Photo album: "Bangkok"

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We left Chumphon to Bangkok by bus on the morning of March 19th, 1968. The journey was more interesting than by train because we passed in the middle of the population. It was not comfortable because, even if we were sitting, we were very tight: it was a very old bus with worn-out suspension, the seats that would be made for two persons, in Europe, had to accommodate three people here and the space between two seats was so small that our knees were pressed against the back of the seat before us. We lived a bus race, a little bit uneasy because we were in one of the busses. The driver was much supported by the other travellers and when we surpassed the other bus there were applauses and shouts of joy (we began to breathe when we finally stopped!), we must say the road was very crowded, we even saw an elephant waiting to cross! Once arrived in Bangkok, the "race" in taxi was not less frightful…

We cover the 460 km between Chumphon and Bangkok in bus on March 19th. The end of the day, looking for a hotel in taxi, decides us to walk for the rest of our stay in Bangkok. The way they drive in this town is really frightful. During our sojourn we could add, to our air-travel ticket, a journey to Phnom Penh and return. We obtained a visa for Cambodia at the Indonesian Embassy because there is no longer any diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Thailand. It is the reason why it is impossible to travel by land ways from one country to the other.

One amongst the numerous Buddhist temples of Bangkok.

A canal that is also a very frequented way of communication. The houses on both banks open directly unto the canal. An important part of Bangkok is crossed by canals. It is not for nothing that this town is dubbed the "Venice of the East".

Kites for sale. In this season kites are very popular because the wind in the afternoon is favourable. There are, even, competitions where a team has to make the other team's kite to fall down. Unfortunately we had no opportunity to see such a contest during our stay.

On our way to see the "floating market", we are in a little motor boat on Menam Chao Phraya (Chao Praya river). We are passing near a big wooden goods-carrier boat.

We are entering a canal, following other boats similar to ours.

A wooden bridge across the canal.

Boats loaded with vegetables.

Coconuts, baskets, here you can found everything you need on the different boats.

Near the end of the tour, we stopped in front of a large hangar where are kept the Royal barges.

These long boats with the typical bow figure are driven by many oarsmen.

On the "Royal Ground" in front of the "Grand Palace". It is here that the kite contests take place.

Typical roof of a little Buddhist temple.

Detail of mosaic on the front of the Buddhist temple.

Statue of the Buddha inside the temple. The monks have kindly switched on the lights to permit me to take the picture.

Inside another temple's gardens. Place infinitely quiet that makes you think you are in another world as soon as you step through its threshold, letting behind you the noises of the town.

View from a higher point of a temple and of part of the town.

View from above of a little temple

View from the gateway of the Royal Palace (or Grand Palace) where we were not allowed to enter because we didn't wear proper enough clothes.

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