Day 2: Electric Boogaloo

We start with a walk through the Flower Market. There's a singing street vendor! I hum along because I don't know the words.

We have lunch at a Chinese restaurant across the street from where the government fights the protesters.

Bangkok constant: Crazy traffic with people on motorbikes moving in and out of lanes. Often between lanes. According to Tom, “If you buy your son a motorcycle, might as well buy a coffin.”

Grand Palace - so much gold. We see a Reclining Buddha the size of several football fields. Several places to take off shoes.

Lesson learned: DO NOT POINT YOUR FEET AT THE BUDDHA.

Also learned that “Happy Room” means bathroom.

Street vendors put lots of hats on Matt's head as we left. “Mai ow!” means "I don't want that" in Thai and is the best defense.

In Chinatown, we found goggles for Sammi and Ben. Ben started a Buddha collection, like most thirteen year olds. Tha is a good negotiator to have around. Matt found several small bottles each featuring a different image from the Kama Sutra -- couldn’t figure out where to display them at home so passed them up.

Last stop of the day was Vertigo and I was out of my mind with lack of sleep and jet lag. Rooftop restaurant about a jillion floors up with no railings. (OK, there were railings but I was tired and it seemed risky.) Beautiful view but not good for people with “Someone is going to fall off a high place” phobia.

The evening ends with a trip to 7-11. How do you get there?

Desk Clerk: Just go down that dimly lit alley.

US: Is it safe?

Desk Clerk: (pause) I don’t like it.

We took alternate route through parking lot with motorcycle gang and sleeping Doberman Pinschers. Bought water and peanuts.