The day of our Tuk Tuk Fiasco, we had walked through a busy market filled with hot food dishes, fresh fish, fruit, newspapers, fried somethings, tourist paraphanalia.... Thursday, Gwen and I decided it was not a good idea to sit in our apartment alone any longer, and decided to venture out on our own, back to the same area. No, we did not take a Tuk Tuk; we took a taxi (where much of our cash seems to go); we arrived at the pier knowing we looked like the tourists we were, but determined to have a wonderful time, but not be taken in AGAIN. The last time we tried to get a ride on a longboat, the people at the pier told Rob a one hour tour would cost 2000 baht, or over $60.00 per person. When we refused, they turned the page over and voila, the fare dropped to 900 baht.

This time, Gwen and I, determined we would not pay 900 baht, sauntered toward the counter. A woman honed in on us immediately. Cautiously, we asked the fare, wondering what she would come up with. This day, it was 900 baht. Too much. After some negotiations ( we were fresh and rested, and determined to get on the water), we settled on 600 bhat.

Off we went. A beautiful longboat! Powered by a gas motor, with a long guide/balancing pole in the back, the boatman guided us through traffic - a river full of various rivercraft ranging from longboats like the one we were on, to large tourist boats - all seeming to move in different directions. We headed for the canals of Bangkok. I would never have known this exquisite face of Bangkok existed if we had stayed home. The canal system in Bangkok seems to resemble that in Venice, with homes, restaurants, art galleries, and gardens, lining its banks. Tropical gardens, living room windows, porches, fishing dinghies hanging under overhangs, women cleaning restaurant pails in the river, men reading newspapers on the porch, young people sitting around tables visiting; lovely. Many of the homes in this area are obviously those of the rich. There are also many that look like they are ready to fall into the river. Foundations are rotting, tin roofs are deteriorating, and window shutters are sagging.

I took pictures like a good little tourist, and revelled in the smells of the tropics.

My mind reels with ideas. I know, there are those out there who know only too well that means! And we're not even finished the outhouse! Or the moose!

Ah well, I can try!

Lunch - more than ready for lunch. Back on land, we made our way to a stall with particularly attractive bowlsl (huge) of who knows what. I feasted on an Indian red chicken curry dish - tasted a little like butter chicken. Fabulous! And watermelon slices for dessert.

After getting stuck for over an hour in traffic (Bangkok is a city of 15,000,000 people), all that was left to do was to shower and drop into bed for a rest. What a life!