color of the day of the week you were born. The princess was born on a Saturday so her color is purple so everything - signs, banners, shirts, ribbons, etc are all purple to celebrate her. 

Street food eating continues. It's so good and cheap and easy here that we havent even bothered seeking out peanut butter which with bread has been our lunch very often in the past when sight seeing. My absolute favorite has been a crepe cooked on a cart with banana and then covered in chocolate!

Markets - the first is from the Chinatown market - huge, confusing alleyways and small streets covered with tarps so you feel like your inside a building. It was a bit overwhelming. The other is the flower market. Much more pleasant experience. We are guessing fresh flowers are a strong part of daily life since this market was several street blocks big. A common use for the flowers is the offer to the Budda statues and place in temples as offerings.