Moving South

We spent our last day exploring Old City Bangkok- the embellished temples, called wats, were spectacular. Everything was covered in gold, glass mosaics, and jewels. Jenny & Lauren had to wear hospital scrub-looking yellow button ups, provided by the Grand Palace, because we had to have our shoulders covered. Dress code also required we take our shoes off in order to enter the temples. The mourning period for the king's sister was extended to 100 days, and thousands of Thais dressed in black stood in long hot lines to pay their respects.

Monks on Tuk-Tuks

That night Chatree took us out in the city for dinner and then to a bar called Vertigo, on the roof of the second tallest building in Bangkok. Our last taste of luxury for who knows how long. The next morning we strapped on our backpacks and hopped a train to Hua Hin. Definitely not an Amtrak. For 4.5 hours we sat, the 3 of us and an elderly Thai woman, dirt flying through the windows, and vendors walking up and down the aisles selling homemade goods. Through the windows we took in the Thai countryside. After arriving in this small fishing town we found a guestroom perched atop a rickety pier. For the price of a medium coffee at Dunkin Donuts back at home... granted we are sharing one bed and have a litter of howling puppies out the window. But you can't beat waking up to the waves crashing underneath you. We explored the town last night and after eating an authentic seafood dinner, we stumbled upon their red light district. We naively sat drinking outside as the entire street seemed to pair off: one prostitute for every middle-age western white man. We head home after being solicited ourselves. Now we're off for our first

beach day, and very excited to take a dip in the Gulf of Thailand!

Having an amazing experience so far- keep you posted.