A glimpse of Bangkok

 A glimpse of Bangkok (Day 1)

According to a survey by MasterCard Inc, from 2015-2018, Bangkok was the most visited city in the World for international visitors. It offers multi-faceted sights, great shopping and dining experience. 

9 old high classmates who know each other for more than 50 years, came to Bangkok on 4 January, 2019 accompanied by their companions. In Bangkok they were entertained by another classmate and his wife, both Thai citizens. They would have great fellowship for 6 days. And the wives would enjoy some unparalleled shopping.

We were warmly welcome.

潇洒曼谷游 (第1天)

泰国的曼谷是世界上最多外国游客的城市。2019年一月四日，九位认识了五十多年的老同学，带着伴侣来到曼谷，来个六天潇洒曼谷游。地陪是他们的一位泰国籍的同学和他的夫人。我们受到热情的欢迎。

A glimpse of Bangkok (Day 2)

Kanchanaburi is a town 140 km west of Bangkok, on the Death Railway built by the Japanese in WW2. Nearby is this famous River Kwai Bridge on the railway line, made famous by the 1957 movie "Bridge on the River Kwai". The movie is about what happened around the bridge during the war, all fiction of course.

潇洒曼谷游 (第2天)

今天来到曼谷西边一百四十公里外的一个小镇 Kanchanaburi。是日本在第二次世界大战期间建的死亡铁路途中的一个站。市镇附近就是有名的桂河大桥，是一部著名电影的“主角”。

80 km north-west of Kanchanaburi is this pass along the Death Railway called Hellfire Pass. It is a 26 m trench cut into rock, a particular difficult section of the route to build. In 6 weeks of work more than 200 slave workers died, some beaten to death by the Japanese. There is now a memorial on the ground and a small museum，with a few old coaches.

离 Kanchanaburi 西北八十公里的竹林里有一个人工凿成的铁路隘口，叫鬼火隘口，约二十六米深，穿越岩石。隘口是死亡铁路的一部分。六个星期的建筑期间死了两百多人。隘口处立有记念碑和一个纪念馆，馆外摆着几个旧火车厢。

At night, roam the Patpong red-light/hawker district. Found intact Christmas decoration in front of the Bangkok Christian Hospital.

夜晚在 Patpong 的红灯区兜了一圈。虽已正月，曼谷基督徒医院的圣诞节装饰还在。

A glimpse of Bangkok (Day 3)

Today is Sunday and in the morning we (5 Catholics in a party of 20) attended a 10 am English mass in the Assumption Cathedral, the main Catholic church in Bangkok and Thailand. About 90% of the attendees are locals.  

The church was built in 1910s, cost borne by a local Thai Chinese. The building was badly damaged in WW2. The ornately decorated interior, comparable to the most beautiful in Europe, was refurbished in the 1980s and 1990s.

潇洒曼谷游 (第3天) 

今天是礼拜天，早上十点我们五位天主教徒在圣母升天大教堂听一台弥撒。听弥撒者九成是本地人。教堂建于二十世纪初，费用由一位华人信徒赞助。第二次世界大战时教堂受严重破坏，内部重新装饰则是二十世纪末期才完成。

Afternoon is lady's hour, or shopping time. Split into small groups at the Central World - Platinum area. Malls and roads are equally packed. The men choose to enjoy some Thai deserts at the food court and later coffee at Starbucks. A Grab car, 2 or 3 km away takes some 20 minutes to come. Bangkok is simply vibrant.  

下午是女人的天下 － 购物时间。就在 Central World 和 Platinum 两个购物中心。先生们则喝咖啡看美女打发时间，甜品多吃，在曼谷没有糖尿病这回事。满街都是人和车。真是车水马龙。

Our dinner is taken at a beer garden, a place called Tawandang German Brewery, packed with revellers. Draft beer, pork knuckles, German sausages, grilled squids，etc. with a live band and acrobatic shows. One of us celebrates her birthday here. Great time for everybody.  

晚餐是在一个德国啤酒园，啤酒，元蹄，香肠，烤乌贼，各种不健康食物，谁去理它健康不健康？有乐队，杂技表演，宾客随音乐“乱”舞，非常热闹。一位团友也在此庆生，享受老公的亲吻，大家的祝福。

A glimpse of Bangkok (Day 4)

Today we are supposed to visit the beach resort in Hua Hin, south of Bangkok. But because of likely bad weather forecast at the coast, we ended up at Khao Yai, 180 km north east of Bangkok. A new tourist area with theme parks and flower farms. More like makan angin with many hours on the road. 

