Lots of overpowering sensations all crowding the memory. First ones quickly fade so I will try and fix them. The taxi from airport cost 300 Baht and the road into town just like all those other roads from hot airports, lots of concrete, flyovers, manic traffic, green trees and dust. Excellent first impressions of hotel Bel-Aire Princess, where luckly we had a loyalty card so got an nice upgrade. So far have been here two nights and done as much as possible because of late start - the jet lag prevents getting up too early.
View imageBangkok Sky train

The first evening had delicious meal in hotel, and wandered about in the neighbourhood, which is Sukhumvit and right in the centre of things, so busy busy, with bars, complete with girlies, little businesses open very late, massages offered of all kinds, stalls at roadside cooking food and an army of taxi drivers and tuk tuk drivers all touting for business.
Saw the first Bangkok rat the next morning, poking its head out of a hole in the pavement. Then jumping out and scutling back into another hole. Must be many more in his family. Many times you get a good whiff of sewerage.
Luckily met some Irish people who told us about the Fast Food bar infront of a local supermarket. This is a godsend. It is open 24 hours if you want it, and you sit in high stools over a counter and watch the Thai women cooks preparing the vegetables, and making the stir fries. Have had breakfast there twice, nice 'American' style fried eggs and toast, juice and tea,very unhealthy but quick and cheap. The evening meal extra good, hot soup, I forget the name, with with huge prawns in a coconut flavour broth, served with a separate pile of
steamed rice. Beer is good too, only 50 Baht (74 baht to the pound - sorry no pound sterling sign on the keyboard)
Went first day to the famous Jim Thompson house - difficult to describe how delightful a place this is. Travelling there by Sky Train, quite a new sensation as it is fast efficient clean and easy to understand, mind you there are only two lines at present. Jim Thompson house has a large pond in the grounds where I saw a giant ray (fish) and several mega huge carp kind of fish.
View image The fish in the pond, Jim Tompson House

Everywhere you go, you see large fish bowls, they line the streets. They hold several gallons of water and usually have lilies, or lotus, or other small tropical plants in them, and hundreds of very tiny fish - quite charming. Nobody bothers them, they stay there all the time, just to be enjoyed.
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These water gardens are everywhere

Finally today made trip on the river boat from the end of the Sky Train line, where you can pick up the frequent river services. Got off at correct place for the Royal Palace and fell for one of the oldest scams here. Very convincing uniformed Thai men saying the palace was closed until 2.30 (it was then 1.30) because of religious ceremony, and we should come back then, meanwhile why not take a tuk tuk ride to another holy standing Buddha site? Only 40 Baht. Of course tuk tuk driver turned up, all seemed on the level.
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The foot of the Buddha and offerings
Visited very interesting standing Buddha temple which was certainly worth while but on way back the driver wanted to make detour to all kinds of special shops. No way! Firmly refused. He got quite cross. I was very pleased he eventually drove back to where we orginally wanted to got. But did not have as much time as really needed to explore the huge site of the Royal Palace. Lesson learned.
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Siamese cats