11 1/2. Thirty hours in Bangkok, continued....

So we quickly set out a plan to enjoy our 30 hours in Bangkok as best we could. The couple dropped us off near the sky train, Zsila bought an umbrella on the way, and we walked up the steps to buy our skytrain tickets. It was actually really nice and clean. The only problem was figuring out what direction to go. We walked a lot of steps and finally ended up on the right side, headed toward Mo chit. We changed trains at Siam and then headed south to the end of the line. We walked down the steps, and onto a large water taxi

What an amazing time.
When we had been driving home the first time from the airport in Nan, without our luggage, I had already been thinking that losing our luggage was probably God's way of letting me see Bangkok. I had *really* wanted to see that city. So, inside, I wasn't that worried about the luggage, because I felt like there was another purpose. Thanks, God! He loves us so much, he even cares about the little things. I mean getting our luggage once we got there was so ridiculously easy, it took all of 10 minutes - and then we headed off to the city. And what a great time we had, I am really thankful for it.

The water taxi, the feeling of being somewhere ancient and progressive all at once - what a strange thing, the smiling people, the funny boats, the barges, walking through the little market places, the old thai women making their garlands of Jasmine, one of which is still hanging in my room -it's fragrance resting everywhere, the crazy fruit, the reclining Buddha - so big and imposing, and gold, the monks - on their cell phones, just walking down the side-walk, standing in front of the pictures of the king and queen and having an old Thai man stop to tell us with as much pride as he could muster, as he pointed at the pictures, "My King, my Queen!"

What a different place.
Yeah, it's like stepping back in time but remaining in the present...

Stumbling upon that park with a zillion kites, people peddling weird, scary, gross food. That one big rainbow flag with the funny music that only played when it was in the air. The dirty ground, trash everywhere. The many small, stray dogs, their tongues sticking out, dripping onto the ground in the heat. The tuk tuks zipping around. People bowing outside a white wall, their incense burning.
All the fruit vendors, and the sweetest pineapple I have tasted.
Lots and lots of skinny skinny people, everywhere.
Getting dark so early. Eating dinner, walking around the closing shops.
The nice family at the eyeglass store, showing us on the calculator how much money it would cost them, in baht, to go to the United States. Too much they said. Too much. They seemed to think about it often. One of the girls asked if she could come home with me...

People lining the streets, selling clothes, bags, jewelry, all laid on the ground in the dark night. Water dripping from buildings onto the floor below. Getting a massage a midnight. They taught us to say thank you: Ka pun ka.
Taking a taxi back to the guest house. Sukumvit and Soy 13...
Rain as soon as we got home. Rain all through the night. Waking up and walking through the flooded streets to eat breakfast, so much fun. Taking pictures. The cars driving by and spraying water all over us. Laughing hysterically - totally soaked! And then another car. Oh well! Finally making it to the Federal Coffee house and having some serious breakfast - as the water started to come in the restaurant, Zsila wondering if we were in the midst of another disaster and didn't even know it. Man that was a great breakfast: eggs, bacon, pineapple, papaya, pancakes, however - the coffee was awful, I think I'll just have to stick to the tea here, or have some at starbucks when I get to Chiang Mai!

I think I'll just stick in Zsila's webpage for reference:
newzealforrice.blogspot.com
She wrote before a few days ago and probably has more on our time in Bangkok.

All I can say is that I love culture shock and I had plenty of it here!

Bangkok rocks!