Had a western lunch at Prime 19, at the deserted Scenical World, a theme park. With steaks and pork ribs, showing the impressive high wall of wine bottles at the restaurant. Had a short stop at another farm called Pirom. 

潇洒曼谷游 (第4天)

今天的行程本来是去Hua Hin, 南方的一个海滨度假圣地。但因为气候预测海边有风暴，我们更改行程，去了曼谷东北一百八十公里的新旅游区 Khao Yai。在路上行驶了好多个小时，真是去吃风。

第一个停留的景点是 Scenical World，在 Prime 19 餐厅吃西餐，葡萄酒酒瓶满壁, 壮观。也在 Pirom 农场停留了一阵子。

In the evening we had dinner on a big cruise ship plying the Chao Phraya River, enjoying the views on the river banks. A shot of the new shopping centre IconSiam, and the beautiful lighted Temple of Dawn. 

今晚的晚餐是在一艘大游艇上享用。游艇在 Chao Phraya 河走了两小时。照片展示的是河边景色：最新的购物中心IconSiam和大寺庙Temple of Dawn。

A glimpse of Bangkok (Day 5)

Today's tour is a day trip to Ayutthaya, the old capital of the Siamese Kingdom from 1351 to 1767, 80+ km north of Bangkok.

One temple ruin visited is Wat Chai Watthanaram built in 1630 by the king, in Khmer style. The central prang is 35 m tall.

潇洒曼谷游 (第5天)

今天北上八十多公里去 Ayutthaya，暹罗王朝的古都 (1351－1767)。游览了一个寺庙组群的废墟，1630 年建成的 Wat Chai Watthanaram。它的中央宝塔高35米。

Visited also the ruins of Wat Phra Sri Sanpetch, the holiest and most splendid temple complex in ancient Ayutthaya, first temple completed around 1499. 

也参观了另一组寺庙的废墟，Wat Phra Sri Sanpetch。它是暹罗王朝最壮观，最神圣的寺庙组群。第一座建筑1499年建成。

Near Wat Phra Sri Sanpetch is the sanctuary of Phra Mongkhon Bophet, the 12.5 m tall golden image of a sitting Buddha dated to 1538. The sanctuary as well as the Buddha image were restored in 1990.

在 Wat Phra Sri Sanpetch 附近有一间寺庙，供奉的一座12.5米高，1538年开光的的坐佛， Phra Mongkhon Bophet。寺庙和佛像都是在1990年重修。

For lunch today we had the boat noodle famous in Ayutthaya. Great tasty meal. Pieces of furniture are boat-shaped.

我们今天的午餐是 Ayutthaya 有名的“船”粉食。名不虚传。

A touching scene -- while at the ruins, witnessed an overweight lady with walking sticks struggled to go up a low platform. Her equally overweight friend had to bend down to lift her leg up onto the top of the platform. Only these white people dare to travel even when they are not that mobile.  

感人的一幕 -- 一位相当肥胖，行动不良，拿着拐杖的女人也来参观寺庙废墟。一个很平常的台阶她也上不了。她那一样肥胖的朋友蹲了下来，抱着她的腿放上台阶，她才上得去。只有白人才有这种精神，行动不便照样出来旅游。

A glimpse of Bangkok (Day 6)

Today is home coming day. The tour is ended as well as the story. Many thanks to our Thai classmate V and his wife, A, for all the arrangement. V and A means Very Accommodating. And thanks to fellow travellers for making the trip so memorable. We have become 20 years younger with your company.

To conclude this story: two shots from the streets of Bangkok, properly captioned.

Truck driver: "my truck more beautiful than the Malaysian one lah!"

Technician on the phone: "Mr Pitchai, your house no electricity eh? Let me check the wires. It will take some time you know!"

潇洒曼谷游 (第6天)

今天是凯旋回归日，旅游故事也到此为止，多谢观赏。非常感谢我们的泰国同学和夫人，费这么大心思为我们准备節目，接待行程。多谢了。

再贴两张曼谷街道拍的照片：

货车司机：我的车比你们的漂亮!

一位技工打着电话：必猜先生，您的家没电？我要查看你家的电线，要一点时间哦!