Photos from Thailand... Bangkok Pt. 2, Revenge of Bangkok!

Where was I....
BANGKOK!  City of sparkling spires, gilded temples, and busy streets.  However, for the next leg of our adventure in Thailand's capital city, we experienced a wholly new form of transport, boats.

Some have said that Bangkok is the "Venice of the East," insofar as the city is built on a river and sports many canals through the heart of the city.  After a wee bit of haggling, we managed to arrange a tour of some of these areas.  It was a great chance to kick back, snaps some pics and indulge in the local architecture. 

Ok, so don't let the gilded roofs fool you, it's not all classy

This would be a good to be a good spot to be reincarnated as a fish. 

 By one of the temples we passed there was a simple sign in English:

"Feed fish for good luck!"

To support our increase of luck, a local came running up with a loaf of white bread on a pole.  Offering it to us for a few Baht, which we took in order to feed a MASS of fish that lingered in the area.  You can see some of them churning the water in their feeding frenzy.

Erin and Kezia feeding fish

Our ships captain, in all his glory

Like everywhere else in Bangkok, the canals are not free of their shops.  This woman rowed up to us as we slipped through the streams, offering us statues, hats, and of course, beer. 

Though many of the houses along the waterway were in poor repair, I loved to see all the foliage that cluttered yards and gardens.  Thai people have an affinity for flowers, which hang from the prows of boats, to the rear-view mirrors of cars and tuk tuks.  I imagine there is a religious significance to this... buuuuuuut I failed to inquire about it.  In any case, it's nice to have so much color!

You can see the Grand Palace from the river here!

No tour of Bangkok is complete without visiting the Grand Palace.  Initially we were turned away (to our surprise) as we did not fit he dress code of the Palace.  To enter the palace, you must wear closed toed shoes, pants (or long skirts, though that is not gender specific), and shirts that are not revealing.

Details of this policy are clearly posted.  Though I confess the last piece of advice is certainly my favorite part of this public sign....

Because I ALWAYS trust regular strangers!

Erik rock'n some classy rental garb

The Boys in front of the Grand Palace

And of course the girls... also in front of the Palace

The Grand Palace was the last thing we visited in the city of Bangkok.  After seeing the Palace, we scampered back to the hotel to check out and make our way back to the airport.  From there we managed to catch a flight down south to the city of Krabi, on the coast of Thailand, to catch some tropical sun and continue our adventures.