Bangkok, Grand Palace, Floating Market

Our last day on our trip we were leaving to go back to Japan, but not until 11 at night. What to do with one day in Bangkok? We decided to hire a guide to help make the most of our visit. The guides are expensive but they have knowledge of the country and the sites that we wouldn't get on our own...plus they had a really nice air-conditioned van with ice-cold bottled water, sold!

Our first stop of the day was 40 miles outside of Bangkok at the Maeklong Railway Market. The Market is literally right on the railroad track, yes, an active railroad track. Our guide said the train comes by three times a day and the merchants simply pull back their canopy's and let the train pass by and then it's back to business as usual. I think the purpose is because of the location the merchants don't have to pay rent for their stalls. I think. Anyway, the whole thing was really interesting and our guide bought some local fruits for us to try.

Another warm day.

These vendors let me try flipping the coconut cakes they were making.

Move it on back, train's coming.

Don't know that my kids thought it was as cool as I did.

Next stop was a coconut plantation.

Another good thing about having a guide is lots of family pictures, I think the kids could of done without this part, but mom loved it.

Scraping the coconut.

Then holding a squirrel.

Then holding a giant snake, I passed on this part.

After that we went to the floating market. We didn't go to buy anything in particular but for the novelty of it, I mean a market on the water?

Boat traffic jam.

After the floating market we went back to Bangkok to visit the The Grand Palace and Wat Pho.

By the time we got there the kids were hot and grumpy, a recipe for disaster. Let the whining begin!

Avie was still in a pretty good mood, but Rayce; I should have taken a picture of what saved the day, its name is Haagen-Dazs!

Last stop, Wat Pho or Temple of the Reclining Buddha.

We arrived back at our hotel in time for a swim before our shuttle came to take us to the airport. Amazing two weeks and the perfect last trip to end our three year Japanese stay.

Flight of the Nelsons

Our last day in Chiang Mai we went ziplining with Flight of the Gibbon just outside Chiang Mai. We had done a little in Bali but not this many lines and not as long, the longest line here was 800 meters! It was pricey, one of the more expensive things we did, after the fact though, I'm so glad we went. We had a great day and I think the kids will remember it well.

All harnessed up.

We all got a kick watching Avie Jo, she just dangled there on her harness. But hey, she seemed to be enjoying herself.

There were a series of suspension bridges connecting the stations. Rayce said he felt like Indiana Jones.

And then there were the gibbons. I thought it was just the name of the company, but they really do make their home in the forest, and to see them was an added bonus.

Pretty cute, right?! But keep your distance, these guys are pretty territorial. This was taken with a zoom lens.

This was the longest line of the day and we went tandem. I think this is the closest Danielle and Rayce had been to each other in a while.

We could hear Danielle scream the moment her feet left the platform...or maybe that was Rayce?

Mom's turn.

My favorite picture of the day!

Back on the ground.

Can you see the tree snake?

After our adventure they fed us a delicious lunch with some accompanying music.

Before taking us back to our hotel they took us to a local waterfall.

Incredible day, more to come, next and final stop, Bangkok.