Bangkok Musings - Part 2

The parts of Bangkok we've seen are clean, and when we've been, no one smokes.  There's still a slight fetid smell over open drains, but Bangkok is clearly becoming more modern.

Thai people greet one another with a hands together in front of chest greeting and a slight bow
Since it would be rude to take a picture of someone, here is a statue

Yes, it's Ronald McDonald, showing Thai respect.  There's also a slight head bow that goes with the hands.  The bow and hand position vary depending on whether you are greeting someone older or younger, or a monk, or a family member.  We do our best to be respectful.

We ran into one scam - but missed being taken in.  On Friday, we took the train (Bangkok has great mass transit) to  see the Golden Buddha and other sites.  On exiting, a well dressed man offered to help us, but informed us that sadly the King and Queen were visiting all the temples, and so temples were closed for the day.  He offered us a tuk tuk, but after having ridden in one earlier, Loren knew that my bruised body couldn't handle it.  Finally, we found a taxi that took us to the Temple of the Golden Buddha, and lo and behold, it was open!

We all felt really stupid afterwards, but congratulated ourselves that while he tried to take us in, we avoided the ride which would have taken us who knows where.

That aside, very safe experience for us - and its honest people.  If we aren't sure what coins we have, we offer an open handful to the vendor, and they take what is owed.