What's wat
Trip Start
Apr 12, 2005
1
12
104
Trip End
??? ??, 2006
Bangkok,
Thailand
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Saturday night we went to Patpong, the supoosed red-light disrict which turned out to be one street with a market in the middle (no I spent nothing here) and sleazy bars either side with blokes waving laminated cards in your face advertising the 'menu' for the shows - basically what the girls could do with their you-know-what - ping-pong, cutting bananas in half, rainbow (whatever THAT was)etc
Detail of figures on stupa, Grand Palace
. We got fleeced in one bar then went to see Ldy-boys dancing - all quite tame and boring, I should have asked Mr Moulson where he went to see the Lady-Boy show where they dressed up in fabulous costumes and did a proper show - oh well...Sunday we went down the river on a boat that stops at the piers with all the sights, including Wat Po with a huge gold reclining Buddha (where I was pushed really hard with both hands by a stupid Indian woman even though I wasn't in her way - I told her to eff off, rude cow). My favourite was the Grand Palace which had so many sights dotted around it was staggering, including a massive gold stupa (Buddhist monument)and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (which is actually jade and seems tiny as it's quite high up. The outside of the temple is mosaic with coloured tiles and mirrors that twinkle in the sunlight, there are also large statues everywhere as sentries, and a mural that goes the whole way round the inside of the enclosure. I have to say I was more impressed with the Palace than with the Taj Mahal, no doubt at all about that - the workmanship was amazing, really intricate and so beautiful and ornate, far more interesting and detailed.
Yesterday I flew to Chiang Mai up in the north, an hour's flight for 22 quid
Gold stupa, Grand Palace
. Spent a couple of hours at a Khantoke dinner, named after a small round table used at banquets and weddings and filled with different dishes of food - it was all gorgeous but I literally had enough for four people, they bring the same amount whether there are one or four people so I was stuffed! There's traditional dancing while you eat then they get people up out of the audience...yes of course I did, you know I'll volunteer for anything!Today we went to see Wat Phra Singh, then went to a museum and arts centre that told about the history of Chiang Mai, really interesting and had a/c so a great escape for an hour or so. Tonight we have a meeting about the trek we're going on tomorrow for three days, after that I hope to go to Cambodia. In fact I should go now cos the meeting is in 20 minutes and I have to have a shower cos I stink - nice....
