Bangkok
Monday 6th November 2006
We arrived at the new international airport in Bangkok. Last time I visited they only had one part which everyone flew into. Now they have a part for domestic and a part for international. We queued up in the metered taxi rank queue and a lady came to ask us where we are travelling to. I had written the place we wanted to stay down so she looks at it and writes on a slip of paper where we want to go in Thai. This lets the taxi driver know where we want to go – sometimes their English is not so good. Travelling at night accross Bangkok is great. You can see all the different roads, winding on top of each other and the traffic is tremendous, I had forgotton what a race track the roads are here. Then there is the hooting – it’s great. We eventually arrive at our destination – the good old, Th Khao San, the Khao San Road to you and me. This place is pumping, filled with all sorts of people walking up and down, street vendors trying to see you all sorts of different noodles and rice dishes and the fruit and clothes and just things – too many things to take in. I have a huge backpack on and my back is killing and we are trying to find somewhere to stay amongst the crowd. Eventually we find a place – the smallest bedroom in the world, smaller than my room at home (it must be tiny I hear you cry!!!). Still, its a bed and has a hot shower (not that you want a hot shower – only a cold one) and a toilet.
In Bangkok we have caught the skytrain, BTS, from the National Stadium near Siam Square to Mo Chit. This is where the Chatuckak weekend markets take place. This place is amazing – i loved it. Ive decided that we have to return before we leave so I can buy loads of stuff (ok rubbish that you fall in love with here and never use or need when you get back home). We wandered around Siam square, taking in the place and wandering through the huge MBK – a big shopping centre. (Kristin you would be in heaven here).
Yesterday was temple day for us. We decided to take a tuk tuk (motorised transport in Thailand that takes you quickly and smoggily to whereever you want to go – normally a hair raising experience which is overpriced. Still, we got to see The Golden Buddah, The Grand Palace and the surrounding buildings and Wat Pho – this is my favourite buddah ever. A huge and gigantic reclining buddah – everyone should see it in their lifetime – totally amazing. Yesterday was also a special day because it was the day of a certain festival where you buy a ring of flowers, light the candle and incense sticks on it, make a wish, and throw it into the river. The idea is that you will have good luck for the rest of the year and you are throwing away the bad things down the river. Janine and I got one and watched it float off down the river. There were also boats floating down the river with all sorts of different music coming from them and they were all ornately decorated and lit up. Very impressive and fun.
Tags: Bangkok, temples, Thailand, Travel
georgiebees
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