The second full day in Bangkok we did another walking tour out of the Lonely Planet Guide. You probably guessed by now, that we saw more temples and Bhuddas. In brief, we visited Wat Saket at the top of an artificial hill name Golden Mount. A happy Buddha smiled at us on the way up the path and good views greated us on the top. After descending, we walked down a street where all manner of religious statues and furnishings is sold in store after store, kind of like the Bowery is for lamps and lighting fixtures on the lower east side of New York.
We walked through a neighborhood that hand made metal monks' bowls. 
These bowls were traditionally used for alms and for their meals. We watched them hammer them out and then bought one to support a vanishing craft and as a souvenir. The young Thai in the photo sold us the bowl we bought. We visited another temple and sat in on a midday service led by a monk and attended by probably 100 faithful. From there we bought some street food, sat in the shade and walked through several parks and tried to stay out of the sun. We were dog tired at this point, but it is said that only dogs and Englishmen stay out in the noon time sun. When we started to head back to our hotel, we were intercepted by a tuk-tuk driver. These three wheeled, open sided, noisy, gasoline driven golf carts scoot around the city and are often carry tourists. The driver offered to take us to four sites for less than a dollar fare, if we agreed to go with him to three different shops that cater to tourists. We were too tired to object and he promised "free lookings", that is, no need to buy. The deal was that he got coupons for gas or food for his children when he delivered us to the export shops. We were more tired than interested, but it turned out to be a fun afternoon of "free lookings". I even bought two hand tailored shirts from two bolts of fabric I chose (or maybe that Judy chose) at James Tailor's shop. The shirts were really inexpensive and nicely made and they delivered them that evening at 9pm to the hotel. 
The other tourist
These bowls were traditionally used for alms and for their meals. We watched them hammer them out and then bought one to support a vanishing craft and as a souvenir. The young Thai in the photo sold us the bowl we bought. We visited another temple and sat in on a midday service led by a monk and attended by probably 100 faithful. From there we bought some street food, sat in the shade and walked through several parks and tried to stay out of the sun. We were dog tired at this point, but it is said that only dogs and Englishmen stay out in the noon time sun. When we started to head back to our hotel, we were intercepted by a tuk-tuk driver. These three wheeled, open sided, noisy, gasoline driven golf carts scoot around the city and are often carry tourists. The driver offered to take us to four sites for less than a dollar fare, if we agreed to go with him to three different shops that cater to tourists. We were too tired to object and he promised "free lookings", that is, no need to buy. The deal was that he got coupons for gas or food for his children when he delivered us to the export shops. We were more tired than interested, but it turned out to be a fun afternoon of "free lookings". I even bought two hand tailored shirts from two bolts of fabric I chose (or maybe that Judy chose) at James Tailor's shop. The shirts were really inexpensive and nicely made and they delivered them that evening at 9pm to the hotel. 
The other tourist shops sold jewelry or mostly Thai made goods as souvenirs. The driver dropped us at a flower market along a canal (see photo), and we took many pictures of the food dead and alive sold there (see tongue and live fish photos), then took a ferry back to our hotel. 
That evening we had curry for dinner and then massages, me a Swedish and Judy a Thai.
Our final day in Bangkok - We took a ferry to the subway (above ground) and then to Jim Thompson's house. Jim Thompson was an American ex-pat architect that fell in love with Thai silks at the end of World War II. He started a business importing silk fabrics to the US and built his compound in the neighborhood across the canal from where the weavers lived. His houses were six reassembled traditional Thai houses around courtyards and quiet gardens . He was also a collector of Thai art and had a grand personal collection at this compound. He mysteriously disappeared while walking in the jungle of Malaysia but his legacy remained for all to see in this collection of art in his houses.
That was all for Thailand, and we went to the airport that afternoon and returned to Hong Kong. We both felt that it would have been really nice to spend more time in Thailand but our tickets were unchangeable and besides China waits.
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