So today I temporarily handed back the tour-guide reigns to Jack because he wanted to go see some of Bangkok's more famous temples.  After the ordeal of getting breakfast yesterday we had apparently totally failed to notice the nice little café literally across the street.  Paying eighty eight Thai Baht (about three Canadian dollars) we had scrambled eggs and toast.  Much more reasonable than yesterday.   Getting all showered and sun screened we made our way to the part of town we ate dinner on the first night.  Avoiding more overly helpful locals wanting us to get into random Tuktuks we found the front gate of his majesty's royal palace. 

For those of you who don't know Thailand is actually under a monarchy and so has a royal family.  To give you an idea of the size the palace sits on over 94.5 hectares of land.   

Also the crowds, oh the crowds.  Imagine Disney land over the summer.  Imagine Pacific Centre on Boxing Day.  Imagine... Well you get it.  There were a lot of people there.  

But that wasn't the worst part.  The worst part was the fact that you were obligated to wear pants inside the royal palace grounds due to the presence of the most sacred Buddhist artifact in the world.  Pants, in forty degree heat.  Of course me being myself the only pair of pants I had with me where the blue skinny jeans I wore on the plane.  

The Jade Buddha, which is held in a temple next to the palace is a very sacred artifact (still unsure why, will update when I understand more) and one that people trek from all over the world to worship at.  I find it really interesting watching people practice their religion so publicly.  To see someone sit, bow and pray to a power that they only hope is real but put so much money and belief in.  Also we found out today that purchasing a Buddha statue, misusing the Buddha symbol or otherwise disrespecting Buddha is a impressionable offense.  Also talking bad about the royal family is impressionable and they take that law very seriously.   

But anyway the palace was very majestic (despite the heat).  Everything glimmered with inlaid glass and gold leaf.  

The real treat was when we went next door to the Wat Pho and started walking around.  Apparently, in partnership with the government inside the Wat Pho grounds is a massage school.  So having just walked a bunch Jack and I treated ourselves to a half hour of traditional Thai massage for a grand total of eight dollars each.  Honestly my back hasn't felt this loose in years.  So note to anyone traveling to Thailand, get as many massages as you can afford.  

The last stop on our itinerary today was The Temple of Dawn, which was situated across the river from us.  Fortunately there was a ferry that ferried us across for like ten cents (3B).  Unfortunately the Temple of Dawn was undergoing repairs and so it had scaffolding all over it.  Less majestic but still cool to walk around in.  

Finally after getting our fill of temples we decided to head back to the hotel room with a quick stop at Dairy Queen.  

Going to probably just eat somewhere close by tonight 'cause we are both exhausted.  

G-