Wednesday, April 29th, in Bangkok!

Today, we were once again met by Oi, again dressed beautifully, (as we put on our skirts again, for respect for the temples and palaces we visit). To our deloght, Sue-Porn joined us as well! We went first to the Vimanmek Mansion, located in the so-called Dusit Palace complex. This mansion is billed as the world's largest teakwood building in the world! As much a work of art as a national treasure, it is three stories high, has huge staircases (some elegant and wide; others, more narrow and circular), octagonal rooms (with appropriately shaped Oriental rugs to match) and occasionally lattice walls. It truly is magnificent, and security to enter was stricter than any airport I have ever been to! We could not carry ANYTHING in with us, including shoes (which we must take off at every palace and temple) but also your purse, your camera, etc! It was built in 1868 by order of King Rama V and moved to its present site in 1910. Rama V lived there from 1901 to 1906, along with his four wives (his four queens), each of whom had a separate suite of rooms , each in a different color: mauve, green, pale blue, creme. Today, it is used for special occasions by the present King Bhumboi Adulyadej (Rama IX). It otherwise serves as a museum for some of the furniture, china, and gifts to Thai kings over the years.

We next went to an amazing place, next to the Vimanmek teakwood mansion, called the Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall. Here on display are absolutely gorgeous items made by local farmers and other less well-off citizens, to supplement their income, by order of the present queen, Queen Sirikit, who wants to provide ways for the poorer people of their country to supplement their income. Her decree founded the SUPPORT foundation, and besides providing an income for poor farmers, it also preserves Thai folk arts, including weaving, basketry, embroidery, plus more decorative crafts such as silverware, gold nielloware and damascene. It is an important goal of the current queen to preserve Thai culture and traditions and handicrafts. The items on display include gorgeous hand woven textiles and sculptures of brilliant gold leaf, intricate detail, and the iridescent green of beetle wings on items such as sampans and howdahs (carriage seats for the royalties to sit upon when riding an elephant,etc) and stupas, etc. Absolutely amazing work! And a way for the citizens to earn some money as well. The building itself is a one-story design decorated with intricate fretwork known as the "floral design" with colored glass and stucco motifs. We could only take pictures at this entire Dusit complex of the lovely grounds.

After a quick lunch (Thai version of fast food), we picked up Jiap who was able to get the afternoon off to join us, and Oi, Sue-Porn, Jiap, Maren and I set forth by car to Ayutthaya, site of ruins from 1350 to 1748, when different Thai Kings, from Ramathibodi 1 (1350) to King Sam Phraya (1448) ruled. It has the remains of pagoda ruins and a chapel and a monastery, which it became in 1448. When Ayutthaya was sacked by invading Burmese in 1767, the gold that had covered a very revered Buddha image was taken. During the reign of King Rama I (1782-1809), he ordered the inner core of the Buddha image that remained transferred to a different temple, where it is placed in a special "chedi" (pagoda style) built for the purpose.

We had a nice dinner with Oi, Jiap and Sue-Porn, after which we went to Jiap's lovely home to see her mango trees )she shared a delicious mango with us at breakfast!!) and then went to pick up Ted at the airport. A great day, and tomorrow we fly to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, where we will be greeted by another AFS host, a couple, Tthasanee and Jaroon, who know Bob and Kitty Boyd as well!