Songkran
Trip Start
Jan 16, 2008
1
27
49
Trip End
Jun 30, 2008
Bangkok,
Thailand
Friday, April 11, 2008
After waiting 3days in Khao Lak before being able to get a bus out we arrived back in Bangkok in the eary hours of the morning. Songkran is the Thai New Year and celebrations involve throwing alot of water around, we think it must be the biggest water fight in the world. Anywhoo, as a result, pretty much every Thai in the country is trying to get home or to the best venue which results in not being able to get anywhere.
Arriving in Bangkok we then discovered that no private buses were running for the next 5days and so we decided to venture out to the government bus station to investigate. Upon arrival we discovered a chaotic scene, moving through the crowd was like trying to get around in a gig. There were queues skewing off in all directions from ticket booths and people sat all over the floor. We were told by the lady at the information desk that buses to Nong Khai were full for that day and to come back tomorrow. We said ok, turned around and got the taxi back to our hotel (it takes an hour). After regrouping we decided to spend the day shopping for a new memory card (yes another one broke losing 40 diving photos, the BEST ones) and going to the cinema 9which was very confusing, we walked in on someone else's film!) to see Vantage Point, it sucked as a film. As in India the national anthem is played before a film and everyone has to stand and watch the pretty pictures of the King.
We rose early the next morning to return to the madness, managed to get in the right queue and get two of the last tickets (these tickets were actually for extra buses that had been set up to help deal with the mass movement). Our bus was at 20.30, it was 9.00, we found a space, sat on our rucksacks and prepared for the long day ahead by bickering. About half an hour in Becky had an epiphany, 'why are we staying here?'. We decided to leave our bags in storage and return to the wonderful Siam Square for Starbucks, book shopping and to see Street Kings at the cinema this time. Ooh Luke also bought some shorts (because he lost a pair and the others had a big whole in the arse, which Becky tried to save but failed pretty miserably), exciting stuff!! Forgot to mention our lunch that day, it was very odd, check out the photos. xxxxxxx
Comments
Vantage Points sucks!!!!!
I enjoyed it, better than these 'chick-flix' AG keeps trying to take me to.
When we were little, cinemas in the UK used to play the National Anthem before a film, especially on Saturday nights.
Sorry to hear about your best photos being lost, it might be worth paying a bit more for a decent 'branded' memory card.
The food looks lovely, did you try it?
I told you about the traffic in Bangkok, but it seems worse with a national holiday. Hope you have a safe journey.
Bea has her National Teamgym finals this weekend in Gloucester, so we're wrapping her in cotton-wool (last year she dislocated her wrist, remember?)
Anyway, keep safe
Love
The Camborne Clan xxx