VACommuter's Shenanigans in Japan

Actually doesn't look bad at all.

First stop will be Bangkok Thailand. Picking up a few Baht at the airport in Haneda.

Premium economy gets us access to a lounge. Time to fuel up for this adventure. The smoked fish for breakfast is one of my favorites.

Scored an aisle bulkhead seat in premium economy. Plenty of leg room. Chow was excellent. Foreign airlines put US airlines to shame wrt food.

5 star hotel in Bangkok. A real king sized bed. Nice hotel.

Beat from a full day of travel so we grabbed supper at the hotel Chinese restaurant. Started out with a local Chang Classic beer.

Fried rice with chicken and salt fish.

Sweet and sour pork.

Ginger beef. Here for three nights. Have tours in the mornings with afternoons free. Let the shenanigans commence!

Baht shot. About 30 Baht to the dollar.

Staying at the Shangri-La hotel. 5 stars. Impressive breakfast buffet included. So large they provide you a map to navigate.

so many choices. I hit the gym this morning but still limited myself to one plate of food. May skip lunch and pull out the stops for dinner. We will have Thai for supper.

Even more tempting was the ice cream go round. Maybe I’ll include that with my breakfast on the last day.

It’s already 80 degrees and will peak at the low 90’s today. Having trouble channeling the Christmas spirit due to the weather. I had shorts on for breakfast but need to switch to long pants for the tour. Knees and shoulders can be offensive here. Don’t want to get caned.

"Breakfast Map" this is seriously one of the greatest things I wish to encounter in a hotel.

Thank you for continuing to take us on your journey.

Canal tour by boat for a half day.

Boat gas station. This boat was similar to ours.

Lots of interesting architecture.

Garbage boat. These things went up and down the canals pulling up all the floating trash and what not.

ornate temple place.

The old fort that protected the city.

Wat Arun. The temple of dawn.

ThaI Navy base area.

Security watch us shady types.

Heading into a lock to get to the backroad canals.

This is no hemi but these boats haul ass.

Big water monitor grabbing some sun.

The whole gamut of houses along the small canals from palatial estates to dumps.

Little basket is the garbage can that gets emptied by boat.

Fancy house built of teak.

Either laundry day at the temple or there are a bunch of naked monks running around.


Pit stop at Wat Arun for a closer look around.

Statues guarding the entrances.

Very detailed decoration.

Lots of Stupas, these upside down ice cream cone towers.

A lot of the mosaics made from broken China.

Lots of man hours went into building these.

And the decorations are everywhere.

Guys holding up the structure.

Cuz I like sweater puppies.

The heat may have gotten to this little guy.

Midget guard. Good against small incursions.

This just keeps going.

Hot Thai chick carving up and selling fresh fruit. Scary how quick she was with that knife.

Back on the boat to head back to the hotel.

Interesting chenga like building in the distance.

The old customs house.

Our hotel, the Shangri la.

Hit this local joint up for pad Thai.

They made the Michelin guide.

Fresh pineapple juice.

Shrimp.

And some coconut ice cream. Lunch is in the books.

We chilled out the rest of the day but managed to get out to a place called the Blue Elephant for some dinner.

Had a few Thai beers. Tonight was all about Singha.

Some complementary tastes to start us off.

I had coconut chicken soup served in the coconut along with some steamed dumplings.


Then the special lamb curry served in a clay crock.


Which I quickly dumped on my plate with a load of jasmine rice.

Took it easy on the buffet breakfast this morning.

Heading to the Grand Palace today.

Along with a few thousand of my closest friends.

Lots of ornate statuary.

The color gold is special.

Shoes and hats off to go inside to see the emerald Buddha which is really solid jade.

Every 50 years the strip off all the decorations on the columns and redo them.

No photos inside so a really crappy shot of the little Buddha with his golden winter cape on. For the record it is hot as balls today.

Various ferocious beasties.

More gold paint.

More dudes to whack you if you get out of line.

No idea but thought it deserved a picture.

Several more random shots of the architecture.

One of these is our tour guide for the Bangkok portion of this trip. You guess.

Still smiling!

Various other buildings on the palace grounds. Many built back when it was still called Siam.

Reminds me of a gingerbread house with candy decorations.

Not going to repel boarders without a magazine loaded with ball rounds in that M16, soldier.

Elephants are the national animal. Current king is the 10th one though he is more of a figurehead as the are a democracy.

Changing of the guard. Thai soldiers generally aren’t very big but the all look mean as hell.

The royal rabbit.

This is where the royal ashes are stored After the king and queen get cremated.

Also the site of coronations.

No trip is complete without a terrifying ride in a tuk tuk.

Only good thing is that the low canopy blocks out visibility of most near misses.

Kind of like Catholic Churches is Europe or temples in japan. They all start looking alike after a time.

Finally, a random motorcycle picture.

Lunch at a Thai italian fusion. Type place.

Some of these fried crab treats.


Fried shrimp.

My half eaten salad.

The wife’s pretty rocket salad.

And a small Neapolitan Margarita pizza. Time for a nap.

Nice view from our 13th floor.

Bangkok is a really big city. Cab fares were really cheap but traffic sucked. Oh, and our 5 star hotel, don’t drink the water. Not potable. They give you unlimited bottled water to drink and brush teeth with. Remember to keep your mouth shut when showering.

Went to the mall to feed my addiction.

Two extra large Blizzards for 90 Baht. ($3). Score!

Funny signs.

Marketing tip: don’t include a word like semen in your restaurant name.

Huge tree at the mall.

And Sweet vintage rig as part of some antique show.

Not all fun and games. Maintaining my svelt 230 pound physique doesn’t just happen. Cranked out a workout every day at 0400 at the hotel gym.

So you are 7'6"? Pictures are deceiving!