2008 - Thailand

THAILAND - This is a photo travel log of our trip to the kingdom formerly known as Siam: charming, colorful, sometimes chaotic, and as we learned all too well, captivating Thailand.

2009-01-01T10:59:44Z

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THAILAND - This is a photo travel log of our trip to the kingdom formerly known as Siam: charming, colorful, sometimes chaotic, and as we learned all too well, captivating Thailand.

NOTE TO FELLOW TRAVELERS AND OTHERS: I was tempted to apologize for the number of photos in this travel log; 500+ photos are way more than I ever included in a trip gallery bef ...

2009-01-02T02:09:50Z

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NOTE TO FELLOW TRAVELERS AND OTHERS: I was tempted to apologize for the number of photos in this travel log; 500+ photos are way more than I ever included in a trip gallery bef ...

BANGKOK literally means "the village of the wild hog plum." Actually, it's not the city's proper name. When King Rama I elevated it to royal status in 1782, he gave it a name so filled wit ...

2009-01-01T07:13:54Z

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BANGKOK literally means "the village of the wild hog plum." Actually, it's not the city's proper name. When King Rama I elevated it to royal status in 1782, he gave it a name so filled wit ...

BANGKOK - We began our trip in Bangkok, the country's capital, a sprawling city bisected by the meandering Chao Phraya river. Our first morning we saw two of Bangkok's most iconic symbols - ...

2009-01-03T02:46:20Z

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BANGKOK - We began our trip in Bangkok, the country's capital, a sprawling city bisected by the meandering Chao Phraya river. Our first morning we saw two of Bangkok's most iconic symbols - ...

BANGKOK - Portions of downtown Bangkok border on the ultramodern - high-rise buildings of glass and steel, the sleek elevated Skytrain, elegant shops....

2009-01-03T02:46:52Z

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BANGKOK - Portions of downtown Bangkok border on the ultramodern - high-rise buildings of glass and steel, the sleek elevated Skytrain, elegant shops....

...and a skyline that sparkles at night.

2009-01-03T02:47:04Z

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...and a skyline that sparkles at night.

BANGKOK - Its high-rise skyscrapers look down on cramped streets and alleyways...

2009-01-03T02:47:16Z

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BANGKOK - Its high-rise skyscrapers look down on cramped streets and alleyways...

...where roadside vendors jealously guard valuable sidewalk space for foodcarts and makeshift "diners."

2009-01-03T02:47:49Z

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...where roadside vendors jealously guard valuable sidewalk space for foodcarts and makeshift "diners."

BANGKOK - Although far removed from its origins as a small village, Bangkok still has small neighborhoods like Pakklong Talad that can boast a million bright blooms at a local flower market. ...

2009-01-03T02:48:13Z

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BANGKOK - Although far removed from its origins as a small village, Bangkok still has small neighborhoods like Pakklong Talad that can boast a million bright blooms at a local flower market. ...

BANGKOK - Wat Arun was the first Buddhist temple we visited. Its name means the "Temple of the Dawn." When King Taksin relocated the royal court to the western side of the Chao Phraya in th ...

2009-01-03T02:48:54Z

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BANGKOK - Wat Arun was the first Buddhist temple we visited. Its name means the "Temple of the Dawn." When King Taksin relocated the royal court to the western side of the Chao Phraya in th ...

BANGKOK - Wat Arun's soaring prang (spire) is surrounded by statues of stern-looking, ancient Chinese soldiers.

2009-01-03T02:49:08Z

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BANGKOK - Wat Arun's soaring prang (spire) is surrounded by statues of stern-looking, ancient Chinese soldiers.

BANGKOK - Jeanne begins the ascent up the steps to the prang which rises 286 feet (86 meters) above the west bank of the Chao Phraya.

2009-01-03T02:49:34Z

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BANGKOK - Jeanne begins the ascent up the steps to the prang which rises 286 feet (86 meters) above the west bank of the Chao Phraya.

BANGKOK - Wat Arun's fierce-looking demon figures had nothing on the wat's resident cat in terms of stern surveillance over arriving tourists.

