Vietnam and Thailand '08 day 8

Vietnam and Thailand '08 day 8
Did a tour of Bangkok, picked up at hotel at 6.45 ugh. Traffic really bad in this city, even with 8 lane dual carriageways, so took over 1 hour to collect rest of group, mostly australians, and get to riverside quay. Into boat, up very busy wide Chao Phraya river, guide pointed out temples (wats), of varying size, antiquity and ornatity. Especially striking was The Temple of Dawn (1842) at which we stopped to walk around. The river floating market has disappeared but a few lone traders in punts were plying their waresalong the sides of the riverwhere many old wooden houses on stilts are homes to Bangkok families. 95% of Thais follow Buddhism, closely telated to Hinduism but we did see a couple of Christian churches, although the moslem community makes up most of the other 5%. The guide, a very enthusiastic and very much in control thai lady, pointed out a lizard lying in the sun at the top of some steps. It looked like our lizards but much larger, maybe 2 ft/600mm long. Amazingly then, as if for our benefit, a very much larger specimin emerged from the water, climbed up the steps and chased the smaller one away. The newcomer was longer than the flight of 12 or so steps, I guess he was 6ft/2m long.All of us tourists and even the guide were very excited.
Next, up a canal, more waterside dwellings and sight of the Kings Royal Barge parked in it's 'garage'.
Also along the river and canals, often very nearto and towering over old timber houses, are many multi-storey buildings - hotels, banks, office blocks. The contrast of old and new illustrates the rapid development of Thailand over recent decades. Thailand is some way ahead of Vietnam and Cambodia in terms of economic development and infrastructure, and from what I can make out, much of the credit for Thailand's progress belongs to the present King and other members of the Royal family. The King is the longest serving living monarch, over 60 years on the throne.
Next on the tour was the Grand Palace complex. Begun in 1782 and steadily added to over 120 years, it is a remarkable and beautiful collection of 34? Royal Mansions, Halls, Pavilions, Temples and other strustures as well as the Palace itself. Unlike the Citadel in Hue, the complex is complete, well preserved and maintained and in regular use as well as being open to visitors. The Temple of the Emeralg Buddha is breathtaking. Many of the outside walls are decorated with millions of tiny pieces of stone of all the colours you can think of, all cut and placed by hand, producing a stunningly beautiful effect. Other structures are covered in gold leaf, erected in honour of deceased members of the Royal family. Dotted around are all sorts of animal based figures and ornamental trees and shrubs. All around the sides of one huge building is a mural depicting an historical conflict between one of the Kings and a devil adversary who tried and failed to steal the Kings wife.
Sadly one building was closed because it contaoined the body of the Kings elder sisterwho died in early January.. She has been embalmed and wiill be kept for many months before cremation.It is common practice in Thailand for the embalmed bodies of deceased relations to be kept for a time before cremation. Our guide told us that her Grandfather was kept in a corner of the family house while they saved up for and made preparations for his funeral. She said she really missed him being there after he was eventually cremated.
After the Grand Palace, we were taken to a gemstone and jewellry factory and showroom. Emeralds, rubys, saphire, jade. Beautiful stuff with maybe 60 workers skillfully working the stones plus gold and silver into totally hand-made jewellry. Thousands of items on display for sale in the huge showroom. Well worth a visit next time you are in Bangkok, although you have to resist the pleasantly hard sell by the numerous staff who are more than willing to assist you in your purchases. I resisted.
After the gem factory, back to the hotel to recover