Feasting in Bangkok

We made it to Bangkok. Farewell Diamond Princess. The weather is better than in the Phillipines where they are getting the brunt of the typhoon. Scattered thunderstorms tomorrow too, just like Florida. Looks a lot like Florida too except for the mountains. We have a great suite (got an upgrade). Should have spent 31 days here. We just returned from our massages which were very good so this email will be short.

Our guide took us to Chinatown for dinner but he kept buying us stuff from street vendors. "It is very clean." There is a vegetarian celebration going on and we stuck to vegetarian fare (hold the necks) which was all pretty good but mostly unidentifiable. Some of what I know is below:

Some rice cooked in bamboo

Wraps with something inside

A lot of fried stuff (how do the locals stay thin?)

Dim sum sumthin'

We had something wrapped up that tasted like cotton candy, some spicy fruit which actually tasted good, coconut milk in a bag, roasted chestnuts. . .

This at least looks familiar.

Almost rice crispy squares

And much more . We had to tell him to stop, it was like a cruise dinner compressed into 15 minutes instead of two and a half hours, and standing up. There are 7-11's every ten feet. Literally across the street from each other. (You can actually cross the street here and people don't try to run you down like Saigon) Stand in front of one and you can see another one, or two. Makes the Starbucks in NYC seem sparse. And they sell hand wipes like wash 'n drys except they are cloth towels inside instead of cheap paper which rips when you try to unfold it.

There is plenty of gross food if that is your preference. How about a dried flattened duck? (Looks crispy!) You could put it in an envelope to carry it home.

I've seen road-kill look more appetizing. Even the flies aren't hanging around.

They stopped traffic on the highway so the royal family could go by. Just like in the U.S. There is a king but he is old and sick and there was a revolution three years ago but I couldn't get the story straight. All I know is they closed the airport for two days and a bunch of Canadians got stuck here. The old king was born in Boston so he's technically a US citizen. I'm sure you can get the real scoop online. We see some palaces and buddhas tomorrow. He said the huge golden buddha is closed for renovations. Gotta save something for next time. Nice to have real internet.

Good night.

Regards,

Steve & Laurie