Bangkok is a very large city with many varied high rises. Traffic is very bad with cars, motorbikes, tuk tuks and bicycles all sharing the road. According to our guide, driving is done by tradition not rules. If you follow the rules, you will die. Last night we had a welcome dinner cruise down Bangkok's main river. Cruising the river gave a night time view of the temple we had seen during the day. Our day today began with a bus ride to the king's summer palace. The king of Thailand, king Rama, number 8, is highly revered and honored throughout the city. There are many billboards showing the king. Thai politics are complicated, with the king being beloved while more freedom for the people being desired. We then took a long boat ride to lunch, seeing life along the river. Lunch was a buffet that reminded me of the a chinese buffet i am hoping that once we leave the city and eat in more local restaurants that the food will be more interesting. From there we went to an elephant farm where there elephants literally walking around loose. They will eat the food right from your hand. You can also ride the elephant, which we did not have time to do. From there we went to see the ruins of the original city of Bangkok. It was moved to avoid contact with Burma. Also next to the ruins is a stature of the largest bronze Buddha. After returning to Bangkok, Robert and I went to magic Hands for Thai oil massage. Ask me for details if you wish when I get home. For dinner went to restaurant near the hotel which is owned by an American from Detroit. You can get Thai food and American food such as hamburgers and meatloaf. Tomorrow we fly to Laos.