2009-01-03T02:49:49Z

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BANGKOK - Wat Arun's fierce-looking demon figures had nothing on the wat's resident cat in terms of stern surveillance over arriving tourists.

BANGKOK - Several young monks were among the tourists exploring the wat.

2009-01-03T02:50:03Z

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BANGKOK - Several young monks were among the tourists exploring the wat.

BANGKOK - Wat Arun's great spire dates from the late 1700s and is built in the Khmer style. It represents Mount Meru, the mythological home of the Hindu gods.

2009-01-03T02:50:22Z

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BANGKOK - Wat Arun's great spire dates from the late 1700s and is built in the Khmer style. It represents Mount Meru, the mythological home of the Hindu gods.

BANGKOK - Viewed from a distance, Wat Arun's prang - as well as its surrounding structures - appear to be a dull grey. . .

2009-01-03T02:50:34Z

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BANGKOK - Viewed from a distance, Wat Arun's prang - as well as its surrounding structures - appear to be a dull grey. . .

But upon closer inspection, the walls are covered with thousands of donated fragments of Chinese porcelain.

2009-01-03T02:50:47Z

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But upon closer inspection, the walls are covered with thousands of donated fragments of Chinese porcelain.

The porcelain pieces were added in the 1860s by King Mongkut (Rama IV).

2009-01-03T02:51:03Z

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The porcelain pieces were added in the 1860s by King Mongkut (Rama IV).

BANGKOK - More of Wat Arun's intricate porcelain inlays.

2009-01-03T02:51:16Z

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BANGKOK - More of Wat Arun's intricate porcelain inlays.

BANGKOK - By climbing the staircase midway up Wat Arun's central prang, the distinctive rooflines of the other buildings in the wat could be seen.

2009-01-03T02:51:29Z

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BANGKOK - By climbing the staircase midway up Wat Arun's central prang, the distinctive rooflines of the other buildings in the wat could be seen.

BANGKOK - Jeanne peers out over the landscape from midway up Wat Arun's central prang.

2009-01-03T02:51:39Z

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BANGKOK - Jeanne peers out over the landscape from midway up Wat Arun's central prang.

BANGKOK - Flanking the entranceways to Wat Arun are huge statues of yaksha demons, half god and half demon who, in Hindu myth, guard the wealth of the earth...

2009-01-03T02:51:51Z

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BANGKOK - Flanking the entranceways to Wat Arun are huge statues of yaksha demons, half god and half demon who, in Hindu myth, guard the wealth of the earth...

...their ferocious-looking faces intended to drive off any evil beings that might want to rob or harm the wat.

2009-01-03T02:52:04Z

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...their ferocious-looking faces intended to drive off any evil beings that might want to rob or harm the wat.

BANGKOK - In sharp contrast to the towering guard figures are these smaller carvings scattered throughout the wat. Often no more than a foot or so high, some had been decorated with floral ...

2009-01-03T02:52:23Z

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BANGKOK - In sharp contrast to the towering guard figures are these smaller carvings scattered throughout the wat. Often no more than a foot or so high, some had been decorated with floral ...

BANGKOK - In one of the inner courtyards of Wat Arun, we found this guard figure, apparently once painted in reds and blues.

2009-01-03T02:52:42Z

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BANGKOK - In one of the inner courtyards of Wat Arun, we found this guard figure, apparently once painted in reds and blues.

BANGKOK - During our second visit to Wat Arun, we became the subjects of a homework assignment by two Thai school children who asked us to fill out a survey form on what we liked about Thail ...

2009-01-03T02:52:55Z

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BANGKOK - During our second visit to Wat Arun, we became the subjects of a homework assignment by two Thai school children who asked us to fill out a survey form on what we liked about Thail ...

BANGKOK - We also visited Wat Traimit. Some guidebooks have labeled its architecture "undistinguished" (although we found it to be pretty impressive). It is what's inside that makes t ...

2009-01-03T02:53:25Z

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BANGKOK - We also visited Wat Traimit. Some guidebooks have labeled its architecture "undistinguished" (although we found it to be pretty impressive). It is what's inside that makes t ...

BANGKOK - Inside Wat Traimit is the famed "Golden Buddha," a solid structure weighing five-and-a-half tons. For hundreds of years it was "disguised" with a coating of plaster to hide it fro ...

