I woke up this morning with only 1 goal in mind – to avoid being caught in the drenching water fights of Songkran… which would prove to be an exhausting challenge – all day! I took a venture up the temporarily abandoned Khao San (the main Rd & heart of the New Year Party) to walk thru clay dusted remnants, a water re-stocking frenzy, stage adjustments, and a few locals just waiting to get back into the water war action (it was only 9:30am… so the 12noon start wasn’t even a possibility!) I was in search of a new guesthouse, somewhere off the beaten path (or better yet, outside the water-war zone!) I didn’t really know where I was going, but that made the journey even more enticing – I just always seem to follow my hiking trail sensibility – to always pay attention where I am coming from… so I can at least find my way back! I wandered down a little alley near the river (probably about a 10-15 minute walk from my previous place,) past a few charred remains of homes that didn’t survive flames a few months ago – to reach my new ‘home’ for the night – Riverline Guest House. I looked at a few places in the area, but the extra $3 US to have a brighter and more inviting room – in the center of a beautiful courtyard – was far too enticing to pass up! Now would come the challenge of walking back across town to pack up my backpack and carry my things across town – with every hope that I would arrive somewhat dry! I used my rain cover on the pack – just in case! I think I had most the locals so in shock that I was carrying so much and moving at such a quick pace that they didn’t really know what to do!
After a cup of coffee in the courtyard with my new friends from France & Greece, I took off to find the pier and catch a boat downstream to the Grand Palace & Wat Pho. I was surprised to see the water so dirty, and even more shocked to see a medium sized turtle surviving its swim in the filth! The river is lined with the sprawling city of Bangkok on both sides – the distant views are rather pleasant and the “taxi” (boat ride) was actually very enjoyable. You must be ready to jump on or off the boats when they arrive at your destination, as they don’t stop for more than a touch of the dock (with ear-piercing signal whistles blowing far too close to your head,) and they’re off to their next stop! I only had a 2-3 stop journey in each direction…
After a cup of coffee in the courtyard with my new friends from France & Greece, I took off to find the pier and catch a boat downstream to the Grand Palace & Wat Pho. I was surprised to see the water so dirty, and even more shocked to see a medium sized turtle surviving its swim in the filth! The river is lined with the sprawling city of Bangkok on both sides – the distant views are rather pleasant and the “taxi” (boat ride) was actually very enjoyable. You must be ready to jump on or off the boats when they arrive at your destination, as they don’t stop for more than a touch of the dock (with ear-piercing signal whistles blowing far too close to your head,) and they’re off to their next stop! I only had a 2-3 stop journey in each direction…
My visit to Wat Pho (home of the largest reclining Buddha) and the Grand Palace (home of the Emerald Buddha) were excellent. With it being the new year celebration I was able to witness the traditional local celebrations, as the Thai people cleanse the Buddha and artistically place offerings. I took part in a movement meditation offering, between two older local women -- as we dropped a coin into each of 100+ metal bowls, while walking down a long hall behind the reclining Buddha and making a wish/offering at each of the bowls. The rhythmic clanking of the coin hitting the bowl created a trance-like journey from one end to the other.
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