Thailand

Yes. we are still alive. Sorry we haven't posted to the blog in a few weeks, but we've been having tons of fun in Southeast Asia and New Zealand. We are physically back in the States now, but are spending some time in the Bay area prior to heading home.

Bangkok
In summary: FABULOUS, SPICY, INEXPENSIVE FOOD!

We spent our entire week in Thailand in Bangkok to just relax and catch our breath from all of the previous adventures. We stayed at the new Millenium Hilton (yes, on points) on the river and were treated very well the entire stay. A monstrous corner suite with complimentary laundry service and great breakfast every morning made us want to move in.
Everything was unbelievably cheap in Bangkok. Cab rides were never more than $3. Typical meals (multi-course and very tasty) were around $10 for the two of us, including drinks. We did manage to visit some of the temples and the royal palace during our stay, but it was mainly about waiting for the next awesome meal.
Here's some Bangkok pictures, includng one of the 46 meter long, gold plated reclining Buddha at Wat Pho:

Quick observations:
It's good to be the King -- Thailand seems to revolve around the king. Yes, it was recently his 80th birthday and he is the longest reigning king in the world, but we weren't prepared for the unbridled dedication shown him. The Thai people's love for their king is amazing. His picture is everywhere and everyone wears yellow shirts with his royal emblem on it. We thought it was great that when he appeared in public one day wearing a pink shirt, the entire country was falling all over themselves to buy a pink shirt the next day, and the street vendors were more than happy to oblige.
SPICY - "Fish/chicken/pork/duck in spicy basil sauce" really means SPICY basil sauce.
Tailored Clothing -- We did take advantage of the unlimited supply of inexpensive tailors in Bangkok and purchased some bespoke clothing for the both of us.
River -- We've never seen so much boat traffic. The river runs through the middle of the city and the fastest way across it, or up it, is one of the many ferries or private long boat.
Gold -- No silver here. Gotta like shiny gold in Thailand. From palace roofs to statues to jewelry, it's gold.

Look for our Cambodia and New Zealand entries soon!