one night in bangkok

Okay, we actually spent two nights in Bangkok.  But, we couldn't resist starting this post without a throwback to a classic, which my brother reminded us about shortly before we landed in Phuket (thanks Dre).  Incidentally, although this song may have topped the charts from South Africa to Switzerland in 1985, the Thai government banned it around the same time - they didn't want it to give anyone the wrong impression about Thai culture and society.  We would hate to give anyone that impression either - so, to be clear, we thought the City of Angels (of the East) was awesome.  Full of unique culture, history, buzzing energy and modern charm.  It was an excellent end to our travels through Thailand.

For starters, we were in very good company for this portion of the trip.  Aman's cousin, Sonia, who was wrapping up a trip to Delhi, decided to drop in for a couple of nights before heading back to the States.  We also met up one night with two of Aman's classmates from business school (and their lovely families) who all live in and around Bangkok.

We were fortunate enough to visit Bangkok on the day of an especially important Buddhist holiday, known as Magha Puja.  Translation: the wats were teeming with devotees clutching lotus flowers and incense, and dotted with monks in colorful robes leading prayers.  It was all very impressive to see.

Unfortunately, we didn't make it to the Grand Palace because the prince was there on official business (what nerve), so almost all of the buildings were off limits.  But we did make some worthwhile stops to Wat Arun ("Temple of Dawn") and Wat Pho.  The former has a classic prang (tower), beautifully decorated in porcelain flowers and mythical figures, which you can climb for spectacular views of the city.  The latter has a chapel that houses the world's biggest reclining Buddha (47 meters long).  It was a sight like no other.

Wat Arun:

Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho:

As always, be careful with your personal belongings when touring these sights.  Here is a helpful reminder that we saw at the entrance of Wat Pho.  It's not just the locals you have to watch out for...

Yet another one of our Bangkok favorites was the Jim Thompson House.  None of us had heard of Jim Thompson before we got to Thailand, but we all thought the details of his personal story (and his house) were fascinating.  An American born, one-time spy who fell in love with Thai culture and moved to Bangkok after World War II.  He is credited like no other for his contribution to the Thai silk industry in the 1950s and 1960s.  Some people say he revitalized it, others say he started it.  He was equally well-known, or so they say, for smuggling art into Thailand from neighboring Asian countries.  His impressive private collection of art is on display at his house, which itself is a piece of architectural genius - it was constructed (without nails) in traditional Thai style from six teak structures that Thompson brought in from various corners of the country. Thompson, of course, is not there.  He disappeared from Malaysia (without a trace) in 1967.  His story is amazing to take in as you survey the grounds, which have been kept as he left them.  A good place to go, especially if you are looking for a break from the temples.

We ended our stay in Bangkok with a fancy night out at Lebua, that trendy restaurant on the roof of the State Tower....  you know, the one where they shot some scenes for the Hangover 2?  (Please don't spoil it for us, this is another one on our "to see" list...)  Great views of Bangkok after dark.

So, in short - no, Bangkok definitely did not disappoint.  After 18 days and hundreds of miles traveled, Aman and I brought our Thailand adventures to a close here.  Our mini-journey brought us from sunny, pristine beaches and turquoise blue warm waters, to a cultural capital situated among the highest mountains in the country, to one of the world's greatest metropolises bustling with life.  We easily could have used another week before moving onto Cambodia.  But, the adventure must continue...