2009-01-03T02:53:46Z

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BANGKOK - Inside Wat Traimit is the famed "Golden Buddha," a solid structure weighing five-and-a-half tons. For hundreds of years it was "disguised" with a coating of plaster to hide it fro ...

BANGKOK - Surrounding the main temple in many wats are dozens of smaller Buddha images. Patrons will pay for the installation and draping of these images as a way of paying homage to Buddha ...

2009-01-03T02:54:09Z

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BANGKOK - Surrounding the main temple in many wats are dozens of smaller Buddha images. Patrons will pay for the installation and draping of these images as a way of paying homage to Buddha ...

BANGKOK - Most wats have several Buddha statues, like this one at Wat Traimit. Often the Buddha image will be seated under a canopy, a symbol of protection against negative forces.

2009-01-03T02:54:39Z

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BANGKOK - Most wats have several Buddha statues, like this one at Wat Traimit. Often the Buddha image will be seated under a canopy, a symbol of protection against negative forces.

BANGKOK - Jeanne shoots a photograph of the Buddha image at Wat Traimit. (We found that most wats allow photographs to be made of their Buddha images - with the notable exception of the Eme ...

2009-01-03T02:55:00Z

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BANGKOK - Jeanne shoots a photograph of the Buddha image at Wat Traimit. (We found that most wats allow photographs to be made of their Buddha images - with the notable exception of the Eme ...

BANGKOK - The soaring silhouettes of the spires at Wat Pho. The four largest chedis - bell-shaped monuments - honor the first four kings of Thailand.

2009-01-03T02:55:34Z

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BANGKOK - The soaring silhouettes of the spires at Wat Pho. The four largest chedis - bell-shaped monuments - honor the first four kings of Thailand.

BANGKOK - Once built to cover and commemorate the remains of royalty, chedis today may hold the remains of anyone wealthy enough to afford the construction.

2009-01-03T02:55:54Z

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BANGKOK - Once built to cover and commemorate the remains of royalty, chedis today may hold the remains of anyone wealthy enough to afford the construction.

BANGKOK - Jeanne walks through several of the smaller chedis in an inner courtyard at Wat Pho.

2009-01-03T02:56:08Z

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BANGKOK - Jeanne walks through several of the smaller chedis in an inner courtyard at Wat Pho.

BANGKOK - Wat Pho is one of Thailand's most beautiful wats, but most visitors enter the wat primarily to see one of the largest Buddha figures in Southeast Asia - the huge Reclining Buddha. ...

2009-01-03T02:56:37Z

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BANGKOK - Wat Pho is one of Thailand's most beautiful wats, but most visitors enter the wat primarily to see one of the largest Buddha figures in Southeast Asia - the huge Reclining Buddha. ...

BANGKOK - The Reclining Buddha is 150 feet (46 meters) long and 50 feet (15 meters) high. The soles of its feet are encrusted with mother-of-pearl inlays that describe the 108 signs that id ...

2009-01-03T02:57:02Z

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BANGKOK - The Reclining Buddha is 150 feet (46 meters) long and 50 feet (15 meters) high. The soles of its feet are encrusted with mother-of-pearl inlays that describe the 108 signs that id ...

BANGKOK - An example of a wihan at Wat Pho. A wihan is a secondary assembly building where devotees gather to honor a wat's Buddha images.

2009-01-03T02:57:18Z

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BANGKOK - An example of a wihan at Wat Pho. A wihan is a secondary assembly building where devotees gather to honor a wat's Buddha images.

BANGKOK - Guarding the gates to the inner courtyard are huge stone figures bedecked with top hats.

2009-01-03T02:57:34Z

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BANGKOK - Guarding the gates to the inner courtyard are huge stone figures bedecked with top hats.

BANGKOK - These statues were carved from stone ballast used in the rice barges that once plied the Chao Phraya river. We could understand the Chinese influence, but the jaunty top hats still ...

2009-01-03T02:57:47Z

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BANGKOK - These statues were carved from stone ballast used in the rice barges that once plied the Chao Phraya river. We could understand the Chinese influence, but the jaunty top hats still ...

