DAY 77---LAEM CHABANG (BANGKOK), THAILAND

 

        We docked in Laem Chabang at 8am this morning.  Unfortunately, Bangkok is a 2 1/2 hour bus ride from this very commercial port.  It is a sunny day and high will be around 92 degrees.  We will be overnighting here.

Historical/Background Info:

        Thailand, historically known as Siam, is a Southeast Asian country known for tropical beaches, opulent royal palaces, ancient ruins, and ornate temples displaying figures of Buddha.  It is a large country at almost 200,00 sq miles (50^th largest country by total area) and has a population of 70 million.  Thailand can’t seem to decide whether it is a democracy or under military rule. 

        Thailand is heavily export dependent.  Major exports include cars, computers, electrical appliances, rice, textiles, footwear, fishery products, rubber, and jewelry.  Tourism makes up about 6% of the country’s economy.  Asian tourists primarily visit Bangkok for its historical, natural, and cultural sights.  Western tourists not only visit Bangkok but travel to the southern beaches and islands.  Interestingly, Thailand ranks 5^th biggest medical tourism destination, ie, facelifts, boob jobs, etc.  It has a growing practice of sexual reassignment surgery.  Prostitution and sex tourism is also a part of its economy.

        This will be our 3^rd visit to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand with a population of 10.5 million.  We are spending two days here again this visit.  During the Vietnam war I came here for R&R (rest & recreation) one time.  That was in 1972 and the city has totally changed now.  There is so much to see and do here.  I highly recommend coming here.  A cruise up the Chao Phraya River which splits the city is a must.  The temples and palaces along it are incredible.

        Here’s some info related to us on a previous cruise during our drive to Bangkok.  60% of Thai people are farmers and of that number, 50% of them are rice farmers.  They grow tapioca, sugar cane, fruits, vegetables, and coconuts.  He said the coconut farmers train monkeys to harvest their coconuts.  A good monkey can pick 300 to 350 coconuts a day.  80% of the people are Buddhists and 10% Muslims.  7% are Christians.

LAST EVENING

                                                                     Another Caesar

         I did not care for the Thai style short ribs so had a little of this spaghetti.  Too much.

TODAY

        Ok, as we are going into Bangkok on this cruise I have decided to put a link to our 2013 Beijing to London Grand Cruise, Bangkok blog post.  Back then Regent took all of the grand cruisers into Bangkok for an overnight stay in a very nice Peninsular hotel.  They also paid for a fireworks show over the river by our hotel.  They did the same thing back on our 2010 World Cruise.  Unfortunately, Regent has cut back on spending money now!  We are stuck on the ship this WC.  You will have to cut and paste this link onto your browser.  If you don't know how to cut & paste just ask your grandkids.

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5238249282069659538/6028270227588883979

                                                        Tour buses waiting for the tours.

                      Luckily, we have a decent view from our balcony of the cruise terminal.  

    This what the other side of the ship have a view of for the two days we will be here.  YUK!

                                                        View from the back of the ship.

                                                      Hundreds of new cars for export.

                                                            View in front of the ship.

        Since we are overnighting here quite a few folks are going to Bangkok and staying in a hotel on their own.  Most passengers are going on the 8, 9, or 10 hour tours to see Bangkok today.  We did our treadmill time this morning and Rebecca is now watching her soaps.

        There is a shuttle bus going to a mall in Pattaya which is a 45 minute to hour drive south of the post.  After lunch I plan to take the shuttle at 1pm.  Probably just stay on the bus and come right back.

We are not doing any tours today.

        I was in Pattaya back in 1972 on a "R&R" to get off Guam for a few days.  Back then Pattaya was just a small beach town and not modern city as it is today.  Back then the US had a huge air base at 

U-Tapao which is another hour south of Pattaya.  There were 55 B-52D's based there plus other fighter aircraft.  I rode in the back of a KC-135 tanker aircraft from Guam to U-Tapao.  Seven hour flight as I recall.

I did go on the 1pm shuttle to the mall in Pattaya.  Traffic was terrible so it took a full hour to get there.

Another new car park waiting for export.  I saw a new pickup lot that had to be 5 acres big.  Several other car lots multiple acre size.  Thousands of new cars and trucks at the port.

Laem Chabang Port Customs building.  There were drive through x-ray places for trucks and even one for trains coming into the port.

                            There is a Buddha temple here but can hardly see it.  I saw several.

                                              Cleared lot for construction along the water.

                                     Same as in Vietnam, a wiring nightmare along the streets.

                                                                            Hospital

Lots of carts attached on the side of motor bikes.  Not nearly as many motor bikes here but LOTS of cars.

                                                                               Traffic

                                                                More traffic backed up

                                                 Dolphins on the top of all the light poles

                                                    Massage and spa place.  Looks nice.

                                   Arriving at the mall for drop off.  Terminal 21 is its name.

There were a lot of crew members on the bus getting off but I just stayed on and headed back to the ship.

                                       This is the Harbor Mall about 10 minutes from the pier.

      Lots of nice shops in the cruise terminal.  Rebecca and I will go shopping there tomorrow.

                                              Thai silk shirts were $40.  T-shirts $8 or $10.

        It's going to be interesting to see how many people will show up in Compass Rose or the other restaurants for dinner this evening.  Quite a few people are overnighting in Bangkok tonight.  The 10 hour tours will not be back until 7pm and there is a 4 hour long folk cabaret show tour departing the ship at 6:25 that 150 people are going to.  For the long tour folks returning late I bet they go to the pool grill for dinner.

        We will be going to Compass Rose mainly because it is Dara's last night working.  She will be leaving the ship tomorrow and flying home to the Philippines.  We will miss her but she her 4 year old twins need her.

        There is a new comedian, Darren Sanders, who came on today and will be in the theater at 9:30.  Probably not going.  I doubt there will be many in the audience due to the long tour people being tired and then tomorrow's tours to Bangkok are departing at 5:45AM!  Those folks will be in bed early.