SE Asia and Pronto Denim Carnival 2014

[Giles]

Off to board in a minute….A glass of champagne may be persuaded past my lips....

[Giles]

Paula hard at work with a Mojito…

Christmas is embraced…

[Giles]

Schedule tomorrow.

Morning - work
Afternoon - http://www.followmebiketour.com/cycle-bangkok-siam-sawan-siam-heaven-tour/

[Broark]

Enjoy the trip, I look forward to photos!
Having spent a lot of time growing up in Singapore I always miss SE Asia when I see photos.

[Giles]

[Aetas]

Bike Tour in Bangkok, what a great idea.
What about the included fish foot SPA?
Have a nice trip P&G.

[Giles]

The fish foot spa was tingly.

We were honoured to be invited to have home cooked dinner with the team (pics will follow) and be invited to help them iron out a new night time tour on Monday night…...Lucky G&P

[spitfiredealer]

Those fish foot spa's are pretty intense when they all go for you at first.

[Giles]

@Sarina Look what paula is wearing for the bike ride:

The bike ride we too yesterday was amazing.  Certainly we saw parts of Bangkok that I suspect some of the locals do not know exist.

Once upon a time all the goods from the port came to Bangkok by rail.  For some reason they use road trucks now and the old railway trucks are derelict and the lines have in places become shanty towns…

[Giles]

Notice the train tracks…

The people we met in these shanty towns were unfailingly cheerful and friendly, "they may not have much money, but they are rich in their hearts".  the only time I was refused permission to take a photo was when I asked if I could take a photo of a game of cards where there was a lot of money in the middle of the table pallet - I was not altogether surprised…...

[Giles]

Next stop was at a salt works.  The factory was not working when we were there, as the "slum dwellers" only work a 6 hour shift.  This is a sort of unwritten rule between the employees and the workers, it allows them to more easily hold down 2 jobs to help make ends meet…

[Giles]

After the salt works we cycled to the river and caught a couple of long tailed boats over to The Jungle AKA the lung of Bangkok…

Puppies kipping everywhere…

Decided not to risk this one…

[JCMx800]

Bangkok is so nice, stayed there with my parents for some days, but it was many moons ago…

[steelworker]

Interesting photos Giles especially the salt works. It's 30F and snow on the ground here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in case you're up for a little schadenfreude…

[Snowy]

Awesome G! Really interesting day.

[Giles]

Construction somewhere in the jungle…

And back across the river to Bangkok…

"Big Sea 101"  - Love it

[spitfiredealer]

I am off to bangkok for a stag do in feb. I bet i see lots of bikes of a different kind…

[Giles]

I doubt I'd even want to shake your hand for at least a week after you got back….

[spitfiredealer]

no you wouldn't

[Giles]

Sat down for dinner with H and the crew tonight…

G "So what do you want to do tomorrow"
H "Go bike ride"

A phone call later, we have it sorted.  Thai/English/Japanese* speaking guide, will take us to the flower market, a floating market and a "locals only restaurant"........Roll on 10:00

• That would be Matthew our guide from yesterday.  Who is Thai, multilingual, gay and delightful.....