BANGKOK - The Chao Phraya river is the reason Bangkok exists. Since the city's creation, it has been the main artery for commercial shipping. Today, from dusk to dawn, barges, commuter fer ...

2009-01-03T02:58:16Z

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BANGKOK - The Chao Phraya river is the reason Bangkok exists. Since the city's creation, it has been the main artery for commercial shipping. Today, from dusk to dawn, barges, commuter fer ...

BANGKOK - A shuttle ferry is often the best - and certainly fastest - way to move from one bank of the Chao Phraya to the other.

2009-01-03T02:58:32Z

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BANGKOK - A shuttle ferry is often the best - and certainly fastest - way to move from one bank of the Chao Phraya to the other.

BANGKOK - These are the "Harley Davidsons of the river" - the "longtails." Today they are used mostly to transport people to various sites and through the city's canals. The name "longtail ...

2009-01-03T02:59:03Z

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BANGKOK - These are the "Harley Davidsons of the river" - the "longtails." Today they are used mostly to transport people to various sites and through the city's canals. The name "longtail ...

BANGKOK - These boats are the key to moving around Bangkok. For roughly 30 cents you can jump on a commuter ferry like this to travel to one of 10 or 12 downtown jetties along the Chao Phra ...

2009-01-03T02:59:20Z

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BANGKOK - These boats are the key to moving around Bangkok. For roughly 30 cents you can jump on a commuter ferry like this to travel to one of 10 or 12 downtown jetties along the Chao Phra ...

BANGKOK - A boat trip along the Chao Phraya is one of Bangkok's most delightful activities. Admidst modern buildings are still small stilt houses that spill into the river, vestiges of "old ...

2009-01-03T03:00:10Z

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BANGKOK - A boat trip along the Chao Phraya is one of Bangkok's most delightful activities. Admidst modern buildings are still small stilt houses that spill into the river, vestiges of "old ...

BANGKOK - The myriad canals off the river have given Bangkok the nickname the "Venice of Asia." The Thais call these canals "klongs," and it wasn't long ago that they were the major routes ...

2009-01-03T03:00:41Z

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BANGKOK - The myriad canals off the river have given Bangkok the nickname the "Venice of Asia." The Thais call these canals "klongs," and it wasn't long ago that they were the major routes ...

BANGKOK - Back in this labyrinth of narrow waterways, the city virtually disappears, replaced by scenes that were in sharp contrast to Bangkok's crowded streets.

2009-01-03T03:01:07Z

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BANGKOK - Back in this labyrinth of narrow waterways, the city virtually disappears, replaced by scenes that were in sharp contrast to Bangkok's crowded streets.

BANGKOK - Here is the city of a century ago: small houses and temples that seem to rise out of Thon Buri's klongs.

2009-01-03T03:01:23Z

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BANGKOK - Here is the city of a century ago: small houses and temples that seem to rise out of Thon Buri's klongs.

BANGKOK - This would have looked like a scene from "old Bangkok" had it not been for the modern engine attached to the lady's traditional flatboat.

2009-01-03T03:01:37Z

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BANGKOK - This would have looked like a scene from "old Bangkok" had it not been for the modern engine attached to the lady's traditional flatboat.

BANGKOK - Those who still live along the "klongs" of Bangkok use the river for washing, cooking, and during the hot season - which is generally year-round - for cooling off.

2009-01-03T03:01:52Z

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BANGKOK - Those who still live along the "klongs" of Bangkok use the river for washing, cooking, and during the hot season - which is generally year-round - for cooling off.

BANGKOK - Our longtail boat pulled into a Thai home/restaurant for a cooking demonstration. The city abounds with cooking schools.

2009-01-03T03:02:30Z

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BANGKOK - Our longtail boat pulled into a Thai home/restaurant for a cooking demonstration. The city abounds with cooking schools.

BANGKOK - Here Toom, an effervescent chef, spent an hour imparting a few of her secrets of Thai cooking.

2009-01-03T03:02:48Z

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BANGKOK - Here Toom, an effervescent chef, spent an hour imparting a few of her secrets of Thai cooking.

BANGKOK - We learned how to make red chili paste with mortar and pestle. Jeanne obviously excelled at this task.

