Bangkok

Yellow. All I see is yellow. The King's 60th birthday celebration is this weekend, and to support him everyone in Bangkok is wearing yellow shirts. Scott (who has been in Australia for five months and arrived in Thailand two days ago) and I joined in on the fun and bought ourselves yellow shirts too, complete with the kingly symbol, for only 450 baht.

We then wandered all over Bangkok, goggling at the golden temples (wats), eating random street food, and practicing our terrible thai language skills on unsuspecting Thai people. Finally we found our way to the river, where everyone in yellow tshirts had gathered to watch the rehearsal for Monday's birthday celebration: 52 barges (boats) rowed by military men floating down the river. The men were rowing in time to the chanting of men standing at the bow of each boat. Each boat (during the actual ceremony) would house a special government person: a minister, one of the Thai royal family, or even the king!

I must go now to check out of Shanti lodge and meet Scott for my much-anticipated first Thai massage, and then catch the bus to Chiang Mai.