zachary pfriem

Since we skipped a day on the way over here, it seems like this entry is a day later than it should be. Technicalities aside.

Yesterday Julie and I went ot the Royal Palace here in Bangkok! It was about a billion degrees with 99% humidity, and fabulous! We stayed at a very nice hotel for the first two nights as we wanted to have a good place to adjust. Even though it was super nice it was only like $50.00 USD a night. So anyway, back to the fun.We went to the Palace via Taxi. The Palace was breathe taking. So much intriquicy, it was difficult to take it all in. Their were so many different kinds of people, many Buddhists there on pilgrimige made it very easy to feel out of control spirituality. Incense burning, people bowing to shrines in prayer, and lotus blossoms everywhere. I was sweting all over the place. Everybody here thinks that Julie is Thai and starts speaking to her in Thai, it’s humorous. She cannot wait until we are in Cambodia where she will be able to respond and partake in conversation.

It kind of sucks seeing all of these white guys with Thai girls, don’t really know if they are an actual couple, or ‘hired help.’ It als omakes me wonder if other people look at Julie and I like that. The only thing that differenciates Julie from the others, visually, is that she looks like a traveller w/ a backpack and sandals, where the others look all dolled up and local. Julie also only speaks English.

After the Royal Palace we were heading for Wat Pho, where the famous reclining Buddha is located. We were targeted by some scam artists, however we didn’t fall for their story the the temple was closed.  All they wanted to do was to take us “shopping” for commision.

We walked to Wat Pho. It was all that I could have dreamed for.  Taking my shoes off and meditating in front of these giant symbols was transendant beyond words. For the first time in my life I was graced by Buddhist surroundings for meditation, as well as otherBuddhists. Now, I don’t consider myself a Busddhist, but I do accept alot of ideas and motives which are Buddhist. This experience changed me, or rather, made me feel much more myself.  Discovered. I was able to sit in and pray with the monks of the monastary/teple. The chanting, insense, giat golden Buddha, people, amazing! After spending about 4 hours here we walked around, ate some curry, Julie bought mangosteens, of which I just now questionedquestioned when she ate them, as I didn’t witness any eating of mangosteens.  She said it must have been during one of my 3 daily showers. We then walked around this park where there were hundreds of booths set up by monks who were teching Buddhist tradition and such. We also saw some school age girls doing an apsara dance.  It was super cute. We then caught a cab back to the hotel, cooled down, showered, then we went to the giant MBK shopping centre to shop. It was kind of boring, but interesting to see all of the people. We ended the evening with Korean BBQ and a movie, ‘Pirates of the Carribean.’ I cannot wait to be out of the big city.

Today we changed hotels, as the fancy one was pricey. Now we are in a little guest house, they have two poodles downstairs taking care of the place.

Today we walked through the madness of Chinatown; that was fucking crazy! Biggest Chinatown I have seen! Ate Dim Sum, came back to MBK for more shopping and some ice cream. Currently I am chiling out after my second shower of the day enjoying the A.C. on my skin.