Back in Bangkok... Again

After a couple days in the jungle, it was time to go back to Bangkok for just a couple more nights before Barb would fly home and Chad and I would head off to Tokyo.  This was the fifth time Chad and I had been to Bangkok this spring, and it felt almost like coming home.  On the itinerary for this visit was showing Barb some temples and eating as much street food as possible before leaving SE Asia for what is likely to be a long while.

Kicking the day off with a Thai coffee.

In the 'feels like' 47 degree Celsius heat (about 37 with very high humidity) we took a ferry up the Chao Pharaya river.

You don't want to get splashed with this water!

Our first stop was a new temple for Chad and I as well - Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn).  From the river it looks pretty spectacular.

It didn't disappoint up close, either!  You can climb about 2/3 of the way up and admire the detailed ceramic work covering the entire temple.

The mosaics are made of broken bits of porcelain dishes

Next up was an oldie but goodie, Wat Pho, home to a huge golden reclining Buddha.

Damn you, non-Thai pickpocket gangs!  Aka - your fellow tourists may not be as innocent as they look.

Barb verifies that the Buddha is, in fact, very large

The Thai New Year (Songkran) was coming up in a few days, and lovely paper umbrellas decorated the city.  Crews were setting up celebration sights all over.

And then there was the street food... Barb and Chad sampled lots of delights and made the best of our last couple days.

Chinese noodle bowls.

Oh yes, I am perfectly happy with just this Sprite :)

Coconut ice cream with frozen raw egg yolk.

And last of all, a shot of the pool at our hotel where we wiled away the hot, hot, hot afternoons.  All in all, a lovely final couple days!

Barb survived the super-intense hot season equatorial temperatures, and had a relaxing time with us while experiencing a new culture, new continent and new food.  It wonderful to have her join us for a while.  As we departed for Tokyo, she bravely faced her 24-hour day of flights back to the BC interior.  Bon voyage!