A few street sights in Bangkok

Sights in Bangkok are similar to those in Udon only 20 times more hectic--8 million people strong.

Ray said the buses are the same ones he rode in 40 plus years ago. Many of them look like they have been around that long!

Motorcyclists are not intimidated by anything. They pull right up to the front of the line in the middle of traffic. They pass on both sides of cars and wind their way around vehicles that are too close to drive past. If traffic is slow on the street, they go up on the sidewalk. You have to be careful when walking down the sidewalk because motorcycles will zip past you from both directions. Even on the sidewalk, you are not guaranteed the right of way. The crosswalks are even less safe!

They have motorcycle taxis that are very busy. Here is a stop for them on one street corner. The line never got shorter while we stood there, but one person would hop off and another get on about every minute or so. (Down about one block and across the street is the LDS Service Center that houses the mission offices, translation department, distribution center, the administrative offices for the Church in Thailand.)

The motorcycles pull up right on the sidewalk at the head of the line.

 The passenger quickly pays--the amount depends on how far they have come.

You'll notice that girls wearing skirts ride "side saddle" holding their purses and other belongings on their laps. I don't know how they keep their balance and stay on while the drivers race through traffic!

Along the streets are many vendors. You can find anything from fresh squeezed orange juice to fried chicken, sausage, or grilled chicken intestines on a stick. You can buy toys, skirts, shirts, blouses, neck ties; the list seems endless.

All of these pictures were taken from the same spot. It is a very busy corner because it is the entrance to the MRT (subway). There are thousands of people who pass here every day (including the people going to work at the Service Center).