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35 degrees and very humid, we planned to go off piste today. Rather than take the expensive Seabourn tour we arranged a private tour with an organisation called Tongs Tours. I can recommend Tong Tours if you need someone to show you Bangkok. The real disappointment of our cruise was that we only had a limited time in Bangkok so we only had time to see the Grand Palace, take a water boat ride and see the reclining Buddha.
Tong Tours arrived in a good sized clean modern air conditioned taxi van, we had a driver and a guide for 8 hours and this cost us less than $US150 - a bargain.
With the heat and humidity you need to take your time and pace yourselves. Bangkok has a big traffic problem so it was fortunate that we had arrived on a Sunday when traffic was lighter, however we managed to get stuck in some jams. The downside of arriving at the weekend was that the Grand Palace was jam packed, however you must visit as this is a must see, along with the reclining Buddha. Words and pictures cannot describe the sights you will see at both these locations.
Lunch was taken at a local Thai restaurant, with the local Chang beer at 6.2 percent alcohol by volume. A great meal at less than $4 per head.
After lunch we took our river boat ride, curiously walking through a riverboat restaurant to board our small boat. Many of the tourist boats in the centre of Bangkok are powered by old car engines mounted in the open at the back of the boat. A long prop shaft to which is attached a prop hangs over the side of the boat. Pivoting the engine and moving both prop and engine gives directional control. Whipping along at a rap[id rate of knots we turned into a smaller side canal briefly stopping to feed some cat fish with loaves purchased from a vendor conveniently sited where the fish congregated waiting for feeding. The boat trip provided welcome relief from the heat of the day.
Returning from the boat trip we re-joined our taxi van for the journey back to the boat.
We hear the weather is getting cold again, we too have seen forecasts for a reduction in temperatures. We expect temperature to fall to as low as 29 degrees as we sail toward the final stop in our journey Singapore.
Enjoy the ice,
Dave and the crew……… Sue, Jan, Bridget, John and John
- comments
Dave Sweet Morning All, I was wondering where you had got to with your updates. Thought maybe you had all been strung up by the Thai's! I fully concure with all you said about Bangkok and the Temple and the Budha, as saw all of this and more in '96. That Brisdge affair looked pretty spectacular. When you get back to blighty you will no doubt wonder what all the fuss has been about these past two weeks as temperatures are now above normal for the time of year and all but a few really shady places are clear of snow. By the way, the average daytime temperature for the first 10 days in February was -0.3 degrees, so enoy what you have left of 28 degrees plus. On a different note I have booked us all in for the next available BYO on March 23rd. The Sweets are in the chair that evening with the Champers, assuming you are not all champered out of course. Enjoy your last day, the airports and the flights home. PS - I bet Herr Team Leader Pardon did not indulge in any of that 6.2% stuff at lunch time. A glass of water for him no doubt.