Bangkok
Le canal Chao Praya
Puissant contraste d'avec le Japon que Bangkok, aussi bruyante mais beaucoup plus chaotique. Je crois que le tourisme est l'industrie principale de ce pays, et tout semble orienté pour que le farang (étranger blanc, je déteste) paie. Tout sent l'arnaque, et la méfiance règne, mais comme toujours, je m'habitue. Le canal de Chao Praya, principale voie navigable de la ville est intéressant. Le pad thai sur la rue est génial aussi.
Wat Phra Kaew
Sous un ciel chargé je me dirige vers le Palais Royal et son temple abrittant le bouddha émeraude (qui est en jade en fait). Aux abords du palais, une impressionante armée de vendeur de cossins m'assaille de tout côté. C'est la saison morte et le touriste est plus rare, donc plus prisé. Comme je suis en short et qu'il faut porter des pantalons pour visiter le temple, une femme sympathique me pointe un endroit où je peux louer des fringues. Mais j'ai un doute, et je vais voir au temple avant s'ils me laissent entrer comme je suis. En effet il faut porter des habits plus formels, mais à l'entrée on peut les emprunter gratuitement. C'est pas beau ca ?
Intérieur du Temple, Wat Phra Kaew
L'intérieur du temple est sublime, couvert de pailletes bleues et or, un décor très chargé comparé à la pureté du Zen. Le bouddha dans sa salle est très joli. Il est petit mais placé tout en haut d'un mandalla formé d'une dizaine de statues et d'une pyramide d'or. Beaucoup de Thais l'implorent.
Ambiance ténébreuse au Palais Royal
En sortant le ciel assombri donne une allure gothique et ténébreuse au palais. Je prends plein de photos, avant que la pluie ne me force à rentrer. Le lendemain c'est une journée tout en dessins, puisque j'ai déjà organisé la suite à Koh Samui, et que j'ai donc plus de temps pour explorer. Je m'imprègne de l'atmosphère tropico-bouddhiste de la ville, avant de la quitter le soir même, un peu à la hâte, elle m'a fait peur au début.
Wat Po
Wat Po avec son bouddha au repos est mon coup de coeur, j'ai dessiné son visage serein, l'ambiance était agréable dans cet oasis mystique en plein épicentre du chaos Bangkokien.
Le Bouddha au repos, Wat Po
En route vers Koh Samui
Ce ferry est immense
Mon amie de Koh Samui Arisa-san et moi en route vers le Guesthouse
Enfin la plage...
Come in here! We've have English menu
Writing from Lamai beach in Koh Samui, where the sea is blue, the sand is white and there is not much to do, and it's just great... Bangkok was so different from Japan it's insane. The noise is even more invasive, and the chaos is just, just too much. I suspect tourism is at least in the top 3 Thailand industries (I hear tourism is on its' way of becoming the world's first), because most of everything I see is geared towards making this farang (white foreigner, lovely word...) pay up. It took me a few days but I wised up to all the silly schemes these people are always concocting, now I'm starting to laugh it up but a few days ago it was quite scary, remember I'm all alone here.
After arranging for my week in the Island, I visited a few temples. Wat Phra Kaew and the Imperial Palace, with its' emerald buddha (jade) and Wat Po with a massive reclining gold buddha. I drew the gigantic buddha's serene visage, and in Wa Phra Kaew I avoided one deceptive scheme; near the main entrance, a helpful lady informed me where I could rent some clothes cheap, being that in this temple, you have to be formally dressed and that I was wearing shorts. Thankfully my intuition kicked in and I decided to go see for myself first. Turns out yes you have to wear pants, but they lend them to you for free! It's like that all over the country; wrong information, people trying to get me to go where they want (jewelry or other stores usually), crazy crazy schemes. Mistrust is at a peak now... I left Bangkok perhaps a little early because that scared me, but I'm wising up in the island now, and not worrying as much.
After twelve long hours on the bus, and five more of waiting, boating and taxibussying to my bungalow, I crashed and pretty much slept all of these past two days. I'm going to motivate myself to draw a little, but the heavy heat and relaxing beaches are making it a little difficult. Life is so hard I bet you're saying, not without reason I think... see you soon with my island pictures.
Writing from Lamai beach in Koh Samui, where the sea is blue, the sand is white and there is not much to do, and it's just great... Bangkok was so different from Japan it's insane. The noise is even more invasive, and the chaos is just, just too much. I suspect tourism is at least in the top 3 Thailand industries (I hear tourism is on its' way of becoming the world's first), because most of everything I see is geared towards making this farang (white foreigner, lovely word...) pay up. It took me a few days but I wised up to all the silly schemes these people are always concocting, now I'm starting to laugh it up but a few days ago it was quite scary, remember I'm all alone here.
After arranging for my week in the Island, I visited a few temples. Wat Phra Kaew and the Imperial Palace, with its' emerald buddha (jade) and Wat Po with a massive reclining gold buddha. I drew the gigantic buddha's serene visage, and in Wa Phra Kaew I avoided one deceptive scheme; near the main entrance, a helpful lady informed me where I could rent some clothes cheap, being that in this temple, you have to be formally dressed and that I was wearing shorts. Thankfully my intuition kicked in and I decided to go see for myself first. Turns out yes you have to wear pants, but they lend them to you for free! It's like that all over the country; wrong information, people trying to get me to go where they want (jewelry or other stores usually), crazy crazy schemes. Mistrust is at a peak now... I left Bangkok perhaps a little early because that scared me, but I'm wising up in the island now, and not worrying as much.
After twelve long hours on the bus, and five more of waiting, boating and taxibussying to my bungalow, I crashed and pretty much slept all of these past two days. I'm going to motivate myself to draw a little, but the heavy heat and relaxing beaches are making it a little difficult. Life is so hard I bet you're saying, not without reason I think... see you soon with my island pictures.
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