We had a fun day exploring the city of Bangkok. We started with a spectacular breakfast at the hotel. It was an amazing production, and we couldn’t believe they put this on daily for 500+ people. The clientele at the hotel was mostly Indian and Chinese, two large countries nearby. We walked over the BTS station, which was also the main ferry port. We took the classic boat (above) upriver to visit the Reclining Buddha, a giant statue in the Wat Pho Temple complex. It was crowded and extremely hot, and not that peaceful. I am really interested in Buddhism, not the religious aspects of ancient India and the far east, but the idea of slowing down your mind and accepting life as it comes. I am doing a bit of this through my yoga practice and it is helping me enjoy my life more and accept my aging.
We finally got tired of the heat, crowds, and odors of the city and spent the afternoon in the IconSiam Mall, across the river from the mall. I was surprised to see the large number of Japanese stores (ex, Nitori, the IKEA of Japan). I introduced Nadia to one of my favorite clothing stores, Jim Thompson. The American expatriate was an expert in Thai silks, and this company and tourist complex is his legacy.
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