Day 1

View from the Skytrain stop. In Bangkok there is a lot of mixing of not very nice areas with big high rises.

 Our tuk-tuk driver. We are pretty sure we paid to much for the ride, but it still was less than $2.

 We visited the house of Jim Thompson, an American who moved to Thailand in the early 40s and worked hard to revitalize the silk industry in Thailand. He traveled throughout Asia and collected a lot of different Buddhas and traditional paintings and pottery. He combined 7 different Thai houses to create the housing complex he lived in. Some of it he followed traditional styles but he also added in his own design, like a toilet inside the house.

 Most homes and business in Thailand have a spirit house outside where they pay their respects to the spirits that keep them safe. This is the one at Jim Thompson's house.

 This is the living room at the house. Originally it was an entire house that he added onto the other houses that make up his complex.

 The canal running through the city. 

 A water taxi. We watched how people got on twice at the docks before we figured out how to get on ourselves. The tarps on the side are for keeping the water from splashing you as you are riding. The water isn't very clean.

 There were lots of clothes hanging along the river.

 Riding in the water taxi.

 The dock were the taxi pulls up and briefly docks. You have to jump on quickly or they will keep moving.

 Entrance to the Golden Mountain. One of the royal monasteries in Thailand.

 These stairs spiral around the building up to the top which is golden in color. There are about 200 steps to get to the top.

Along the way there are landings with bells and sometimes gongs. At each point there is great views of the city.

 Looking up as we were climbing.

 Shrine in the middle.

 Some of the surrounding temples and buildings.

 The golden top. It is both a tourist attraction and a place to pray/worship Buddha.

You could buy gold leafs and write your name, your family's name and your birthday. Then you were supposed to dip it in holy water for blessings for you and your family. You could also have them attached to a bell and the monks would pray for them before they hung them up. These are some of the bells.