Big Yellow Taxi? No - iridescent pink, please!

... or even pearlised purple, twinkling tangerine, or shimmering turquoise -these seem to be the favoured colours for Bangkok taxis - a riot of colour amidst the fumes, public buses, motor-bikes and scooters by the thousands - some with pillion passengers (or whole families) riding side-saddle!  (Will post some pics when we can use our own computer (the hotel's wi-fi is down at the moment)).  The pedestrians amongst us have to take our lives in our hands, as the pedestrian crossings, and even traffic light crossings, seem to have no rules - or none that Thai drivers sem to recognise anyway.  

Have had a fascinating tour around the Khlongs (canals) this morning (Thursday), stopping at Wat Pho, an amazing Buddhist temple complex containing the country's second-largest reclining Buddha (46 metres long, and covered in 24 carat gold-leaf).   Yesterday we ambled around Chinatown and the Indian shopping street, tasting some gorgeous street-food amongst both delightful and disgusting smells emanating from shop-stalls and sewers respectively.   Met the other 10 of the group we'll be spending the next four weeks with, together with Nak, our tour leader, a Cambodian whose home-town is Siem Reap.  Very knowledgeable chap - father killed in Pol Pot regime on the day he was born!   Had a gorgeous Thai meal together in the Kao San road (familiar to western backpackers for decades now).   All group members seem great - 5 Brits, 2 Swiss, 2 Dutch, 1 Kiwi.   Off now on the overnight train to Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand.   Thanks for your many messages, folks.



Bangkok's Pink Taxis
<><><><><><><><>

<>

<><><><><><><><>

Bangkok Street Scene