Glitter and Silk

The advance training we did to prepare for Thailand included watching The Hangover Part II and Bridge on the River Kwai.  So far, it's gone much, much better for us.  We've been staying at Bill's condo for about a week, using it as a base of operations and Pad Thai dispensary while we explore the big city of Bangkok.

So let's get touristy.  The Grand Palace houses The Emerald Buddha (which is actually made of jade) and more gilded, bedazzled and ornate buildings than should reasonably be in one place.  Wander, sweat, take photos, find some hot soup on the street.

"So where are we going again?  Tim Johnson house?  Hopefully Doon knows for sure."  The confusion set in as soon as we left the condo's air conditioning.  The Jim Thompson house is actually a museum made of Teak, commemorating an American who revitalized the Thai silk industry in the 1950s.  His home was a throwback to 18th and 19th century Thai architecture and was donated following his mysterious disappearance.  A temporal throwback in the middle of the mega malls.