day one was a major, sensory overload, success. we left the house without a map or a plan and had a mellow day in bangkok, thailand. the weather couldn’t be better. it’s peak season which means prime temps in the high 80’s with very low humidity, making exploration enjoyable. our first day and we already traveled by: foot, BTS railway, boat and tuk tuk. p.s. it’s 3:30am Bangkok time as i type – happy jet lag!
street vendors washing dishes in the street before the next round of customers.
“soi dogs” (“soi” – pronounced “soy” means “side street”) and the locals pitch in to care for the dogs.
cruising up river.
mandatory shoes off for entering the temple
and lovely neon green “loner” robe since my arms weren’t covered. 
the 46-meter-long reclining golden buddah at Wat Pho, one of the oldest, largest & most significant temples in Bangkok. 
the reclined position represents buddah going into a final phase of nirvana. 
outside the walls of the royal palace. and that’s as close as we got. we’re officially the worst tourists. 
anxiously awaiting our first street vendor meal. pork fried rice & garlic friend chicken. 
this is the stand and the lady making our curb-side meal.
mr. slice is turning into mr. coca-cola. the spices were burning our noses just during the wait. 
followed up our meal with a bag of fresh fruit. 
compliments of this guy. 
school kids everywhere are dressed identically. down to the hairstyle – double braids with ribbons for the girls.
fresh food everywhere you look.
VIP?
probably danny’s favorite time – we were looking for the flower market and wound up in the “back of house” where the vendors prepare everything. it was crazy nuts to see loads of produce and goods being prepared and sorted. i’m talking like trash bags filled with carrot shavings that the lady was working on. 
we finally smelled our way to the flower market.
a traditional “tuk tuk” ride – a motorized cart of sorts.
our first tuk tuk ride at the end of the day. we were lost and ready to get off our feet.
after we took the BTS (bangkok transit system) railway back to our neighborhood, we were talking to get a beer and saw a crowded “thai massage” place. i looked at danny and said, “we’ve gotta do that sometime” to which he replied… why not now?
so we circled back and popped in for an hour-long foot + neck & shoulders thai massage for 250BHAT (about $9). it was the perfect way to relax after a long day of exploration.
