Bangkok Thailand

I first went to Thailand in November 1989, after a trip to India.  Compared to the poverty of India, Thailand was a whole new experience!   Lots of sun, friendly people, good food, beautiful beaches.  I stayed at the wonderful Oriental Hotel in Bangkok - I've been back many times since.   

The Author's Lounge of the Oriental Hotel

Jim Thompson house

The Grand Palace

Tommy, the Oriental Hotel driver

 

An Oriental Hotel boat on the Chao Phrayer river	The Peninsula Bangkok, over the river	Thai dancer at the Oriental
Vintage cars at the Oriental at New Year		The Grand Palace
	The Grand Palace
Dana and Bob Wisehart joined us in Thailand in January 2010. Here at the Jim Thompson house	Bob, Dana and I at the Oriental	At the Grand Palace
Uh oh...	At the Oriental	A long tail boat on the river

 

• Bangkok is 24 times larger than the next largest city in Thailand.  It's a huge city!   In all that area, there are just two block-long streets with girly bars.  But unfortunately that is often the impression that people have of Bangkok.  The Thais are a gentle, respectful and polite people.  They will not hold hands in public, and certainly not kiss. No respectable Thai girl will date without a family member as a chaperone.  

• The Oriental Hotel is often rated the best hotel in the world.  It is on the banks of the river, and still has the original 'Author's Wing', used by Somerset Maugham, Joseph Conrad, and others.  The library is now dedicated to Jeffrey Archer.  The hotel will not let in any non-guests with a backpack, wearing shorts, sleeveless shirts, or sandals.