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Day 1 - Arrive in Bangkok
Well we made it to the airport on time and managed to get through security before seeing our parents almost arrested for taking photos at the security gate. Fingers crossed they have all been released from jail now. After a long flight we were determined to succeed where Martin and Sophie had failed in finding our guesthouse so we splashed out an extra £1 each on getting a taxi rather then the train like train boy Martin. After a half-hour taxi ride with the friendly taxi man telling us all sorts about Bangkok and us both nodding and smiling to him not having a clue what he was talking about in Thai, we finally got dropped off right outside the Guesthouse, Success.
We successfully checked in and got escorted up to the room by a Thai guy Jogging at a million miles an hour, he obviously did not notice the 20kg backpacks we had to lug up the stairs, and yes you guessed right our room was right on the top floor. After collapsing on the bed for 5 minutes we decided not to waste any time and brave the heat of Bangkok. So changed into our shorts and headed out after spending another half hour working out how to rig the air con to stay on when we left the room and how to lock the door. Graeme then realised he had lost his passport (ALREADY), he rushed down to reception and accused them of holding it back only to go back to the room, (up the 4 flights of stairs again), to find it in his trouser pockets where we had left it.
So we headed out into the streets of Bangkok as free as a bird only to get 10 minutes down the street and realise we had hit a dead end (not so free after all). We finally got out onto one of the main street and wondered up aimlessly. A very friendly guy then popped his head out of a temple and asked if we wanted to come in and look around, taking everyone's advise we instantly branded him as a scam artist trying to steel all our money during our first hour in Bangkok. So waved him away…………. but since we had absolutely no idea where we were heading we were stuck there standing a meter away from him trying to work out whether to head forward, backwards, left, right or just spin round on the spot until we got dizzy. Finally the nice man who we had waved away rudely 2 minutes earlier rushed back into his temple and came back out with a map showing us all the temples in Bangkok. After he told us for about the 10th time that his temple was free for us to look in we finally headed into it expecting to be robbed blind, but true to his word him and his friends showed us around and even let us take photos. He then told us about a giant Buddha statue, which was only open to the public 1 day a year due to it being the Birthday of some emperor and luckily for us that day was today. He then taught us to say 'Mai Pi', we both instantly assumed that was how we were going to order our dinner. But then he explained it meant 'Go Away', he called a Tuk Tuk over and told the driver to take us to 3 different places and wait for us while we went in and looked round them. Then he told us not to pay the driver till the end and if he tried to charge us more then £1.05 to tell him to Mai Pi and not to pay. We still thought £1.05 for an hours city tour was still a bit steep but since the guy had been so nice we thanked him, (Kop Khon Kup for men or Kop Khon Kup for women - see we are not just having fun we're learning too), and climbed into the tuk tuk.
After 20 minutes of holding tightly onto 1 another to stop each other falling out we arrived at the Big Buddha and as instructed by our new friend we touched his toe to bring us good luck for our travels in Thailand, (not sure what we are gonna do about the other country's). As this was a super large toe Aimee can this count as your photo request?
After climbing in the tuk tuk a few more times and persuading the driver we did not want any Thai Fashion we finally arrived back where we started. We then thought we would start off our first day in traditional Thai food style and found a nice little restaurant and ordered a Green and Red Thai curry for the expensive cost of £1.40 each with a cheap beer and cocktail to wash it down. They then bought out our food and we nearly burst into tears as they had only bought the Green Curry and we thought we might have to share, after begging him for another he brought it out shortly later with a smile.
So after a long flight and a busy day we are gonna get out of the 34 degree heat of the Guesthouse lounge and head up to our nice cool 16 degree air conditioned room, night night.
- comments
Mum Great Blog -brings your adventures so much closer to home. Sounds like you having a brilliant time at the start to your Asia part of the trip and obviously having so much fun too. The photos are super too. Looking forward to more entries. Keep Safe Love and laughter xxx
Sarah So jealous guys, glad to hear you're having a good time already! Hope those authentic Thai curry's were almost as good as mine ;-) look forward to reading your other blogs, keep safe! x