New, cleeeean country
Trip Start
Jan 16, 2008
1
22
49
Trip End
Jun 30, 2008
Bangkok,
Thailand
Thursday, March 20, 2008
So we arrived in Bangkok to find it very clean in comparison to India and not as much pollution as we'd expected. We were picked up by a small jolly Thai lady in her ac taxi with popeye seat covers. Dropped our bags off in our guesthouse, had a quick tea and headed straight for Ratachadamnoen Stadium to see our first Thai boxing match and jump in at the deep end. In Thai boxing you can kick and knee your opponent aswell, we were clueless about the scoring system but the crowd got excited (shouting eeeee eeeee in deep voices) when the boxers got in close proximity and started kneeing each other in the kidneys. There was also some pretty rowdy betting going on with some strange hand flicking and waggling. We popped out between matches to buy some weird pork-ball kebabs and a garlic sausage (that could flatten all the people in the room if you breathed out). A good way to start the Thai experience, even if we did leave early cos we were tired (there were 10matches each with 5rounds)
A boxing match
.Next morning we went to Ko Ratanakosin, the ancient royal district, to visit the Wat Phra Kaew (Wat means temple) and Grand Palace. The Wat Phra Kaew was spectacular and so extravagantly decorated it was almost blinding. It also houses the famous Emerald Buddha, the main attraction of the temple, although at only 75cm high it seemed a little puny in comparison to it's ornate surroundings.
Unfortunately some of the Palace was closed due a funeral, we did go to one hall which was fairly impressive but nothing compared to the temple which had just knocked our socks off. We had ice creams and pineapple crisps
We wandered along the road for a quick look at the city pillar before going round the corner to the Wat Pho. This temple is home to the largest reclining buddha (46m lng and 15m high) in Thailand and it bowled us over, especially the feet which are decorated with the 108 different characteristcs of buddha in mother of pearl.
Headed to Siam Square for a late lunch in a noodle restaurant, for some reason only Becky's meal came with chopsticks, watching her eat provided much amusement for Luke. Afterwards Becky dragged Luke around the shops for what seemed like all eternity but he couldn't complain cos he bought some presents. Becky went a bit mad and bought 2pretty dresses, a bag, a top and a bracelet (all for herself)
Becky infront of the Emerald Buddha
! Wandering around we found it strange to be surrounded by stylish Thai ladies shopping rather than lots of Indian men standing around staring.Found a tiddly restaurant for tea full of young Thais, this time we both got chopsticks but Becky loving a challenge decided to try and eat spare ribs with hers.
As part of the deal for going to the Thai boxing match for Luke, that evening we went to the lady-boy cabaret Becky had picked out. It was brilliant and we were both thoroughly entertained, we even got photos with the 'girls' afterwards.
Saturday morning we went to Chatuchak Weekend Market, renowned for being the biggest market in Thailand where you can buy pretty much anything imaginable. We wandered through the warren of stalls all morning buying various bits and bobs along the way. After lunch we stumbled across the pet section which was a bit peculiar. There were lots of tiny fluffy bunnies dressed up in outfits, various kittens and puppies. We were tempted to buy a beethoven puppy and a huskie puppy and smuggle them round during the rest of our trip.
We dropped by Lumphini Park for a little R & R before tootling along to Patpong, Bangkok's most famous red-light district. It was pretty dead so we decided to hang around and come a bit later.
We found an Irish Pub around the corner where we stopped for drinks and Sunday roasts which we won't comment on.
We returned to Patpong to satisfy our curiousity in a club called Super Pussy and very quickly and sheepishly left, enough said.
We returned to the Irish pub for a few more brewskies before going to a Morrocan-style club.
After a Sunday lie-in we went to Wat Saket (the Golden Mount) to get a view of Bangkok from above, before grabbing some lunch and catching a bus to Phetchaburi.Bangkok was brilliant but we were exhausted and we'd had enough.
xxxxx
Comments
Bangkok
Brings back memories of going to Bangkok with Granny, Dad and Uncle Richard - only when we went they were doing up all the temples for the centenary celebrations the following year. love AC & UD