Life along the Chao Phraya River

Arrived in Bangkok late at night....Looking out the window of the plane seeing lights to the horizon.  Eleven and a half million people live in Bangkok proper.  When those rural folks come into the city to sell their wares....you could imagine that it might get a little crowded at the lunch line.  Humanity everywhere, all the time......like being at the Puyallup Fair on the hottest day, waiting in line for the Tilt-a-Whirl with 500 of your closest friends....

Thailand is one of the most diverse countries in the world.  Everything seems to work relatively well as far as people to people, considering the differences in religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.  If the Republicans and Democrats could be so lucky.

Outside our window is the Chao Phraya River....the color of a good Borsch soup.  The river is a major transportation water way, seemly just as busy as the highways.  They have every kind of watercraft.  Water taxis, water buses, private boat taxis, barges of all types, party boats, dinner cruises, small oil tankers...you name it....if it floats and has a motor attached to it....it's here.  Very interesting to watch it all unfold.

Did I mention the heat.  About the time we realized that it was just too hot to stay out was the very second you feel like passing out.  Staying hydrated is important.  So we learned to get something to drink or head inside to cool off in order to continue on.....the humidity is pervasive.

Bangkok is of two minds.....it is the dirtiest, most polluted, over-crowded, impoverished place I have experienced...on the other hand....it is opulent, high tech, seeped in history, forward thinking, and very easy to get around with all the transportation options.  Thais are generally wonderful people and they prepare the tastiest food in the world.......