2009-01-03T03:03:02Z

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BANGKOK - We learned how to make red chili paste with mortar and pestle. Jeanne obviously excelled at this task.

BANGKOK - Others in the group soon joined in as chili, corinader, basil, lemon grass and other spices came together with assorted vegetables to make our lunch.

2009-01-03T03:03:14Z

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BANGKOK - Others in the group soon joined in as chili, corinader, basil, lemon grass and other spices came together with assorted vegetables to make our lunch.

BANGKOK - The river holds a special reverence among Thais, and no time of the year signifies this more than early November when residents celebrate the festival of Loy Krathong. At rivers, c ...

2009-01-03T03:03:51Z

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BANGKOK - The river holds a special reverence among Thais, and no time of the year signifies this more than early November when residents celebrate the festival of Loy Krathong. At rivers, c ...

BANGKOK - Loy Krathong is especially enjoyable for many of the smaller children who take special care in preparing their krathongs for launching.

2009-01-03T03:04:12Z

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BANGKOK - Loy Krathong is especially enjoyable for many of the smaller children who take special care in preparing their krathongs for launching.

BANGKOK - We joined in the celebration by purchasing our own pre-made banana leaf boat. Jeanne (with help from some passerbys) lit the candle and prepared to cast her vessel onto the waters ...

2009-01-03T03:04:25Z

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BANGKOK - We joined in the celebration by purchasing our own pre-made banana leaf boat. Jeanne (with help from some passerbys) lit the candle and prepared to cast her vessel onto the waters ...

BANGKOK - Silently and slowly our "krathong" sailed out to join hundreds of others in the small pond.

2009-01-03T03:04:43Z

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BANGKOK - Silently and slowly our "krathong" sailed out to join hundreds of others in the small pond.

BANGKOK - By the end of the evening, hundreds of "krathongs" were afloat on the water. Celebrated on almost every waterway in the country on the night of the first full moon in the 12th mon ...

2009-01-03T03:05:02Z

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BANGKOK - By the end of the evening, hundreds of "krathongs" were afloat on the water. Celebrated on almost every waterway in the country on the night of the first full moon in the 12th mon ...

BANGKOK - No visit to Bangkok is complete without a stroll through Chinatown, one of the oldest districts in the city, dating back to the late 18th century. Early one morning, we headed int ...

2009-01-03T03:05:27Z

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BANGKOK - No visit to Bangkok is complete without a stroll through Chinatown, one of the oldest districts in the city, dating back to the late 18th century. Early one morning, we headed int ...

BANGKOK - Chinatown is not a place for anyone uncomfortable with frenetic, jam-packed quarters like Sampeng Lane (above). Built in the 1870s, it was the first street in Chinatown. Only six ...

2009-01-03T03:05:49Z

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BANGKOK - Chinatown is not a place for anyone uncomfortable with frenetic, jam-packed quarters like Sampeng Lane (above). Built in the 1870s, it was the first street in Chinatown. Only six ...

BANGKOK - During our walk down Sampeng Lane, when we weren't dodging motorbikes and other pedestrians, we encountered the friendly smiles of storeowners selling all types of foodstuffs that ...

2009-01-03T03:06:03Z

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BANGKOK - During our walk down Sampeng Lane, when we weren't dodging motorbikes and other pedestrians, we encountered the friendly smiles of storeowners selling all types of foodstuffs that ...

BANGKOK - Chinatown's shops - like most open markets of Thailand - obviously don't suffer from a scarcity of products. Overflowing bags and bins of nuts, beans, and other products are every ...

2009-01-03T03:06:14Z

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BANGKOK - Chinatown's shops - like most open markets of Thailand - obviously don't suffer from a scarcity of products. Overflowing bags and bins of nuts, beans, and other products are every ...

BANGKOK - Our tour leader helped us identify some of the foodstuffs that we might not have recognized. For example, the elongated white tube-like items in the bags are fish stomachs - a foo ...

2009-01-03T03:06:28Z

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BANGKOK - Our tour leader helped us identify some of the foodstuffs that we might not have recognized. For example, the elongated white tube-like items in the bags are fish stomachs - a foo ...

