Well, I now feel like I am part of the little neighborhood where I stay...people say "Hello Jennifer" when I go buy. My last few days I have gone beyond the comforts of my favorite resteraunts and have eaten all sorts of exotic things from the stands. Salty, to sweet, to spicey to yucky! I have definitly have gone out of my usual limited diet and have had pork (not by choice), gluten, dairy, and soy.
It was so nice to have a soft bed to sleep in and coming to Bangkok allowed me to figure out how to extend my visa (i am going to do a laos "border run" tonight), mail some things, and make my best purchase yet: mini speakers for my i-pod!
Yeaterday, after taking care of business I took a boat to What Arun - the temple of Dawn and climbed it up high- VERY steep stairs! What was so beautiful about all these structures was that the decor was made of, what looked like, old china plates. The flowers, the statues and all the surfaces. It was old and intricate and beautiful!
I also have seen some Beautiful sights today with a new friend, charlie, from france! We started the morning off early at the Grand Palace - Thanks Wendy for the tip to go early, it feels like Disney WOrld there after 10am. It was glamour and gold all over with lots of mirror and gems on all the buildings. We also got to see the emerald Buddha- which was small yet enjoyable to see among a beautiful alter inside a glamerous building. The more unique part of the day was when we used our ticket to go to a museum created by a foundation and the world's largest teakwood mansion. - Vimanmek.
In the museuam all the luminous coloring through the cloth, fixtures, stautues and such were made by beetle wings!!!!
it was nice to spend the day and explore Bangkok one more time with another solo travelor, who was kind and sweet - and my age too:)
I am glad to be moving on from bangkok to the orphanage. I should be there by the weekend. here is the link to where i am going:
http://www.baanunrak.org/
Oh saw the wildest thing yet being sold - Dentures...with missing teeth!!!!!!!!!!!
One more funny sight: A family on a mo-ped with an umbrella and a birdcage - not a rare thing to see!
I'm am grateful to have seen such sacred places and am happy though to move on from the pollution.
Lots of love to all of you... and I will admit now that I was homesick for the first week or so..but i'm getting into the flow now:)
