Bangkok Part 2

So after the first Buddha temple we stopped at a Sapphire Export Store. Apparently the reason our trip was so cheap on the Tuk Tuk is the get a cut back from bring shoppers buy. They sai today was the last day the export store could sell to individuals with duty free, tax free and 30%off. I am not sure I buy that story. But we bought into the scam anyways. Sapphires are mined in Thailand. They bring good luck, long life and long love. Bill bought me a reasonable sized pendant. It couldn't hurt and what a piece to remember Thailand from. 

After our impromptu shopping we stopped at the Golden Mountain Wat. It was breath taking to see all the temples around the city from such a high vantage point. 

You can see that they have taken great care and have restored this temple area. 

Here is the view from the top of the Golden Mount. 

Here is what the temple looks like- and yes I climbed all the way to the top. 

After this stop we had to stop at the Tailor made suit shoppe. This is when our driver confessed that we must stop because he is a sponsor of his and he gets a free gas ticket. 

Bill was quite taken by the prospect of having a suit made. We were told it would cost $128 for pants, jacket and shirt. And it would be hand made to his specifications and delivered the next day by 6pm. Impressive. Bill would have bought in, hook line and sinker if they had had seersucker material. He said that is what he wants his next suit to be. But we did our obligatory time so our driver could get his free gas ticket. 

We finally arrived at the Grand Palace, but we had not eaten and it was going to close in an hour. So we stopped to eat a bit at 4pm. I was starving. Had we not be riding all day long, I am sure I would have pitched a fit much earlier in the day. 

We ate at a nice bistro, I had shrimp and veggies in a Thai pepper sauce and Bill had green curry chicken pizza. His pizza was so good! Just the right amount of spice and sweetness. 

Can you guess what I had to drink! I love the writing in foreign languages on something so common! 

If you guessed Ginger Ale- then you would be correct! 

After linner (lunch-dinner) we walked around to see the sleeping Buddha. But all we found were very heavily guarded gates by men carrying assault riffles. We did not attempt to go in. As we walked around the very large complex we passed the National Defense Building. 

Some very important official left while we were photographing the front, the gaurds stood at attention, and a motorcade pulled out with heavy security detail. 

After finally finding the entrance to the grand palace, we found out that it had closed. We would return tomorrow. We wondered through a market to find a hop on hop off water taxi. We got on and landed at riverside pier. We stopped at the pier to book a dinner river cruise for tomorrow. Then we took a Tuk Tuk back to the metro and then the metro home. This Tuk Tuk was rather rough with his weaving in and out of traffic. He found great enjoyment out of scaring me. He also took bumps very fast so we would jump off our seat. He was not a nice man. 

After a short metro ride back to the hotel we rested for a minute. We rested too long because it became very evident we were goin to ba late for our show. We had tickets to see Siam Niramit. 

Our hotel told us it would be a 15 min ride on the metro. He told us correct, but it was a 15 min walk to the metro, 15 min ride and then a 10 min shuttle. But we arrived too late for the shuttle so we took a taxi. We arrived shortly after it started. We only missed the introduction. This was a fantastic show. I highly reccomend seeing this show. There were 150 people in the production with live elephants and goats. Total broadway scale- lovely theater and great special effects. They had a river on stage they would dive in and out of, take boats across the stage. We had to check our camera and phone, they understand protecting their work. The story was about Siam (aka Thailand) through the ages. There was little talking, but wonderful music and beautiful costumes. 

Here are a few photos of the surrounding area. 

We took the shuttle back, walked through a fashion market for the locals. We were joking you could walk out a new you, they had clothes, shoes, hair and nail places and you could even get a tatoo. Totally a local thing. 

Once we got back to our area, we stopped for a late late dinner at McDonalds. Totally tasty after all the Asian food. After dinner we called it a night. We were tired.