Thu, 7 Dec: Finishing Bangkok

Grand Palace
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Up at six and started a shower with Deb still snoolzing.  Halfway thru the shower the water stopped entirely,  started a minute later,  stopped again, and finally came back on, and I finished my shower.  This place is certainly not the Oriental Hotel, but it is cheap.  I think we are paying 30USD/day including breakfast!  There is absolutely no ambience to the place, but Deb and I are consoling ourselves by having tea in the afternoon:  yesterday at Shangri La, and today at the Oriental Hotel.  Not a bad compromise.  I digress...

Grand Palace
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This morning it was decided that Deb and I would finish the Bangkok-related activites on the list we had emailed to Teng, while Teng and Lamyai would keep themselves occupied on their own.  So Deb and I headed out with Linda and our driver at 8:30, and returning at six pm.  In between we:

1. Saw the Grand Palace, and the Emerald Buddha,

2. Crossed the Chao Phraya river by water taxi to see the Temple of Dawn, Wat Arun,

3. Lunch - more good Thai food

Grand Palace
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4. Vist the Teak Mansion - one of the many palaces in Bangkok

5. Visit the Marble Temple

6  Took a boat tour on a long tail boat, just the three of us.  It is called a long boat due to the configuration of the propulsion system - a propeller connected via a 15 foot shaft which ties in to a significant outboard motor.  Noisy but very fast!

7.  Best part of the day was then going to the Oriental Hotel for something to drink and snack on.  I myself had what was described as Viennese coffee laced with rum, topped with whip cream and a cherrry on top.  If that wasnt enough I opted for the tiramisu.  It was very very very good.  All this while being entertained by a a guitaries strumming away!  I'm going back there tomorrow!

Grand Palace
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8.  Got back to our hotel by 6pm, only to find that Lumyai and Teng were too tired  for dinner.  Worked out well for Deb and I as our Oriental Hotel snickety snacks will suffice easily for dinner tonite.

9  Tomorrow the plan is to head out to the River Kwai to see the famous bridge.  It's a bit of a flog to get there, according to cousin Tom, but I'm excited about going.

R