BANGKOK - Chinatown is not for the feint-hearted (or perhaps "faint stomached"), especially in our case, so soon after breakfast.

2009-01-03T03:06:47Z

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BANGKOK - Chinatown is not for the feint-hearted (or perhaps "faint stomached"), especially in our case, so soon after breakfast.

BANGKOK - The fish looked pretty good - and the presentation in the frying kettle was very well done. If only it hadn't been so early in the morning....

2009-01-03T03:06:58Z

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BANGKOK - The fish looked pretty good - and the presentation in the frying kettle was very well done. If only it hadn't been so early in the morning....

BANGKOK - We walked by a pastry vendor whose cakes had been elaborately decorated with icing in the shape of Chinese characters.

2009-01-03T03:07:10Z

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BANGKOK - We walked by a pastry vendor whose cakes had been elaborately decorated with icing in the shape of Chinese characters.

BANGKOK - Speaking of food, Bangkok is a foodie's paradise. Vendors line the sidewalks offering fresh vegetables and exotic fruits - in this case, freshly sliced jackfruit - and always with ...

2009-01-03T03:07:24Z

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BANGKOK - Speaking of food, Bangkok is a foodie's paradise. Vendors line the sidewalks offering fresh vegetables and exotic fruits - in this case, freshly sliced jackfruit - and always with ...

BANGKOK - But just as synonymous with Bangkok as friendly smiles and exotic fruits is traffic. Ninety percent of Thailand's automobiles are in Bangkok, and it seems that they are all on the ...

2009-01-03T03:07:44Z

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BANGKOK - But just as synonymous with Bangkok as friendly smiles and exotic fruits is traffic. Ninety percent of Thailand's automobiles are in Bangkok, and it seems that they are all on the ...

BANGKOK - For many Bangkok residents, motorcycles are the preferred mode of transportation. There are thousands of them on the streets, weaving their way through traffic, and at every redli ...

2009-01-03T03:08:09Z

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BANGKOK - For many Bangkok residents, motorcycles are the preferred mode of transportation. There are thousands of them on the streets, weaving their way through traffic, and at every redli ...

BANGKOK - Don't tell the Thais that a motorcycle doesn't have any cargo capacity.

2009-01-03T03:08:22Z

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BANGKOK - Don't tell the Thais that a motorcycle doesn't have any cargo capacity.

BANGKOK - Then of course, there is the ubiquitous "tuk-tuk," motorized rickshaws so named because of the sound of their engine.

2009-01-03T03:08:42Z

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BANGKOK - Then of course, there is the ubiquitous "tuk-tuk," motorized rickshaws so named because of the sound of their engine.

BANGKOK - Stay in Thailand long enough and you will learn that the best way to cross a street is to wait for some native school children and go when they go.

2009-01-01T21:58:59Z

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BANGKOK - Stay in Thailand long enough and you will learn that the best way to cross a street is to wait for some native school children and go when they go.

BANGKOK - Bangkok is indeed a city on wheels - but not all are motorized. Off the main streets (and sometimes on them), you often see women pushing food carts, ready at moment's notice to s ...

2009-01-03T03:09:16Z

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BANGKOK - Bangkok is indeed a city on wheels - but not all are motorized. Off the main streets (and sometimes on them), you often see women pushing food carts, ready at moment's notice to s ...

BANGKOK - The main attraction in Bangkok is the Grand Palace, its shimmering rooftops offering a dazzling preview of the classic Thai structures that awaited us inside the rather austere sur ...

2009-01-03T03:09:49Z

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BANGKOK - The main attraction in Bangkok is the Grand Palace, its shimmering rooftops offering a dazzling preview of the classic Thai structures that awaited us inside the rather austere sur ...

BANGKOK - The complex is divided into two parts: Wat Phrao Kaew (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and the more restrained Grand Palace, the former residence of Thai royalty. We would visit ...

2009-01-03T03:10:21Z

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BANGKOK - The complex is divided into two parts: Wat Phrao Kaew (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and the more restrained Grand Palace, the former residence of Thai royalty. We would visit ...

BANGKOK - At the entrance to the Grand Palace during our first visit, we and our fellow travelers stopped for a group photo.

