Bangkok!

Okay.. everyone says... "get out Bangkok"... leave.. it sucks... so I was expecting this decripit city, filled with rats, con artists, you name it.. and what I got was a beautiful city. Sure.. Ko Sahn road.. is a tourist dump.. well.... get off of Ko Sahn road. Stephen took us to a local bar, where we were the only tourists, listened to a great band.. drank thai whiskey and just enjoyed our last night as a group.

Bangkok is incredible. Picture canals, temples (whats), new commercial buildings, old 40's american style buildings, crazy traffic, clean streets, and white walls everywhere.. my pics are so bleached out from the whiteness of the buildings. I seriously don't know why people say get out of Bangkok, I am looking forward to my one night back here before my flight home.. I want to see a few more temples, the grand palace, and do some more shopping before I head home. Stephen took me to some hotels off the tourist track where I can stay cheaper, and better quality rooms on my last night.

Yesterday we took a canal tour. I wouldn't ever swim in that water, but it was neat to see the houses basically perched on the water, some shacks, some mansions, but all incredible. We took a long tail boat threw the canals, which bear a car engine, and watched the driver lean right over the side of the boat to make turns... quite funny. We then went to Wat Po where I saw a 46 m reclining gold budha (I really wanted to upload the pics but this computer won't pick up my USB dainit!), again amazing. One wat starts looking like another wat, but the wats in Bangkok have been built and rebuilt by the kings of this country and they have done a wonderful wonderful job. I still need to learn more about Budhism to truly appreciate what I am seeing here.

Today, in less than 1 hour.. I am off to the beaches. Natalie (a friend from the trip) is coming with, and we fly to Ko Sumai, and hopefully will be in time to catch the ferry to Ko Toa today. Brad is in Ko Toa so I'll know one other Canadian there.. and I am sure he will ensure we drink alot, and have fun.. either way I am looking forward to three days on a beach.. even though my poor skin can't handle it (I have a new layer of skin by the way.. as I have completely peeled out of the previous one.. good thing for molting!).

See you all soon!! I am home in less than a week!