Adventures at the Golden Palace

Well, today was a learning experience.  We decided to head to the #1 tourist attraction - the Golden Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.  We took the Skytrain to the pier, then the public water taxi to the dock where we could (ostensibly) walk to the Golden Palace.  The instant we got off the boat, we were accosted by men wanting to set us up for stuff.  It was pretty wild.  Eventually, though, we made it to the palace.

Derrick with one of the many bonsai trees

The temple complex dates from about the late 1700's or so.  

We spent a few hours in and around this area.  It is pretty wild with tuk-tuk drivers, taxi guys, tourists, sidewalk food of everything you can imagine and a lot you can't and cheesy trinkets all in 1000% humidity.  So far, no monsoon rain, though.

On to the next adventure.  

With my new Lion Guardian friend

We're not really sure what these guys are - some kind of bird head guardian with 3 headed snake...