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By the time I arrived in Bangkok it was already late afternoon and when I eventually reached my hostel I was exhasted due to my incredible jet lag. Sadly the hostel I had booked into was in the back end of beyond and dead so the only thing I did whilst there was book to move onto the Kho San road.
So the next day I quickly moved over to the Kho San Palace on the Kho San Road, the epicentre of touristic Bangkok. The street is a disorganised mash of markets, street food stalls and milling back packer. In order to get a good view of the city and to see some of the many Wats housed within it I took a tuk tuk around. Tuk tuks are fun, I loved them when I was 3 I love them still at 23 however, they come with one drawback. In order to get free petrol the driver will take you to suit shops, jewlery shops, travel agents etc. There seems to be no getting around this, so a 5 minute compliance doesn't really hinder you too much. The temples themselves were beautiful. For me the most impressive site was the standing buddha, but all were spectacular and wonderfully peaceful.
After this tour and a quick spot of Pad Thai for 40B (about 80p) I went back to the hostel and had the wonderful idea that I would nap till the evening. Mistake, i slept through till 3am.
AS I coouldn't get back to sleep my day began wonderfully early! I had the intention of visiting the art gallery and national museum, however, it was the king's 83rd birthday so these were all closed. Instead, I walked (much to the Tuk tuk drivers' frustration) over to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The emeral Buddha happens to be made of Jade but is no less impressive. The complex dedicated to it is a Royal Palace and is slightly more opulent than Buckingham Palace. The architecture is brilliant, the frescos breath taking and the gold abundant.
From here I had a general wander around the city dispite a couple of people insisting that I should take a boat tour. Then regardless of my best efforts (setting two alarms) jet lag struck again and once again 3am rolled round. Though this time I was starving and managed to grab some pad thai and chat to some very drunk people with buckets before twiddling my thumbs till things opened.
Final day in Bangkok and final day of sight seeing. First stop was the reclining Buddha. It is one of the things that you truley have to see to appreciate. Its size is phenominal and the statue fills the room with a golden aura as the sunlight reflects of of it. Suprisingly its feet are the most detailed section wonderly carved with an inlay of mother of pearl.
Next I went over the water to the Temple of the Dawn. It is very different to the other temples and the steps are almost as steep as those leading to the sun gate before Machu Picchu. However, the view is brilliant even if Bangkok is covered with a loving blanket of smog. Having popped back over the river 3B each way, I stopped off at a little stall for some fishball soup very nice, especially as there was a selection of chillis to add. HOT!
That evening I got supplies and packed up ready for the night train to Chiang Mai.
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