09 Bangkok, Thailand

This was the first of two days at th port of Laem Chabang. After a 2 1/2-hour drive north from the port we arrived in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. To stretch the legs before lunch and then the main highlight we walked through the Pak-Klong-Talad flower market. Then onto the grounds of the Royal Palace. Today the buildings are used only for state functions and royal ceremonies. Inside we saw the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, an ornate temple with murals, statues and a lot of glittering gold. The centerpiece is the Buddha’s image carved from a single piece of jade, almost two feet tall. He has three different sets of ‘clothing’ depending on the season. We also saw the Golden Chedi, the Pantheon of Kings and the Towers of Nine Planets. We finished with the long trek back to the ship.