Flowers in the sun

We visited the Royal Palace yesterday. The sun was 'white hot' and bright as we walked down the long driveway. On either side were these big borders of wonderfully green plants with bright boganvilla and marigolds shining in the sun....it almost hurt the eye. It was too hot to paint outside so I took a picture and painted it at home! Its hot in Kolkata as well, but somehow the sun seems brighter here, there seems less dust as well. Viveck says everything has been covered in concrete, hence there seems to be less dust, and certainly no garbage in the areas we are staying in.  Bangkok is such a glittery city, full of high rises and really grand malls, and now with Christmas around the corner, full of lights. All the poverty seems to be hidden away, although we did see some shanties as we went along the river on the way to the Royal Palace!