Back. Hi

Ok.

So here’s my new blog, and we’re going to be covering my return trip to South East Asia.

I was hoping to push something out yesterday (Monday) but got a little delayed. More later.

Anyway…

So here we are in Bangkok, hot, smoggy, stunning Bangkok, and we’re on the best place to be on a steamy, sticky day – the river.

Where are we going? To one of Bangkok’s essential sights, the Grand Palace, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Sounds exotic. However half the world thinks so as well, and I got there to find the place rammed with visitors. Not the best place to be standing around when it’s hot. (As we’ll see, my plans are subject to revision and even cancellation). So, it was over the river to something you may recognise…

Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn, used to house the Emerald Buddha (which we’re not seeing of course) before the capital was moved to the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya river in the 18th century.

In the 19th century the king had the spires done up with porcelain and coloured glass inlays. Last time I came they were under scaffold, but the renovators have been and gone and a splendid job they made of it.

Temple of the Dawn? The panels are highly reflective and the whole thing turns golden in the light of sunrise, and at sunset. They don’t look too shabby at midday either.

I’m hoping to come again tomorrow morning.

This western bank of the river is actually the Thonburi side. I hadn’t been here before and I fancied a look so got on the tourist boat and headed upstream to the train station – pictures later.

So that was that, and it was back down the river to my hotel.

Which isn’t one of these.

Ayutthaya, the old capital of Thailand, is 70 km away and its fabulous ruins and streets are a must-see. It was one of the reasons I came back to Bangkok and I’d lined it up for today, Tuesday.

However I hooked up with some other travellers around the famous Khan San Road last night – and got to bed at five. I’m writing this blog post at ten to two in the afternoon, still in bed. This is my last day in Bangkok. Ayutthaya will have to wait.

So I’m going to have to come back again!