We made it!
Trip Start
Apr 25, 2008
1
2
24
Trip End
Jun 07, 2008
Bangkok,
Bangkok,
Thailand
Friday, April 25, 2008
After what seemed to be an incredibly long flight, we arrived at the new Bangkok airport. Very flash! We breezed through customs and were taken to our hotel around 9.30pm.
Although it was 2.30am or so NZ time we had to go for a quick explore through Chinatown, where we were staying. There were lots of food carts all over the street and open air restaurants serving tiger prawns and huge crabs, along with a few indescribable and unrecognisable things. We decide to be brave and sat down at an open air restaurant that was fairly crowded with locals. (We were just about the only Europeans to be seen on the street!). We ordered some 2 plates of prawns and some shrimp fried rice to share. It was fantastic - and so cheap! Only $8 for the two of us... and there was so much we couldn't finish
View of Bangkok from hotel window
.The next day we set our for a bid day of exploration. We wandered through Chinatown and made our way to the river (a major source of transport through Bangkok). We hired a long boat for a 2 hour tour through the klongs (canals) of Bangkok. It was supposed to also go through a floating market.. . but we got kind of ripped off! There were about 2-3 boats - and it turns out it was the boat driver's mates! Never mind - it was a fascinating tour through the back canals of Bangkok which were lined with homes of various types - from the fairly basic and rough to the very flash and modern
Next, we made our way to the Sky Train (monorail) and after buying a day pass, toodled around the city stopping off at MBK (shopping centre) in an attempt to buy a new battery charger (as my one is broken). No joy with the charger - argh!! We made our way up to Chatuchak, the local weekend market which was absolutely packed out with tourists, locals, market sellers, buskers, etc. So far, we have been pretty good about not buying anything.
We were quite proud with how we manage to so easily navigate around Bangkok. I know I was feeling a bit apprehensive at first as its such a large sprawling city that I just didn't think we would know where to begin
Busker at Chatuchak market
. But I think we mastered it quite easily and quickly.In the evening, we had a 10 minute Tuk Tuk ride to Patpong Road. Riding a tuk tuk (3-wheeled motorcycle) is taking your life into your hands! It's just as well Debbie and I are fairly adventurous rather than nervous travellers as these rides are not for the timid!
Got back to the hotel around 11.00pm and booked ourselves in for a massage. Debbie had a 45min foot massage ($10) and I had a Traditional Thai Massage for an hour ($14). Oh my god!! Debbie thoroughly enjoyed hers... but I can't believe I paid someone to torture me!! This little Thai girl was crawling all over my back digging her elbows into the back of my legs, my bum, my arms. She had vice-like grip on her hands and man, she worked over every knotted muscle in my body. I might settle for a more relaxing oil massage next time!!!
