Pork, fish pedicures, and the Emerald Buddha

Well, it's our hangout hour again - the hour after a day's worth of activities before we head out for the evening - so I figured I'd update the blog (I'm so proud of myself right now).  So much has happened in the last 24 hours that I thought it might be easier to write it in bullets, with associated photos (my own from here on out, thankyouverymuch).  Here goes.

1) We ate possibly the most delicious thing I've eaten here yet for lunch today on the street outside the Grand Palace.  For $1.  Pork + rice + sauce = perfection.  Seriously.

2) The Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha are just awesome.  And I mean awesome.  We spent a good part of the afternoon exploring the grounds, and the intricacies of the architecture and decor are amazing.  It doesn't hurt that everything's plated in gold leaf and sparkles.  Two things I like.

3) The dress code for the Grand Palace is strict. VERY strict.  In the guidebooks and online they say you need to be covered to the knee, no bare shoulders, and no sandals.  However, they do NOT say you aren't allowed to use a shawl to cover your shoulders if you're wearing a tank top. And they do NOT say that capri pants aren't allowed.  The only time they DO say this is AFTER you've bought the $15 ticket to get into the place (for foreigners only, mind you - Thais enter free).  They also DO, however, have conveniently located t-shirt shops that sell outrageously overpriced (read: $6) shirts that you can wear in to the compound.  Which resulted in me looking like this all day:

4) We met a really cute cat.  I played with it for a little while until now-enemy-of-PETA Ross Clements fed it a hard candy, on which it was sure to choke and die following our departure. 

5) I drank coconut water from a street vendor for a snack.  They tap it with a hammer to crack the shell and stick a straw in.  It was tasty. 

6) Fish pedicures are weird.  Like, really weird.  The goal is to have the little fish (which are WAY bigger than I imagined / had seen in the movies / had imagined) eat the dead skin off your feet (gross), providing a nice pedicure, massage and relaxation.  At first, it's insanely ticklish.  Then once you get used to it, it feels sort of like your feet are in a bucket of carbonated water.  Until you get a big sucker and you can feet its teeth between your toes.  Then you shake off your feet, splash everywhere, and scream like a little girl (yes, Ahmad Zakaria, I'm talking about you). 

7) Thai massage is decidedly NOT Swedish massage.  Thai massage means a tiny middle-aged (or young and attractive if you're at certain "special" spas) woman jumps on top of you on a mat on the floor and twists, contorts, and pounds your body until you feel like your bones are going to break, then gives you a nice hot towel for your forehead and some tea, and sends you on your way.  But it sure feels good afterwards. Plus, you get to wear a snazzy outfit.  Special shout-out to Matt Keith here - thanks for modeling. 

8) Eight seems like a weird number to end on, but I don't really have much else to say aside from the fact that it was another amazing day.  The city is busy, loud, and dirty, but full of life, culture, amazing people (Thais are some of the most friendly, kind, and helpful people I have ever met), and incredible food.  Still in search of bugs, but I'm sure we'll get there.  Heading out to a Muay Thai kickboxing match tonight at Ratchadamnoen Stadium.  Not sure it can top last night's excitement of watching a girl blow out birthday candles with her you-know-what, but I bet it'll be a close contender.  Peace out.  Great work, team.