Wat Po

After a morning of piddling around the house we headed out around lunch time to explore. We didn't tell the kids where we were going because we didn't want to hear the "I don't want to go" and other whining that would have followed. We loaded up the car and drove to the Nonthaburi Pier, the closest pier to us. When he saw that we were at the pier Andy complained because he didn't want to go to Koh Kret. This of course is not where we were heading.

We grabbed a quick meat on a stick lunch and chase the birds before boarding. The ride down the river took about an hour but the kids didn't even notice. They were too busy checking out the sites along the bank and watching the whirlpools that formed in the water when we stopped at a pier.

Water Hyacinth piling up near the piers.

I suggested Andy wai to passer-byes instead of waving.

We arrived at out pier and joined the masses of people cramming into the narrow walkways. We finally made it to fresh air only to be hit with the wonderful smells that are Bangkok, some kind of meat on a stick cooking over a fire, dried fishes, fruits... Yummy!

We made our way passed all of this and made it to the street.

We crossed the street and entered Wat Po, home of the Reclining Buddha, our final destination for the day. The kids were not so excited but curious enough to go along with the plan.

The building itself is enough to be amazed at. Beautifully adorned exterior and amazing paintings covering every wall inside.

 The Reclining Buddha did not disappoint either.

So excited, can't you tell?

Those are some HUGE toe prints.

Ivory designs on the soles of Buddha's feet.

We emptied my wallet of all the change that has been weighing it down for the last year and gave alms before exploring the other buildings within the Wat Po grounds. The kids were obsessed with picking up the coins from the floor and putting them into the bowls, holding up the line.

That's one big pillow.

We grabbed more yummies for the queue to the pier and then headed back up the river.

So disappointing: This lady charged 10baht as apposed to the 5baht we pay near the house and they were mostly chicken skin. At least the sticky rice was good.

Andy was excited to see the train crossing the train bridge.

 

Before heading back to our car and eventually home we stopped to feed the fish.

"So, have you been to the mall?"

The malls in Thailand are not that different from te malls in America. They both have tons of stores and restaurants and you can catch the newest release movies there too. There are a few things in the malls in Thailand that those western malls just don't have. 

A couple of the malls here have indoor ice skating rinks year round. So awesome.

Several of the malls have water parks on the roof. How brilliant! Although you have to wear a swim cap which is a bummer.

Most all Thai malls have a "basement" of some sort where you will find items of cheaper quality as well as cheaper prices. This is where I like to shop.

Special parking spaces are always set aside in the parking garages for various minority groups. Mainly they are for "Platinum" credit card holders or even "Lady Parking". The mall just around the corner from our house has special parking for our neighborhood residents AND golf carts! The mall we went to today had "Supercar" parking. This is for those crazy expensive sports cars like the one in the pic. They even provide special flooring and lighting to show off said car. If I had this Lotus and parked it in the "Supercar" park under the special lighting I would be sure it was clean. But this is Thailand and the roads are dirty.

Most parking garages in the malls have a car wash/detail shop where for a pretty penny you can get your "Supercar" Lotus cleaned while you shop.

Each mall generally has a substantial play area/arcade as well as a whole wing set aside for learning centers. These are not day area or schools but enrichment/tutor type places.

Some things will always remain the same no matter where you are though: like parking in BFE and crowds.

Tag! You're it!

I found the security base. Now I know where to go when I'm playing security tag.