Bangkok - Day 2

Today was another fun, free day. We start working tomorrow and Monday...just in time for the jetlag to wear off (hopefully). I'm feeling a little under the weather, but think it might be exhaustion, dehydration & starvation...or a mixture :)

Our missionary had some things to do today, so he hired a driver to take us into the country and the "jungle" of Thailand. I'm not 100% positive how long we drove, but we left at 9am and didn't get back to our hotel until 6:30...so the trek was long.

Our first stop was the Damnoensaduak - "Floating Market". We got on a little gondola type boat with a huge engine. We drove down the river that is lined on both sides with houses. One house will be completely gorgeous and the other house is a little tin shack made of all different color tin. It's the oddest image ever. Little canoes are sitting in the water in front of each house. A few houses have little signs in front for either Coke or Pepsi...if you pull up, they'll sell you a drink.

Further down the river, their are Thai people in little boats full of souveneir type merchandise or fruit they're waiting to sell you. As you pass by, they use a hook to pull the boat closer and hassle you into buying something. Some of the little markets are actually on the ground, so you get off theboat and venture over there to look. The deeper you get into the river "neighborhood" the more shops and boats there are. I took plenty of pictures, but I only posted one so you could see how packed it was. My Dad bought some cool hand painted picture and some little spoons, I bought little gifts for the girls at church :) It was probably the most amazing thing I've ever seen. That in itself was worth the trip.

Next, our driver, Panya, took us deep into the country to the Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno Forest Monastery - "Tiger Temple". I'm not sure of the whole story, but a monk travelled to that part of the country and started a monastery where he took in all kinds of wildlife. They've hand-raised all the Tigers that live on the property. So, Nick, Dad and I were able to have our pictures taken with real tigers. I hugged a little cub, Dad shook his paw, and Nick KISSED him!! It was pretty cool. I guess it's something I will never get to do again.

Lastly, we visited the Bride over the River Kwai. The bridge was built at the start of World War II. It was built by prisoners of war and foreign labourers. Now, a train runs across the bridge, however, we were able to walk on the bridge before the train came. Apparently, you have to be careful how you say the name...one way is appropriate, the other is a not very nice word :)

After our 2-3 hour trek back to the hotel, we rode a tuk tuk to the mall to eat at the food court. Since the food wasn't very good, we went to a pizza place. Turned out, that wasn't very good either. So, we're back at the hotel now...Nick and Dad are sleeping and I'm going to start some homework.

Tomorrow Dad preaches at the Phillipino church here in Bangkok, and Monday we fly to Cambodia for the conferene at the Bible School. Should be a busy few days, but hopefully I'll have good pictures and good news...

Talk to you tomorrow :)