Arrival... finally!!!

The skyline view from our hotel in Banglamphu. Note the skeleton of the skyscraper - saw several of these.
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We finally arrived in Bangkok after a very long time in planes and airports, including a layover in the Hello Kitty terminal of the Taipei airport.

We headed to the Banglamphu district, which is around Khao San Road, a popular backpacker type area.  We set out for the well known Wat Arun, but got hijacked along the way by several tuk-tuk (ubiquitous 3-wheeled golf cart/motorcycle lawnmower-engined vehicles) scams who were quick to recognize the tourist targets on our backs.  We ended up taking one to a tourism company (fake) and not buying anything.  It was fun to ride around in a tuk-tuk, though.

Bangkok and our expectations? Same same.

The famous reclining Buddha at Wat Pho
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Our second day started with a walk to Wat Pho, home of a famous reclining Buddha.  The 46 meter long Buddha was an impressive sight - nearly too big to fit into a photo.  The remainder of the temple was ornately decorated, with the majority of the surfaces covered with colorful tile pieces and statues.

Strolling along the streets between Wat Pho and the Grand Palace, we saw a million vendors selling everything imaginable.  Seriously, if you can think of it, they had it.  Used spatula?  One left shoe with Cookie Monster on it?  Wind-up monkey with cymbals?  I'm sure you can find them all - every day's a yard sale in Bangkok apparently.

A Thai market
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The Grand Palace was up next.  The king no longer lives there, but the property is still worth seeing.  It is incredibly large and houses several buildings.  Of note was a temple housing the venerate Emerald Buddha.  After removing our shoes and blessing ourselves with a lotus flower dipped in holy water, we took in the monks and other Buddhists as they prayed before the gaze of the sacred green icon and curious tourists.  We also saw an enormous amount of gold leaf in the temple area as well as a full model of Angkor Wat (which we would leave for later that day).

Buddha figure at the Grand Palace
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At first, we weren't so thrilled with the slick schemers and pollution, but we were able to take in some culture and even learned a few valuable lessons.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO THAILAND - A word of redundant warning to anyone thinking about traveling to Bangkok:  Basically, in Bangkok there are some friendly people, but you're going to get ripped off by anyone who talks to you and tells you 1) something's closed - even if it's not in Bangkok, but somewhere you're going 2) he'll take you on a tour 3) anything about the Lucky Buddha.  Just like every book/guide warns.  If anyone ever asks if it's your first time in Thailand, it's best to say no and walk away.  And always lie and say you have a room.