Singapore - Wakeboarding

Working on a New Maneuver
I accompanied Puffin and her cousin wakeboarding on Saturday morning. We hopped in a cab to the north side of the island. The marina appeared to specialize in wakeboarding - there were quite a few folks there with their boards. The two of them wasted a lot of time trying to talk me into giving it a try. Don't be silly - I am a big chicken when it comes to water sports. I got myself a coffee and a paper and sat next to their coach at the front of the boat.

Bangkok - Chinatown

A Different World
I'm a typical man - when I get lost I don't ask for help, I just wander around pretending like I always meant to take the scenic route. What started out as an attempt to see Wat Arun turned into a 5-mile stubborn-man walk in 95 degree heat that ended up in Chinatown. You can tell you're in Chinatown because everything starts to look different. The buildings are older, the sidewalks are more crowded and the signs have both kanji as well as Thai script.

Bangkok - Eating

It's So Easy
Just walk around, that's all. Everywhere you look there is food being sold. You cannot escape it, even the sidewalks are lined with food.

Bangkok - Chao Phraya River

The River of Kings
That's the loose translation of Chao Phraya and it makes sense - this is a massive river that splits Bangkok in two. I can see how it was the lifeblood of the place in ancient times. This is a shot from a bridge looking eastward towards downtown.

Bangkok - Praying

No Excuses
Whereas in the States you can say you missed the bus to church or that your car broke down on the way, in Bangkok you'd need to find a different excuse. See, there are small temples everywhere. I saw dozens and dozens of them, I think there's one in every parking lot. This was the one in the hawker center near my hotel where I said a few words of thanks to Buddha for the small fruit waffle thingie I got there. It was delicious!

Bangkok - Wat Prayun Wongsawat

The Turtle Temple
I wandered into this temple seeking shade after a long, hot walk to nowhere in particular. I later learned it's known as the "turtle temple." It was built in the mid-1800's by Rama III, the reigning king. It's quirky, to say the least. I like the small pigs.

Bangkok - My Kind of Place

The Clincher
I didn't spend a lot of time in Bangkok, just a handful of days. But you know how you quickly like a place? It wasn't just the warm weather, the welcoming people, the excellent food - this was the clincher for me. A bunch of guys napping on their scooters in the shade. These guys were knocked out! I took this shot under a bridge next to the river.

Bangkok - Beauty Aid

Streetside Adjustments
Bangkok is a crowded, bustling city - Chinatown even more so. There is almost no sidewalk space, it can take an hour to walk a block. All manner of business was being conducted on the sidewalk, even threading. Have you seen this before? It's an elaborate use of threads to remove facial hair.

Bangkok - Dancing

And Munching.....

Bangkok - Motorcycle Taxis

Another Way to Get Around
The guys in the purple vests are motorcycle taximen and this, in fact, is a motorcycle line-up close to one of the sky train stops. There is no sign, no outward signal that this is where you go around here to catch a motorcycle taxi, I guess you just have to know. A few seconds later...

Bangkok - Massage Heaven

Hand to Back Combat
As embarrasing as this is to admit, I'm a coward when it comes to being naked. I don't even like being naked alone in the shower, but I go through with it since it's the best way to get clean. I've felt like this my whole life, I'm not sure why. Fear of a small package, perhaps? I'm a grower, not a shower (at least that's what I tell myself.) Once in Bombay I got an olive oil massage wearing nothing more than an eye patch on my johnson - it wasn't the most relaxing experience. What a revelation Thai massage is - you get to wear loose fitting clothes! Sign me up!

Bangkok - Getting Around

Underground and Above Ground
Bangkok recently completed both a subway and a tram (they call it the sky train.) The subway looks similar to the one in Singapore - modern, air-conditioned, with glass curtains along the tracks to keep the heat out.

Bangkok - Jatujak Market

Hot Shopping
Pingles was teasing me on the flight "it's soooooo hot in Bangkok, it's ridiculous." I imagined taking a few tentative steps outside our hotel and melting into a small pale puddle on the sidewalk. I considered the various ways I would die from the heat. "Just wait til you get to the market - the covered one without AC and thousands of people pressing all around you." She was taking great pleasure in this. Perhaps the gods were listening because a strange thing happened. At Jatujak market, the one feeling the heat was Pingles, not I. I felt like making an offering at one of the many small Buddhist temples that dot the city.

Singapore - Towers Rising

One Year Later
A year ago I took shots of three towers being built on the Marina (click here.) They're almost done. A combination of hotels, apartments and office space, I'm told. They're joined at the top by what will become a massive roof garden. For a price you'll be able to sit under the stars, sip drinks and take in both ocean and skyline views.