The Grand Palace

Our first morning's excursion in Bangkok to the King's former residence, The Grand Palace, was an outstanding start to our Thai adventure. Oteil and I were both astounded by the oppressive heat and humidity here. I was amazed that the sun's intensity surpasses that of Africa, which is really saying something. Your clothes are drenched in sweat in a matter of 10 minutes. Indeed, it is truly the land of 5 showers a day if you try to uphold your accustomed standard of comfort.

Nonetheless, we were thrilled to be exploring the tropical flower laden streets of Bangkok, a city that is a peculiar blend of ancient culture and the best of Asian technology. Bangkok assaults your senses like no city I've ever experienced. Walking the busy streets, your path weaves through diminutive Thai vendors aggressively hawking their wares. The air is thick with the exotic smell of simmering spices mixed with the scent of burning incense. The tinkling of Thai bells resonate from every rooftop and somehow ring through the bustle of the big city. Buddhist monks, barefoot and draped in bright orange swathes of fabric, scurry through the streets on their way to and from the myriad temples peppering Bangkok. Exotic tropical plants thrive in the bright sunlight and fill the streets with a stunning show of fiery pinks, oranges, yellows and reds. The plants seem to competitively grow into otherworldly sizes, creating a horticulturist's fantasy land. I can't help but think about how our mothers would delight in the beauty of the Thai's native fauna.

We traveled to the Grand Palace via a water "bus" that runs the length of the Chao Phraya river, carrying locals and tourists alike through the city of Bangkok. From the river we walked several blocks in the heat before stopping to purchase paper parasols to shield our skin from the scorching sun. After squeezing through rows and rows of street vendors, we rounded the corner to see the Grand Palace stretched out before us in all of it's ornate glory. I have to admit that once we were inside the walls, I found it a bit difficult to photograph because we were completely overwhelmed by the amount of gilded detail, you simply didn't know where to start. The entire compound was beyond impressive, truly a king's stomping grounds. The Grand Palace is still a destination for practicing Buddhists to come to meditate and give offerings. After removing our shoes, we quietly slipped into the back of a temple to witness the show of devotion. Monks of all ages knelt in reverence and filled the temple with deep guttural chanting that echoed off the gilded walls and made the hair on our arms stand straight up. The Buddhist men and women filled the temple, their arms piled high with exotic flower offerings, and one by one, they dropped to their knees and lowered their heads to the colorful mosaic floor in reverence of their Buddha.

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