Wat Phra Kaew - Bangkok

I'd been told that if I was going to play tourist at only one spot, this was the place to see. I wasn't dissapointed. I only wish I'd gone early when the doors first open, before all the other Gringo's arrived. Big honking crowds. I'll definitely come back and spend more time - with Sieglinde. It ain't no fun doing this alone.

Went for a walk in the general area, and around the river afterwards. Had some great chats with some of the locals, and got in a taxi back to the hotel 2 minutes before it started to rain.

So, it turns out my hotel is just around the corner from one of the more famous/infamous night markets - Patpong. Famous as the big red light district, apparently is far less "red" than it was (still lot, and lots, and lots of sex for sale) and is now a massive night market. Being the rube I am, it didn't occur to me that things wouldn't really be hopping at 5:30 in the evening. Most of the stalls were still setting up and the bar girls were walking to work. So I sat at a sidewalk bar, nursed a beer and watched the world go by. Amazing how many older, single men were walking about (NOT that the description fits me!). Gosh, I wonder what they're looking for? A cheap t-shirt, some other souvenier, or...?

Personally, I was back in my room by 7:30 at night, starting to pack, sort out the files and papers I've accumulated, send thank-you notes to everyone I've met with here, and catch up on e-mail. Such a good boy!