Viking boat ride in Bangkok #3

Viking conducted a boat ride on the Chao Phraya River and Canals.  The boat picked us up at the dock of the Shangri-La Hotel.

Although many of the canals have been filled in during the last several years to make room for the development of roads, the canals to the east of the river still remain much as they did in the 19th century, with a network of waterways spreading out into the countryside.

Locals will load small boats with souvenirs and approach tourist boats to sell them their goods.

If houses are built on stilts, they cannot technically be owned; their occupants will keep them as long as they live, but cannot sell or will them.  Houses on stilts are not regarded as being built on real land.  If houses are situated on concrete blocks and real land, they can be sold or willed.

The water looks very dirty; this is because the river bed is so muddy.  All rivers in Southeast Asia look dirty for the same reason. The tour guide dipped a plastic bag into the water, and it showed clear.

The locals do not drink the water; they prefer to pay for water from a city water filtration plant.


Photos belong to Phil Bianco.

Shangri-La Hotel #2

Viking picked us up at the Bangkok Airport and drove us to the Shangri-La Hotel. The DK Eyewitness Travel Guide said the following, "With 800 rooms, the Shangri-La is one of Bangkok’s biggest luxury hotels.  It has several restaurants and bars, the excellent CHI, The Spa, a fitness center, a pool, and tennis and squash courts." 

The Shangri-La is a beautiful hotel located along the Chao Phraya River.  It contains a combination of dramatic architectural design and an inspiring merging of decoration and art.   One feels enriched by being inside the hotel. 

There is an open-air restaurant on the lower level where one could dine and watch the activity on the Chao Phraya River.  I was so impressed by everything  - inside and outside. 

The rooms were very nice, and the bathroom facilities excellent and very modern.  Bottled water was complementary in the rooms.

The breakfast buffet was included in the trip. It was exceptional and included everything imaginable - one of the best buffet breakfasts that I ever had.

Photos belong to Phil Bianco.