Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
The night train was pretty good and we managed to get a good amount of sleep in our cramped sleeper compartments! Arriving in Bangkok was a bit of a shock compared to other places I've been, it's so in your face!! Immediately as you walk from your train you're mobbed and offered numerous accommodation, taxis and Tuk-Tuk rides! Luckily we kind of knew where we were going and managed to get a taxi to use it's meter (believe me it's hard work) and when they do, it's really cheap. We had arranged to meet back up with Stu and Laura (who we met at the Perhentian Islands) at a hotel she recommended - it was basic but had a 24 hour bar so it was fine with me and I felt the numerous fist holes in our room door only added to the character!
Bangkok is filthy, and the smog is horrible (don't let this put you off though!)! You get a mouthful of diesel every 2 steps and feel like you need a shower after walking around for 5 mins! So many stray dogs, people begging and people trying to sell you things! We stayed a few minutes walk from the Kohsan Road which is a very hectic place by day and night, but good if you ignore the hundreds of street sellers and can dodge the maniac Tuk-Tuk, drivers who I'm sure are on a mission to run over foreigners, it's a good laugh!
Dave, Pete and I attempted to use the first day to absorb some culture by visiting Wat Pho, the temple containing the reclining Buddha, which was pretty impressive, however, we got caught in a massive rainstorm and had to knock it on the head for the day and relaxed in the restaurant! Stu arrived in Bangkok in the evening and we all spent the evening catching up and having a few beers (for a change!).
The next day, Dave, Pete and I decided to take a Tuk-Tuk for the day and the driver will take you everywhere in the city for about 10p......here's the catch. They take you to all the places you want to go, including, their mate's suit shop, jewellery shop, TAT office (Tourism Authority of Thailand) so that they in return receive fuel vouchers from all these places! It's pretty easy to just walk in to the places, look at a suit or a tour and then leave and we got to all of the places we wanted to see - although our Tuk-Tuk driver did decide to leave us at one point, never to return and without payment. Wish they did that in Birmingham! We also visited the MBK shopping centre, where you can get pretty much fake anything!! There are however numerous genuine shops selling goods far cheaper than England and a few pairs of trainers made it back to the hotel with us!
That night we all went out as it was Laura's last night after a year on the road and met up with Gemma (of full-moon party fame). It was a rather drunken affair but good all the same. Dave and Pete indulged in their first "Buckets" containing Sang Som, Coke and Redbull, they felt the effects following day!! I've been lead to believe the Redbull out here contains amphetamines and it's illegal to take it back to the UK - not sure how true that is though!?!
Bangkok part 2 to follow shortly......
- comments