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We had a long but easy journey to Bangkok. The coach dropped us off at the backpacker hub of the Khao San road and we walked to our hotel, The Rikka Inn. We had already noticed a change from three years ago. It was much more built up, many more street vendors and posher looking restaurants. Last time we came we visited the Grand Palace, the Reclining Buddha, MBK mall, Jim Thompson's house and one of the Kings Palaces... So this time we wanted to explore the other attractions.
We started at Wat Arun (temple of the dawn) on a very rainy morning following two river boats. We climbed the temple. It has views over the grand palace and the rest of the city, but the price you pay to get this high up makes for a very steep exit. Once conquering my fears I climbed back down the steps and looked around another part of the temple housing a large gold Buddha to escape the rain. Ironically a monk was sitting in the temple texting on his mobile phone!
We purchased some ponchos as our rain macs weren't cutting it and headed to Chinatown. This was a very busy area so we kept our belongings extra close. After opting for a deep fried chicken leg from a street vendor we visited another 'Wat'. This one was pretty special because it housed the largest solid gold Buddha in the world worth 29 million pounds and standing at 15 tall. On the way back to the boat pier there were many unethical shark fin soup shops with the prized fins in the windows. The cheapest option being £120 for a tiny bowl of soup with a small piece of dried shark fin sitting on top- No thank you!
The next day we went to Lumphini Park, the site of many government protests. If you look past the camps you see a beautiful park with a boat lake surrounded by the Bangkok skyscrapers. We even spotted another monitor lizard! To escape the rain we took the sky train to Siam Square and the MBK mall. We didn't buy anything as we have no room in our backpacks but we will be back in December to make our fake mulberry purchases! Oli spotted a reuse/recycle exhibition at the Bangkok exhibition hall next door so we visited that and then sat and had a drink at the top of the Siam Discovery Mall.
Our last day in Bangkok was spent visiting the large Weekend Chatachak market, but we only lasted an hour there as the sun began to beat down and everyone was selling the same old tat. We retreated to the rooftop pool at the hotel until late afternoon which has great views over the Khao San road area and the rest of the city.
In the evening we dressed up in our best outfits for the Skybar, a bar featured in the Hangover Part 2 located on the 64th floor of the Lebua hotel. Unfortunately it was raining so they had closed the outside part, but to our advantage, the inside dome on the top of the building was open and we were able to sit and have a drink in there. Our cocktails (the Hangovertini and the Heavens Edge) came to more than the price of our hotel room per night but it was worth it for the view and the three bowls of pistachios we ate!
Overall a great few days in Bangkok but ready to move on to Kanchanaburi.
Stats:
Steps climbed at Wat Arun- 44
Times asked for 'Ping Pong?' 'Ping Pong Show?'- at least 10 (didn't attend)
Foot massages- 3
- comments
Jessibear Loved the Bangkok photos! It looks amazing there!! I wanna go! Miss you loads xxxxxx
chris Please tell me what a ping pong show is ! Is it 2 Chinese men playing table tennis ? Definitely sounds like oli would have enjoyed it !! By the way I like Ollie's beard , makes him look like a big issue salesman. You are both very daring trying all the food from street sellers, and having a go at scuba diving. I am pooping my pants just reading about it all. Keep enjoying your adventure Lots of love uncle chris xxx
Debbie Hi, love your Bangkok photos looks so interesting, shame about the weather, oli, love the beard and the nice blue poncho!! Have fun in ayutthaya , looks a beauitful place. xxx
Charlotte Oli says his beard has hardly got going yet...haha! Xxxx
dad What about some info on the ping pong show ,is it another service that Clearprint can offer ??
Charlotte I certainly hope not!!