Sightseeing in Bangkok

Trip Start Oct 01, 2007
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Trip End Dec 20, 2007


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Sunday, December 2, 2007

Unfortunately, when ever we have ventured out to sight see around Bangkok we always seem to get scammed - either by taxi or tuk-tuks.  We did manage to see the largest gold Buddha, lucky Buddha (right next door to a school with kids all wanting to sign their work books when they speak English), shopping at the Siam shopping centers and watching Beowulf in 4D at the Imax cinema.  It has the largest screen either of us have seen.  We also had to stand up for the national anthem before the film started (a bit weird).

Within that time we got into a taxi that refused to put on the meter and got charged 150 baht.  We got onto a tuk-tuk that said it would take us to the temples but took us first to a tailor shop, then a TAT shop and finally refused to take us anywhere else unless we paid him 300 baht for the privilege.  Bob threatened to get out and not pay him anything.  Weeble negotiated for a trip back to the hotel for 50 baht instead.  The 'good cop, bad cop' routine always works.

Today though Weeble was clever and researched our own way of sight seeing around Bangkok.  We walked about 5 minutes to the ferry port on the river and got the orange boat to the central port (13 baht each).  We then got the sky train to victory monument (35 baht) and took a few pics.  We got the sky train back another couple of stops and walked for about 45 minutes through a massive street market to get to the tallest tower in Bangkok - Baiyoke 2 Tower.  The tickets to the top cost 200 baht each.  The following conversation took place after we got into the lift to the top:

Bob: "Weeble is that wall glass?"
Weeble: "I don't know"
Bob: "I think thats glass!"
Bob: "WEEBLE ITS A GLASS LIFT ##@***## ITS GLASS!!!

The doors opened and the tourists waiting found both Weeble and Bob clinging to the door frame after an unforgettable journey in the glass lift to the 77th floor!  After recovering we went up to the 84th floor where we ended up on an out door revolving walk way.  That was enough for both Weeble and Bobs nerves.  We downed the complimentary drinks and grabbed a hand full of the popcorn offered before heading back down to the safety of the ground floor, in the glass lift again. 

After weaving our way through the street markets, we found our way back to the shopping mall and stopped off for a rather expensive slice of cake in celebration of Weeble's official birthday.  It was also a ploy for Bob to go shopping again and purchase a suitcase - which Weeble carried all the way back: by train, by boat and dragging it up the road to the hotel.

We had planned to go to the Thai boxing but unfortunately we got conned by the taxi drivers again so we missed it.  We ended up wondering about the local street market and settling down for a large helping of spicy chicken with Cashew nuts and rice, whilst watching 'The Beach' in a local restaurant.
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