One Day in Bangkok!

The tour I took in Bangkok was organized by two other passengers, Richard and Sandy,  who I had met through the Cruise Critic website.   Was a fun tour as were the others that I did with them,  we saw more and paid less than if I had done a Cunard tour.   First on the tour was the floating market, where we boarded long low power boats and saw this whole village built on stilts, with locals paddling around selling their wares, seemed like mostly food.   Lots of interesting architecture and flora, especially orchids.   I thought that Thai houses looked vaguely Swiss!     From there it was off to lunch featuring good Thai curries- mmm.    Then back on a boat down the river to the incredible Grand Palace, the home of the King of Thailand.    Interestingly Thailand is the only country in Asia that was not colonized by Western powers, and has a monarchy that dates from the year 1238.    The current King Rama IX has ruled since 1946, making him the longest reigning head of state in the world.    He and the royal family are to this day highly revered.    The Palace is open to the public, it's used for ceremonial occasions, the King doesn't live there, but everyone is required to dress modestly.   Even though we were told in advance not to wear shorts or short sleeves some did, and they were denied entry.  To bad for them, the place is crazy good!   It's an enormous walled compound of manicured lawns, beautiful flowers, glittering buildings, statues, temples, buddhist monks- we were all wowed!   Interestingly the monks would shake hands with the men, but not the women,  I think it has to do with their celibacy requirement.     The heat and humidity were fierce in Bangkok, we were all glad to get back into AC on the bus for the ride back to QM2.