By Garry Tomlin
BANGKOK THE CITY WITH THE LARGEST SOLID GOLD BUDDHA IN THE
WORLD.
I love Bangkok the capitol of Thailand its wonderful, beautiful
gentle people. , I awakened exhausted and jet-lagged at the
famous Bangkok airport my Hotel still over 2 hours 30 minutes
drive away and our driver had apparently gone for a walk, we
were left alone at an airport where you simply melt with the
humidity.
The temperature outside must have been about 110 degrees! I
realized that without the driver to take us to the planned hotel
we were at the mercy of the throng of other drivers looking for
fares, and called for help to a local policeman How embarrassing
to realize that we were just sitting in the heat being stare at
by everyone wondering what the hell we were doing there,
sweating like pigs in a over hot spa.
To scared to leave our appointed waiting place for our hotel
pick up vehicle in case we missed it we just sat in what ever
shade we could find. Only to find that shade full of tourists
doing the same thing so we took turns in standing in the sun and
the going back into the shade again.
Finally our driver turned up with excuses a mile long, he was a
lather of sweat having stood in the wrong place and holding the
cardboard placard with our names on over his head for some
shade, no wonder we missed him!
How wonderful to sit in a nice vehicle relaxing in the cars air
conditioning. Every hour the car would be stopped and we had a
chance get out for drink but no toilets they only toilets are
behind the nearest skinny coconut palms in full view of the
local kids who had big grins on their faces and probably a old
camera stolen from some unsuspecting tourist. Instant Polaroid
photos were shown to us and cost us 5 dollars to get back of our
using the coconut tree toilets otherwise these photos would do
the rounds of the local villages for a laugh on there many
nights of festivals.
Bangkok is crowded full to overflowing with a mixture of very
few English speaking people except the tourists but they do not
even know the area so your stuck with a lot of pointing and
gestures as to what's where and where's what !
You can buy anything in Bangkok the capitol of Thailand one of
the most beautiful places left on this earth that has very
friendly native population.
The Temples are spectacular especialy make a point to visit the
solid gold Buddha weighing in at 5 ton. The story goes that it
was covered in concrete during the korean war to stop it being
stolen until a local native over zealous in his cleaning of he
statue knocked a piece of the concrete covering revealing the
solid gold underneath, how marvelous a site for everyone!
We reached out hotel in 2 and a half hours of driving in very
heavy traffic where road rules exist but no one takes much
notice of them. Roads have a proliferation of signs on both side
for various product including condoms so your chances of seeing
the sites while driving are very limited except for the head of
your driver moving from side to side trying to get you to your
destination in once piece.
Thailand is beautiful and well worth the visit but if your not
a lover of the heat and humidy please go some where else as its
a country that swelters night and day.
Prices are cheap compared to most places in the world we have
been to. Its so clean everywhere its spotless, the locals take
great pride in keeping their country that way. Eating out is a
joy with such a huge selection of really fresh seafood that is
kept alive in tanks of saltwater being pumped in out of the
local sea.
Nights are never dull no ones seems to sleep, you can wander
all down the streets and never find a dull moment. No one
pesters you to buy their products not like some countries and
its safe to walk anywhere at night but be careful of the
Elephants which have right of way even on the sidewalks. Be
advised to be careful what you step in if wearing sandals as
they do take some cleaning after stepping into elephant dung!
Summary.
Go there, enjoy the sites the sounds and soak up the atmosphere
you will find no other place on this earth as good as this
beautiful country and it beautiful friendly people. Long let it
always stay that way and may its royal family preside over this
lovely country for always!
My husband returned and eagerly wanted to show me the funniest
set of stairs he had ever seen - short and very shallow, could
only fit about 2/3 of my foot on the actual step. We laughed at
the red sign above the stairs saying, "beware your step" with a
picture of a tumbling body. Then I promptly took a header down
the whole flight! Also my first day, in Bangkok we were picked
up by a taxi in the sweltering heat. The driver was missing
fingers on both hands, and his car was desperate for some
maintenance, but we still had to comment on his joyful
disposition. This guy was just the most pleasant, helpful man
and his spirit just shone. His air con was only cooling the
front of the car, and he could see us sweating in back, and so
he began to gracefully take his left hand, with its missing
fingers, and scoop the cold air up as it left the a/c vents, and
then swirl his wrist around so as to push the cold air back to
us in the back of his cab. It was a most beautiful, giving
thing. I wish we had known then how much we would come to love
this story about this man, as it typifies our experiences with
the Thai people. For the good he did our hearts, we wish we had
tipped him a week's wages.
About the Author: Garry is a world traveller and loves visiting
countries that have great beaches and natural resources.
Interest are in Australia and Thailand travel and is a resident
of Australia. I suggest you have a look at
http://you-make-money-online.com for information also on a New
Buddha now believed to be reincarnated in Nepal.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=35593&ca=Travel
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