News and Views

Yesterday we went on another tour.

First to the “Floating Market”, where we went out in a little boat to other little boats selling things. Mostly fruit and tourist trinkets. Certain members of our party had to buy things, of course, but everything was cheap so the $10 or so won’t break us.

Then to an elephant show, where about 15 elephants performed tricks, played soccer, and simulated a battle. Cheesy and a little sad for these magnificent animals, but entertaining nevertheless.

Then a Cobra show. Handlers grabbed them by the tails, dodged away from their strikes, and shot their hands out to grab them by the neck. They milked one to show that they still had venom. In an exciting but disturbing segment, they dropped a cobra into a cage with a mongoose. It was no contest, as the mongoose had the cobra by the head in seconds. They pulled the cobra out, bloody but alive, much to the anger of the mongoose.

Then to a crocodile show. Handlers pulled them around by the tail, put their hand and head in their mouths. It was amazing how suddenly they can snap their mouths shut. It seems like a mouse trap; instantaneous.

Finally we saw a Thai boxing demonstration,where hands, elbows, feet and knees all are used to strike the opponent. It was all staged, of course, but pretty neat. That was followed by a cultural show, with a traditional wedding in full costume. That couple must have been married 1000 times by now.

Back to the hotel for a rest, and today we fly back to Taiwan for a few more days.

The hotel here is unbelievable. It is a standard 3 star hotel, fine accommodations, but is located in a tiny, crowded alley full of shops and street vendors selling all kinds of local foods and fruits. The alley is only wide enough for one car at a time, but not marked one way, so cars, people, motorcycles and street vendors all jostle and compete for space and passage. It feels like the heart of Bangkok