Thursday, we visited the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Despite the masses of tour groups,  it’s worth the trip. A sprawling complex of temples, pavilions, gardens, and palaces, the Grand Palace has been the official residence of the king of Thailand since 1782.

Friday morning was spent wandering the local market in Dusit. After an early lunch, we snagged a few fresh (hot!) doughnuts from a sidewalk vendor, and James picked up a pair of swimming shorts. Dusit is not very touristy, so everything feels authentic. We lounged by the pool at David and Eveyln’s in the afternoon. Their place is like a mini resort, which is a nice break from the dusty and hot city streets.

We had another very important mission on Friday. Muay Thai. John has been wanting to see a real Muay Thai fight for years. Venturing down to Lumpini stadium, we were able to get reasonable tickets in the 3rd tier. Tons of illegal betting goes on at these fights, all done with an elaborate system of hand gestures. For me, the best part of the Muay Thai fight was people watching.

Now we are in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in search of the mighty ruins of Angor Wat. Look for more updates soon!