Day Two, Part I: Wandering Wat Pho and the Markets

Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University

Someone bombed the campus with these stickers.
Someone bombed the campus with these stickers.

The university itself was a bunch of uninteresting concrete buildings running along the Chao Phraya river that separates Bangkok’s eastern and western halves.

The Fish Markets

Bangkok has an entire market dedicated to dried fish products. Everything is laid out neatly and labeled clearly but the smell is intense. Not quite bad, but definitely fishy. It was a total trip seeing food sold in such a different way than what I’m used to.

One box of fish shavings, please
One box of fish shavings, please
Flattened dried cuttlefish
Flattened dried cuttlefish
This...this made me uneasy. This and the giant rat.
This...this made me uneasy. This and the giant rat.
Some kind of fish, couldn't get a clear translation.
Some kind of fish, couldn't get a clear translation.
An entire pallet of MSG.
An entire pallet of MSG.
Outside of the fish market. This is what most of bangkok looks like.
Outside of the fish market. This is what most of bangkok looks like.

Wat Pho

One of the more famous wats in Bangkok (evidently?) it houses a massive, golden statue of the Buddha reclining (read on his death bed). The entire surrounding complex is ornately decorated and beautiful. We woke up early and happened to arrive before it was overrun by other people.

The roofs of all the buildings were lacqured tile, with each doorway surrounded with golden mirrors. For contrast, a European style clock tower peeks out in the background.
The roofs of all the buildings were lacqured tile, with each doorway surrounded with golden mirrors. For contrast, a European style clock tower peeks out in the background.
This guy had the right idea
This guy had the right idea
All the roofs!
All the roofs!
All of the gates had Chinese stone guards originally used as ballasts for junks, then used as badass motheruckers.
All of the gates had Chinese stone guards originally used as ballasts for junks, then used as badass motheruckers.
This guy...Marco Polo.
This guy...Marco Polo.
I was tempted to create a list of the top ten things in Thailand that just don't give a fuck, but I wasn't sure I could live with myself after creating a listicle, so instead, is submit to you only this: 'lol swag'
I was tempted to create a list of the top ten things in Thailand that just don't give a fuck, but I wasn't sure I could live with myself after creating a listicle, so instead, is submit to you only this: 'lol swag'
The entire hall was filled with an irritating rattling sound, as we walked around the back of the Buddha,Mae found out why: people were changing bills for coins and dropping them into about 100 alms bowls for good luck.
The entire hall was filled with an irritating rattling sound, as we walked around the back of the Buddha,Mae found out why: people were changing bills for coins and dropping them into about 100 alms bowls for good luck.
The inner courtyard was surrounded with gilded Buddha. From what I could overhear from other private tour guides, families would purchase a Buddha and have it placed in the temple as a sort of patronage. They're responsible for the upkeep, so some were in disrepair, some were shiny and new. All had nipples.
The inner courtyard was surrounded with gilded Buddha. From what I could overhear from other private tour guides, families would purchase a Buddha and have it placed in the temple as a sort of patronage. They're responsible for the upkeep, so some were in disrepair, some were shiny and new. All had nipples.
There were cats everywhere. Saw this Tom and figured out why
There were cats everywhere. Saw this Tom and figured out why
Huge. Absolutely huge. In addition to being covered in squares of gold foil not much larger than a quarter, his robes defy gravity, hanging horizontally despite his reclined posture.  His feet are inlaid with mother of pearl, depicting symbols of his life. I think. Most of the plaques were in Thai.
Huge. Absolutely huge. In addition to being covered in squares of gold foil not much larger than a quarter, his robes defy gravity, hanging horizontally despite his reclined posture.  His feet are inlaid with mother of pearl, depicting symbols of his life. I think. Most of the plaques were in Thai.

Moar Markets

Came across this badass bake shop stacked floor to ceiling with everything.
Came across this badass bake shop stacked floor to ceiling with everything.
Walking through the markets, I half expected to see people offering neural implants, stims, and all manner of cyberpunk dystopian tropes.
Walking through the markets, I half expected to see people offering neural implants, stims, and all manner of cyberpunk dystopian tropes.
But we just saw a lot of stuff wrapped in plastic
But we just saw a lot of stuff wrapped in plastic

We wandered through the flower markets, got coffee from an ‘underground’ coffee shop, it was in broad daylight, or at least as much as the markets ever see, and through China town to end up at the Royal Indian. Hole in the wall with fantastic food, they served the best palak paneer I’ve ever had.