Bangkok

An eleven hour flight from Denver to Tokyo, a short layover, then a seven hour flight to Bangkok, walk through customs, a 45 minute drive to the hotel and we arrived at midnight. The Ariyasom Villa Hotel gave us a warm welcome and we went to bed. We have been traveling for 26 hours!

Sa-wat-dee ka -- Greetings in Thai! Our guide, Suevee, picked us up at 8 am and we were off and running! Our first stop is the Grand Palace where the kings have had their private temples and residences for several centuries. Today it is a public museum. Their most beloved King Rama IX died in October. They have a one year mourning period and his body lies in state here. Thousands will visit the casket before he is creamated and his ashes are placed inside a temple.

The temples are covered in gold leaf, colored glass tiles or ceramic tiles in highly decorated fashion. Buddhism is the predominant religion with influences of Hindu and regional cultures. Many of the figures represent demons (to keep out the evil spirits), monkeys or elephants for luck, and the gods of Hindu or Buddhism.

Near the Grand Palace is Wat Pho or the temple that houses the Reclining Buddha which is 142 feet long and 42 feet tall and all gold leaf. Reclining represent Nirvana. We also saw an exhibit of numerous gold standing Buddhas - each one different from the other with different shapes of the head, length of the ears, curling hair or clothes, hands raised or folded.

Dinner and theatre were at the Oriental Hotel. We were served a five course meal with tastings of traditional Thai foods. A series of Thai dances followed the meal.