Bangkok Day 2

We again pressed through the sights, sounds and smells of Bangkok with its 8+ million people and 90+ degree heat. We went back to the skytrain and water taxis on Chao Phraya (the main river). We haphazardly wandered through Bangkok's Chinatown occasionally taking a random "soi" (alley) that were 4 foot wide and crammed with vendors selling everything imaginable (food, knives, garments, plastic ware, glassware, safety pins, paper clips, paper, impotence cures, other cures, etc.). I'd guess one soi went on for a third of a mile and left us looking for exits. Tomorrow is the Chinese lunar New Year's eve. Fire crackers are going off everywhere. They are not intended for celebration, but are intended to drive off the mythical creature Nian that comes out at the New Year to attack people. We eventually made it to the flower market which lined both sides of Chakphret Road for quarter of a mile. Yellow and orange chrysanthemums symbolizing wealth and prosperity predominated for the New Years celebration. Beyond that was a vegetable market of similar size. We also saw a fabric/garment district that was amazing with lots of silky and lacey fabrics but a definite lack of plaid. 

A vendor convinced us to buy 4 turtles so each of the kids could release one to the Chao Phraya. It was intended to release their bad juju. I personally wouldn't want to be released to the Chao Phraya, but then again I'm not a turtle. We have seen people swimming in the river and the klungs (canals). Fisherman also ply the waters beneath the floating plastic debris along edges of the Chao Phraya.

Sorry not many photos today. I am not at ease taking photos of people in their daily lives.