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Tuesday 6 May
Arrived Bangkok at 12.50 am to a balmy 29 degrees, after a 3 hour flight from Cairns to Sydney (where they done a full body scan on me and then to make double sure they searched me again, and that was just coming out of Sydney) plus a 9 hour flight from Sydney to Bangkok (the plane was refuelling for 1 hr 30 mins) then going on to Dubai it seemed hardly worth getting off for 30 minutes as some people where doing then having to go through customs again.
We were approached by a man with a banner for Emirates and then another couple asking if we wanted taxis's, but as I had read to do, we followed the public taxi sign and made our way down to ground level and outside the building and turned right where there was lots of taxis's but no drivers in them, the drivers where standing along the roadside pointing me in the right direction, I was pointed to a desk and the man asked where we were going, he gave me a white slip of paper which stated a couple of amounts and a number in case we wished to complain (this way you know you are not getting ripped off), he also handed the taxi driver a slip of paper. We went through two tolls in which the taxi driver asked us to pay for the first, which was 75 baht. The second was 50 but he paid for that one. We arrived at our hotel right on the riverbank The Royal Orchid Sheraton, the taxi drive took 30 minutes and cost 400 baht. (With tip etc this equated to about £10).
The room is nice and spacious with a river view and the bed extra large. We have complimentary dressing gowns and slippers and complimentary bottles of water in our room (very much needed when we arrived) tea and percolated coffee and the fridge (mini bar) is packed out. The bathroom has a telephone near the toilet the same as it did in Alice Springs, is there any need, even if you are a VIP, you should be able to go to the toilet in peace!!!,
We had read the hotel had its own private boat. This takes you downriver to the closest skytrain station and also to a local shopping mall (Robinson's). We will find this out later as we will attempt a visit to the Grand Palace and maybe Wat Pho (the reclining Buddha) today, Note to myself: I must remember to wear the correct clothing!!! Mike has just emerged from bed to make me a nice cuppa and asked what I was doing up so early (8am), I reply, I'm excited to see Bangkok..........
Mike is now looking out of the window and informs me that there is a Man U and Chelsea banner on the opposite side of the river - sigh!
Well well hotel Concierge said to use the public river boat for the Grand Palace. Take a right turn out of hotel twice and we will be on pier 3, get off at pier 9, we did just that and it cost about 60 baht (less than £1.20) for both of us. Once outside the hotel it was hot and steamy just like a steamy hot bathroom, sweat dripping off us. We found the Grand Palace after a bit of hassle from the locals and paid 1000 baht for both of us to get in (approx £20) we spent all morning there it was absolutely magnificent, it showed how the royals used to live, no hassle once inside, plenty of guards and security, very regimental.
Once outside the hassling starts again, lots of men wanting us to use there tuk tuk's asking where we are going, lots of market stalls selling fruit and veg. Everybody for themselves crossing the roads. On the way out we ended up in the cafe at the palace having an ice cream and it started thundering. We then found a local cafe/bar and are now sat drinking a cold beer with air con - bliss, just what the doctor ordered!!! Then the fun starts again...... Wat po just up the road.
Found Wat Po and the large reclining gold Buddha was quite impressive although the rest of the area seemed to be still having some restoration work done to it. It started raining but the rain was a blessing, we are so hot! We jumped back on the boat and got off 1 pier short of needing too but we needed some baht and found a shopping mall near the hotel to use the ATM and ended up in another bar, the rain has started again and it is bouncing.
The photo is of the view from our room.
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