Dad goes to Bangkok

Last month Phil was given another unique opportunity to see a new part of the world.  This trip took him to Bangkok, Thailand

 From the unfamiliar...

 

...to the all too familiar, here's some of what he saw!

 

The obligatory picture of Phil's Hotel...

 

...and the views from his window

 

On his first day, Phil spoke at the National Health Care Conference.  The boat picked him up at the Hotel and took him up river to the hospital

 Hard to take good pictures when the boat's moving...

...but some pretty cool sights along the way

Probably the coolest view en route that morning.  More on the Temple of Dawn to follow....

Sorry guys, this is about as clever as my photography gets (Phil through the captain's rear view mirror)

 Speaking at the Conference (Orthotic Management of Cerebral Palsy...which is pretty fascinating, if you're into that sort of thing)

 Phil with some of the other presenters during the session

 A very thoughtful gift from the Princess.  Just her way of saying "Thank You"

 Phil at the Sirindhorn School of Prosthetics and Orthotics, his home for the next four days.

Lecturing at the school the next morning

 Welcome reception that night with dinner, music...

...and dancing!

  

 

Bangkok at night...pretty impressive!!!

Working with a few of the locals...about 100 of them!  (From Thailand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam, Tanzania and Japan)

Alright everyone, tighten up...you on the end, open your eyes!

Not how we do it back home

 The view when we sat down to dinner

The view when Phil got up to leave

When in Rome, do as the Romans.

When in Thailand, buy custom tailored clothes

Goes well with scrubs!

Dad, his friend Charlie and the Tailor that made it all happen

 Every building and home has a shrine.  This is the shrine for the Prosthetic and Orthotic School

The people leave gifts for the gods, usually food.

 The trip was mostly work, but there was a day of sight-seeing at the end.  Can you find Phil?

Couldn't decide if this was more impressive from a distance or close up

Yes, it was that steep!

View from the Temple back out towards the river

One of many temples we say that day

The view from the canals off of the main river

Yep, floating soup salesman!

During the rainy season, the back-canals are protected from the higher waters of the river by a series of locks up and down the river.  This was the view when the locks opened up and four dragon boats were headed our way

Outside the Grand Palace

The pictures really don't do it justice

If these demon monkeys really do offer protection, this is one of the safest places on earth

Just to clarify, yes, Phil's riding an elephant

 

 The next time you check your text messages, just think, you could have done it from the back of an elephant like this guy

 A few hours north of Bangkok, this used to be the Grand Palace, before Myanmar came in and devastated the area

 ...a very beautiful, peaceful place though

Spectacular in its time

All and all, a truly magnificent experience in an amazing place.
Bangkok is busy and crowded, but with the most patient, gracious people.