Thailand!

For our October "Golden Week" holiday in China, we decided to head south to Thailand for a visit to Bangkok & a small island called Koh Chang (link). Lucky us, my folks and sister decided to take some time off to see us (read Gus) in paradise. We sandwiched a week in Koh Chang between two weekends in Bangkok.

What better way to get accustomed then take a longtail boat tour of Bangkok...







...and visit a few Wats (Theravada Buddhism temples). It was wicked hot and we had to wear close toed shoes and pants while visiting the temples!





First was up was Wat Arun. The steps were unbelievably steep. Hard to capture in a picture.

Wat Arun...







The buildings were covered with old pottery. The guide said "what China throws away, we turn into art..."




We took a quick ferry across the river and checked out Wat Pho and the Grand Palace where the King or Rama IX resides. I can't remember exactly what the guide said, but the Rama is sacred in Thailand. There are signs and billboards in random places proclaiming "Long Live the King." I think the Prime Minister has almost all authority, but the Rama is definitely the leader of the country.



Wat Pho was basically built for all the Rama's over the years.



Different colors of the buildings reflect each Rama's color, which I think is based off of what day of the week you are born.



The tiles on these buildings were covered in PLASTIC tiles. Weird.



The reclining Buddha is the biggest in the world, 46m, and covered in gold leaf and mother of pearl on its feet.



Towards the end of this hot, stickey, Wat marathon, we breezed passed the Rama's crib...


We were starved for some Thai food, the tour book recommended the following...

It is a restaurant founded by a Thai politician, and all the proceeds go towards charitable works to fight the spread of AIDS/HIV. So, we thought we could indulge our guts and conscience.

I am an adventurous eater, the rest of the family, not so much. I still got them to try some different stuff, AT LEAST THEY TRIED IT!

We were then off to Koh Chang via Bangkok airport and a puddle jumper to Trat...


Trat terminal...

...where we hitched a ferry to Koh Chang.

(Not THAT adventurous!)

The ferry didn't take long, just enough time for a cooling beverage on the viewing deck...



Nadia and I wanted a resort, my folks wanted Jurassic Park, Becky wanted a massage, so we settled on a couple huts on the beach, with a swim up bar.

We got our way...








They got their way...














My folks and I went shore diving (snorkeling) by these three islands to experience the renown Thai reefs. It was stunning after I quelled my fears of sharks and open water.

The sunset was amazing. After a long drop of increasingly bigger sun, the entire beach looked purple. It was weird. It made everything appear in a purple haze. No, I did not eat the mushrooms growing on the elephant poo! The sky had splashes of torquize too. I wish I had eaten the 'shrooms, it probably would have thought I was skating through an impressionist painting!