Markets, Tuk Tuks, Thai beer and madness
Trip Start
Jul 12, 2006
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161
230
Trip End
Jun 18, 2007
Bangkok,
Thailand
Sunday, February 18, 2007
I'm not sure I'm articulate enough with words to quite explain what it's like here. Hot would be the first word I'd choose, along with humid, dirty, crowded and just plain mad.
Our hostel was on the Silom Road, which is slap bang in the middle of the commercial area and right near Patpong, which I suppose could be called Ping-Pong if you catch my drift. There's lots of offices nearby which means that there's lots of places to eat and drink not to far from our hostel. The first things that gets you about this place is the sheer number of people, it's crammed, packed to the rafters, about 15 million people I think and the traffic is unbelievable, it's busy at all times but at rush hour, forget it. Journey times can be extended by up to an hour travelling at peak times. Just watching the cars battle with the taxis, tuk tuks and motobikes is crazy, two lanes of traffic turn into about six.
Also, the streets are just full of people selling things, absolutely anything, food, clothes, juices, fruit, flowers, watches, shoes, you name it you can buy it and you won;t have to walk very far at all. The street food is amazing here, little stalls piled up everywhere and impromptu tables are erected anywhere that they can possibly fit on the street so that people can enjoy their noddles or soup by the road side.
Boats on the Bangkok River at Sunset
Anyone and everyone seems to have a cauldron of boiling fat or huge work surrounded by piles of noodles or bamboo shots or veges that you point at to get cooked with whatever raw meat they have stuck on their cart, warming up a treat in the 80f+ heat! :)We've had a look around the main areas, got lost in Siam Square shopping centre, been to the Pat-Pong night market (where they relentlessly try and get you into the ping-pong shows), been to a Thai kick-boxing match (which was surprisingly good fun), drunk loads of Thai beer and ate tons of delicious food for not very much money at all.
Heather and Vinny, friends of Lee's from the MIdlands came out to see us so we've been with them over the last 4 days, it's been great, really good to see them and we're well chuffed they've made the effort to come and see us on our trip. They headed off to Krabi today and that's where we are heading towards when we leave here. We've got about 7 days to get to Krabi so we can spend 4 days with them before they head back to the UK.
A must do while in Bangkok is the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddah, both of which are spectacular. Prices quoted in the Lonely Planet are a bit out of date, either that or the Thai people are really trying to get those tourist pounds piling in. But it was worth every penny. The dress code has been relaxed a bit from the description in the Lonely Planet but you still have to dress conservatively. People are allowed in with open-toed shoes on (contrary to what the LP says) Lee and I had trainers on so were a bit miffed to find this out beacuse our feet were baking! You can also borrow trousers and shirts if your dress is deemed unfit, it's free to use them you just have to put 100bhat deposit on the clothes - just make sure you have the correct change.
The grounds are truly amazing, the buildings are decorated so intricately, with so many colours and bits of mirror, it really does sparkle in the hot sun.
Chinese New Year Dragon in Khao San Rd
The grounds are quite big as well, to see both the Emerald Buddah and the grand place so it took it's toll on all our feet.We also went to see the Golden Buddah but the temple shut early so we had to make do with a wander around the outside of the temple and a peak in the windows, it's a shame really because it was a right mare to get too. Located behind what is basically a shanty type town on the side of the canal.Getting there, we experienced our first Tuk-Tuk ride. What an experience that was, they really do graduate from the Evil Kanevil school of driving. Lee haggled a good price with the Tuk Tuk driver and we only once got asked if we wanted to go to a shop. When ever you get into a Tuk Tuk they always ask if you;re going shopping then try and take you to a tailors or some other place so I came up with a cunning plan and have been telling them that we;re going to meet friends, which has so far worked becaused the Tuk Tuk journeys we;ve taken have got us to where we want to go - result!
We've also been to the temple of the reclining Buddah, which is a huge (and I mean huge) golden Buddah lying down resting it's head on it's arm. It was very impressive and well worth braving the 94f heat and sunshine to see it. The good thing about the reclining Buddah is that you can take pictures of it and the place isn't so strict on dress code as the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddah. Word of warning though, bad people will try and scam you left right and centre. Do not buy tickets from anyone apart from at the ticket desk at the attractions.