2009-01-03T03:10:36Z

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BANGKOK - At the entrance to the Grand Palace during our first visit, we and our fellow travelers stopped for a group photo.

BANGKOK - Entering the sacred temple complex of the Grand Palace, we encountered the Hermit Doctor, a statue representing the father of Thai herbal medicine. It was made during the time of K ...

2009-01-03T03:10:53Z

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BANGKOK - Entering the sacred temple complex of the Grand Palace, we encountered the Hermit Doctor, a statue representing the father of Thai herbal medicine. It was made during the time of K ...

BANGKOK - The Wat Phra Kaeo complex (the sacred temples in the Golden Palace) is something of a Siamese wonderland - a scene of incredibly dazzling brilliance, of shimmering golden spires an ...

2009-01-03T03:11:08Z

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BANGKOK - The Wat Phra Kaeo complex (the sacred temples in the Golden Palace) is something of a Siamese wonderland - a scene of incredibly dazzling brilliance, of shimmering golden spires an ...

BANGKOK - After visiting the Grand Palace, Somerset Maughan wrote "It makes you laugh with delight that anything so fantastic could be built on the face of this somber earth."

2009-01-03T03:11:20Z

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BANGKOK - After visiting the Grand Palace, Somerset Maughan wrote "It makes you laugh with delight that anything so fantastic could be built on the face of this somber earth."

BANGKOK - Scattered throughout the temple courtyards are these exquisite "Kinnaree" statues depicting half-female, half-bird creatures from Hindu mythology.

2009-01-03T03:11:49Z

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BANGKOK - Scattered throughout the temple courtyards are these exquisite "Kinnaree" statues depicting half-female, half-bird creatures from Hindu mythology.

BANGKOK - Look closely at the Kinnaree statues at Wat Phra Kaeo, and you can see the intricate detail in the golden ornamentation that makes each a unique work of art.

2009-01-03T03:12:02Z

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BANGKOK - Look closely at the Kinnaree statues at Wat Phra Kaeo, and you can see the intricate detail in the golden ornamentation that makes each a unique work of art.

BANGKOK - Another view of a Kinnaree statue at Wat Phra Kaeo.

2009-01-03T03:12:18Z

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BANGKOK - Another view of a Kinnaree statue at Wat Phra Kaeo.

BANGKOK - Some of the Kinnaree statues at Wat Phra Kaeo take on a different appearance, replacing the female face with that of a yaksha demon-guard.

2009-01-03T03:12:30Z

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BANGKOK - Some of the Kinnaree statues at Wat Phra Kaeo take on a different appearance, replacing the female face with that of a yaksha demon-guard.

BANGKOK - The Grand Palace is the most visited site in all of Thailand, and the first Sunday we were there, it was jammed with locals and tourists - here congregating on the steps of the Roy ...

2009-01-03T03:13:24Z

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BANGKOK - The Grand Palace is the most visited site in all of Thailand, and the first Sunday we were there, it was jammed with locals and tourists - here congregating on the steps of the Roy ...

...but a week later in the midst of the airport shutdown, we found the steps to the Royal Pantheon totally devoid of visitors. In fact, during most of our second visit to the Grand Palace, ...

2009-01-03T03:14:12Z

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...but a week later in the midst of the airport shutdown, we found the steps to the Royal Pantheon totally devoid of visitors. In fact, during most of our second visit to the Grand Palace, ...

BANGKOK - The Royal Pantheon was constructed during the reign of King Rama IV in 1855 to hold the Emerald Buddha. His successor, King Rama V, considered the building too small so the Emerald ...

2009-01-03T03:14:27Z

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BANGKOK - The Royal Pantheon was constructed during the reign of King Rama IV in 1855 to hold the Emerald Buddha. His successor, King Rama V, considered the building too small so the Emerald ...

BANGKOK - This is Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.

2009-01-03T03:14:58Z

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BANGKOK - This is Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.

BANGKOK - Inside Wat Phra Kaew photographs were not allowed, but outside vendors hawked postcards showing the seasonal dress of the sacred Emerald Buddha. The King himself (when he's feeling ...

