Contrasts in Thai life

Following our excursion into the life of royalty, we headed for the upper reaches of the Chao Phraya River that flows down through Bangkok, and, coincidentally, past our hotel. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and then watched the world float by as we cruised down the river. We travelled past the Emerald Buddha Grand Palace, the Imperial Palace in Bangkok (we visited this the last time we were in Bangkok). The contrast found in this country is striking. The palace can be seen in the background with a barge making its way down the river in the front. The small shack you see on the barge is where the family lives. You’ll often see laundry out drying and the mother cooking something while children scamper about on the barge as it is tugged to its destination, carrying food, raw goods and much more back and forth along the river. The river is too shallow for boat traffic so all goods are offloaded and placed on barges to carry them up the river. The waterways are lined with spectacular hotels, gorgeous gardens and small homes, all mixed together in this diverse river-way.