Thailand has a population of 65 million with 75% Thai, 15% ethnic Chinese and other minorities. Thailand is the only south east asian countries that has never been colonized, sort of the buffer state between Burma, colonized by the British and Vietnam, colonized by the French.

The first Thai Kingdom is considered to be the Buddhist kingdom of Sukhothai founded in the 13th century. After the Khmer empire falls, in the mid 14th century the kingdom of Ayutthaya was established.

Red Shirt Protest again

Thongek who is a university friend of mine volunteered to be my guide for the day.
There are so many temples in Bangkok. Visited Wat Pho, a temple which many years ago was a school for massage. It’s also the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok.

Statue of the reclining Buddha, 46 meters long and 15 meters high.

There were some Chinese influences in the temple with some Chinese statues.

Thongek as my guide for the day.

Wat Pho is the birthplace of Thai massage. Statues of some massage techniques.

There are a lot of foreigners and tourist in Thailand. It was much more than I thought. Tourism has become one of Thailand biggest money generator with more than 11 million tourist a year.

The Grand Palace,

350 Baht~USD$11 for foreigners and free for Thai. We tried to use the entrance for Thai but was not successful so decided not to go in.

Lunch (30 Baht~USD$1), a mixture of the internal organs of cow.

Sticky rice with Mango (30 Baht~USD$1)

Since the Chao Praya river cut through Bangkok, there is also the water subway system. Took the water subway

Passing by another Temple, Wat Arun.

to Chong Nongsi skytrain station and to Thongek house.

Thongek drove us to Health Land which is a franchise specializing in massage. There were many people who were waiting. We waited for an hour for a 2 hours massage session, 200 Baht with discounted coupons. That was my first time trying a Thai massage and it’s more physical that I thought. Another friend mentioned that her leg was injured for a week after having a session of Thai massage.

Again the red shirt protest is causing traffic jam on the street.

Dinner at Samboon seafood restaurant with Thongek family. Samboon is a famous franchise for curry crab.

The restaurant is not far away from Patpong street which is famous for its night market and go go bars. Walked passed by the Patpong market.

The street just next to Patpong is a Japanese street with all signs in japanese. The Japanese are one of the biggest contributor to the gogo bar industry.

Just right across the street is another street with gogo bars cater to the gay and lady boy community.

Visited a Jazz club, just around the street from the freedom monument with Thongek and Pichaya.

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