2009-01-03T03:15:29Z

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BANGKOK - Inside Wat Phra Kaew photographs were not allowed, but outside vendors hawked postcards showing the seasonal dress of the sacred Emerald Buddha. The King himself (when he's feeling ...

BANGKOK - A colorful Khon figure guards a stupa at the Grand Palace.

2009-01-03T03:16:11Z

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BANGKOK - A colorful Khon figure guards a stupa at the Grand Palace.

BANGKOK - A closeup of the Khon figure. Khon refers to a drama based on the Ramakien ("the Glory of Rama"), a mythological epic that the Thais adapted to their culture and traditions.

2009-01-03T03:16:29Z

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BANGKOK - A closeup of the Khon figure. Khon refers to a drama based on the Ramakien ("the Glory of Rama"), a mythological epic that the Thais adapted to their culture and traditions.

BANGKOK - Another view of a Khon figure.

2009-01-03T03:16:41Z

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BANGKOK - Another view of a Khon figure.

BANGKOK - The absence of crowds during our 2nd visit allowed us to take an undisturbed "we were there" photograph.

2009-01-03T03:16:55Z

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BANGKOK - The absence of crowds during our 2nd visit allowed us to take an undisturbed "we were there" photograph.

BANGKOK - But although we had the place to ourselves for nearly an hour, eventually a trickle of sightseers joined us and immediately became Jeanne's new "best friends."

2009-01-03T03:17:07Z

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BANGKOK - But although we had the place to ourselves for nearly an hour, eventually a trickle of sightseers joined us and immediately became Jeanne's new "best friends."

BANGKOK - At almost every twist and turn of the pathways within the Grand Palace complex, there are colorful sights. These are two of the eight multi-colored prangs that rise retween the ea ...

2009-01-03T03:17:24Z

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BANGKOK - At almost every twist and turn of the pathways within the Grand Palace complex, there are colorful sights. These are two of the eight multi-colored prangs that rise retween the ea ...

BANGKOK - The Phra Mondop, the library in the Wat Phra Kaeo, is a superb example of the elaborate temple decoration within the Grand Palace complex.

2009-01-03T03:17:50Z

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BANGKOK - The Phra Mondop, the library in the Wat Phra Kaeo, is a superb example of the elaborate temple decoration within the Grand Palace complex.

BANGKOK - Even the smallest of figurines at the Golden Palace are slowly being covered in gold leaf. Buddhist faithful apply small squares of gold leaf to statues like this as a way of payi ...

2009-01-03T03:18:04Z

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BANGKOK - Even the smallest of figurines at the Golden Palace are slowly being covered in gold leaf. Buddhist faithful apply small squares of gold leaf to statues like this as a way of payi ...

BANGKOK - On the walls of the interior cloister within the Grand Palace are the Ramakien Murals. Covering a length of 2,080 yards (1,900 meters), the depiction of the Thai epic drama is enh ...

2009-01-03T03:18:19Z

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BANGKOK - On the walls of the interior cloister within the Grand Palace are the Ramakien Murals. Covering a length of 2,080 yards (1,900 meters), the depiction of the Thai epic drama is enh ...

BANGKOK - The Ramakien murals date from the early 19th century, but the humid Thai climate has taken its toll, and restoration is a never-ending task.

2009-01-03T03:18:33Z

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BANGKOK - The Ramakien murals date from the early 19th century, but the humid Thai climate has taken its toll, and restoration is a never-ending task.

BANGKOK - During our visits to the Grand Palace, we watched in amazement as skilled artisans applied gold leaf and paint to fading sections of the Ramakien Murals.

2009-01-03T03:18:58Z

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BANGKOK - During our visits to the Grand Palace, we watched in amazement as skilled artisans applied gold leaf and paint to fading sections of the Ramakien Murals.

BANGKOK - Wats and monuments are just one small section of the Grand Palace. The extensive grounds also include the western-style Borom Phiman Mansion. Kings Rama VII and Rama VIII resided ...

2009-01-03T03:19:34Z

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BANGKOK - Wats and monuments are just one small section of the Grand Palace. The extensive grounds also include the western-style Borom Phiman Mansion. Kings Rama VII and Rama VIII resided ...