Taken for a ride - in more ways than one

Well did we hit the ground running today - into a taxi which dropped us off at Sathorn pier, then we treated ourselves to a trip up river in a long tail boat which is basically a very long gondola-shaped wooden boat driven by a truck engine! We made our way, very, very quickly up the Chao Phraya river which is very wide and an attractive shade of sludge. Our nice driver, whose name I didn't understand, and how many times can you ask, then left the river and took us around several canals where houses are built on stilts right into the water. The tiny houses are squashed together and all the occupants possessions are on display. The living conditions are quite overwhelming. How can we talk about poverty at home. The canals are teaming with great big fish, apparently it is lucky to feed them!





Finally we got to our destination - the Wat Phrakaew and Grand Palace, but apparently it didn't open until 1pm so a nice Tuk-Tuk driver (a 3-wheeled scooter, dripping with rust and a bench just big enough for our bums) offered to take us to see free sights. Were we dubious? Yes. Did we go? Yes! He did take us to see the 'sitting Buddha' and the 'standing Buddha' but in between he took us to 2 tailors shops, an organised tour place and a jewellers. The traffic is unbelievable and we wizzed in and out in our rust bucket with our eyes closed! He was given a voucher for gasoline at each one and kept asking us to go to 'just one more'..
We finally said no and Kob (our new best friend) took us back to the palace. The whole trip was 50 baht, just over £1 for 1 1/2 hours. Jim was feeling generous and gave him 70!
Into the palace - I can't do it justice in words, it's just overpowering and amazing. Cos we forgot long trousers we rented a long skirt and trousers (see the hippy look in pics) A fantastic first day in Bangkok, we love the people, they are very friendly, helpful and smiley, especially when they are conning you!
By the way, it's very hot.