Cambodia & Thailand Day 18

DAY 18 - December 13, 2003 - Bangkok

We got to the hotel at 7 AM and Anya asked us to go to have breakfast as the rooms would not be ready until 8:30 or so. As usual, a good breakfast with the group.

After checking to see if there was an internet open at this time of the morning on Sunday - no success, we were able to get into our rooms about 8 AM. After a shower and a change of clothes we were ready to leave on the optional tour of Bangkok.

About half the group went and we got on the bus at 10 AM. First we visited the Wat Traimit, known for the Golden Buddha made up by 5.5 tons of solid gold. It had been buried in concrete to keep it out of the hands of the Burmese when they invaded but was found in 1957. The Buddha was brought by boat down the river and placed at the capital city.

Even though it was Sunday, the traffic had become very heavy. People were out eating, shopping and just enjoying the sunny day. We walked from the Golden Buddha right into Chinatown, the second largest population in Bangkok. As we saw their wares on the streets and wandered through their community, we commented that it was not too different from the Chinatowns we would find in an US city.

Anya took us through their local street market, seeing their very special items - eels, fish, foods, flowers and personal items. The mushrooms and spices were somewhat different from the Thai that we had seen in previous market visits. Anya bought us roasted chestnuts and grilled bananas from street vendors. Both of these were OK but not something that I would buy on my own.

We waited a few minutes and the bus picked us up and we had lunch in the upscale Sorndaeng Restaurant, voted the best Thai cuisine restaurant since 1957. The food selection was outstanding.

We all enjoyed the dishes Anya picked out for us. She has worked very hard to make sure we have a different menu from any before. It has worked. For the whole trip, we have not had a repeat of any dish in all of our meals. It needs to be noted that we have not had any western food in over 16 days.

Many of us a craving a cheesy pizza or maybe a greasy cheeseburger. But, if truth be told, we are probably better off eating the healthy, vegetable laden food of the Thais.

We took a drive to the city’s ancient market and saw the shops selling the Buddhas. Entering one shop after another, we saw these huge statues that are sold to people to place in the temples. They cannot be used in commercial establishments.

By 2 PM the temperature of Bangkok had gone to the upper 80s and the pavement was warm. Many of us, even with all the days here in SE Asia, are still feeling the heat and the intense sunshine. At 3 PM Anya dropped us off at the hotel to have a little free time before we go out for our goodbye dinner.

Gennie and I went to the Emporium Shopping Center and used their high speed internet connection to send out the Day 17 materials. We also checked on the national Division 3 football semi-final score between St. John’s of Minnesota and RPI and were disappointed in that St. John beat RPI 38-10, with 28 unanswered points in the second half. The positive in all this is that no one expected RPI to be in the semis.

We returned to our room to work on our pictures and begin to get things ready for our early morning flight out of Bangkok to the USA.

Tonight, we gathered for a farewell dinner cruise on a river barge.We met at the lobby at 6 PM and were joined by Ernie, the Grand Circle director for SE Asia. We drove to the Chao Phraya - River of Kings and were met by a very well appointed river barge.

China dinnerware, drinks, appetizers, and then the main meal of several courses. During each of the portions of the meal we had two young ladies come on deck and perform traditional Thai dances. With dessert of fresh fruit and other sweets, we were again entertained by the young ladies.

They tried to get members of the group to dance with them but only Nancy went up. Anya joined to make it a foursome. The dance is very intricate and has a lot of difficult hand movements. Anya gave all of us a little remembrance gift - a small wooden spirit house. During all of this we navigated up and down the river.

At 9 PM we left the river, got on the bus and drove back to the hotel. Anya had told us that the portion of the group going back to the US would need to be in the lobby at 3:45. EARLY. We said our goodbyes to those we would not see again and then went to our rooms.

Accommodations: Imperial Impala Hotel - Internet - Laundry

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Day 6: Mediterranean Navigation

Aziz, our Tour Leader

The Red Group at Dougga, Tunisia

North Africa American Cemetery in Tunis

The Tunis Medina

Shops in the Souk

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Day 06 - Friday, March 7, 2025 – Tunis, Tunisia; Visit Carthage; North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial; UNESCO Medina of Tunis

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