So, I am in Thailand. My first full day in Bangkok, I took the river taxi to see the Grand Palace (see pics). I expertly avoided the tuk-tuk (motorbike with attached passenger compartment; like Chinese ricksaw) drivers who told me the Palace was closed (so they could drive me to a better place - 'same same but different'). My hostel buddy is 1/2 Thai, 1/2 American; he is researching health policy there and says that Thailand adapted so readily to growing capitalism because it is a very accepting/absorbent culture but more because it's long been a consumer crazy society. Next day I spent several hours in the Bangkok train station - best place for people watching. Also, there can enjoy big screen quality Thai television - I saw what seemed this nation's version of friends and drank 'Black Canyon Coffee' - logo is an American cowboy, chain all over SouthEast Asia.