Bangkok

We arrived yesterday after a quick flight.  While out hotel wasn't that far in miles, it took about an hour to drive there in the traffic.  Bangkok is famous for its traffic, and we managed to get here just in time for the evening rush hour.  The interesting thing here is that while the roads are packed and slow, everyone seems calm and polite--quite the opposite of what we're used to.  The roads are great, with lots of high quality modern highways and ramps, plus a really modern commuter train system.  The trains and many of the highways are elevated, so much of the distance traveling is in the sky, or do it seems.  We drove in to a great view over the city.  It feels very modern and large and concrete.  It's not particularly flashy, but it had a very western architectural feel.  There are lots of bright colors here, with flags and flowers and shop front and even taxis painted in fabulous hues.  And there is a lot of construction here, too, though not as much as Phnom Phen.

We only had a bit of time in our rooms before we went out last night.  Our guide took us on a walk through the nearby Chinatown.  It was amazing!  Bright lights, street kitchens, small stalls on the sidewalks for blocks selling everything and anything to eat.  

We tried the famous durian fruit, which stinks but is highly desired in China.  It looks a bit like a smaller jackfruit, kind of pineapple-like skin but shaped like a small basketball with a stem like a thick stick.  The flesh is light yellow, and it smelled mostly innocuous, until you bit into it.  Then suddenly your mouth was filled with sweet mush with a rotten aftertaste.  Some of us could handle it, while others gagged and spit it out.  Durian can smell so strong it is actually banned in many hotels, including ours.  

We also tried fresh pressed pomegranate juice, and Thai ice cream with odd flavors like pumpkin or taro or corn.  We also had little crispy pancakes fried right on the street, filled with things like homemade marshmallows fluff and grated cheese, or jammy strawberries and a bit of meat with chopped green onion.  Interesting.

Today we went all day long.  I'll have to post about it tomorrow after we get back from the floating market--that's our super exciting plan for tomorrow morning.  So many exciting adventures still to come, but I'm tired now.