Alba (girl from hostel) and I decided to go and be tourists for the day so got the sky train to the boat taxi!
The boat taxi was great; a nice cool breeze throughout the boat helped with the tropical heat and floating passed all the weird and wonderful houses, buildings and other boats allowed me to take many pictures, truly indulging in being a tourist!
We got off the boat and headed towards the Wat Pho, also known as the reclining Buddha. Outside a tour guide, who appeared to work for the Wat Pho, informed us it was closed to the public while the monks were in praying and we should come back at 4pm.
He was very pleasant and tolds us about some other Buddhas/temples we could visit in the mean time, he then tried to get us into a tuk tuk, which we declined and walked away. Not more then 2 mins later another guy stopped us and asked us what we were planning to see, he also gave us the Wat Pho being closed chat, which made it all the more believable. He got us a tuk tuk for half the price so we went for it!
First stop was the black Buddha and inside was a Thai man who was making a wish for his son who was about to be married, he gave us lots of info about the black Buddha and showed us how to make a wish etc. He told us we should go to the IBO office to book the overnight train as we could get a student discount, the tuk tuk driver would happily take us on our route and he would even have a chat with her to make sure she knew where we wanted to go! 'Excellent, I need a train ticker for tomorrow, what a nice man' I thought - how naive can you be?
Off to the IBO office we went so I could get my ticket or so I thought! On leaving the IBO office I was £200 lighter and the proud owner of a package 'deal'. Brilliant, Chang Mai here I come, I was delighted!
Last stop was the golden mountain, which basically is walking up loads of steps to see another Buddha just to walk back down the stairs at the other side. Some nice views from the top though which would have been nicer if it hadn't be so cloudy!
Back in the tuk tuk heading for the reclining Buddha but the driver wanted to do another stop - off to the gem store we went, the hard selling techniques came out, and although the jewellery looked lovely and was pretty cheap, I wasn't buying anything.
Finally reached the reclining Buddha, surprisingly no signs informing people about the 2 hour closure during prayer but thought noting of it.
The Buddha is magnificently massive, an impressive 160 ft in length it really is a vision, on the same note it's another Buddha.
Upon return to the hostel, some more experienced travellers let me in on a few tips, such as; people telling you somewhere is closed so you should go elsewhere until it opens! Tuk tuk drivers taking you to hard selling shops as they get commission or fuel vouchers! And the grande finally - tourist offices selling you 'deals' when really you can get it half the price yourself! GUTTED and to be honest a little pissed off and vulnerable! I've learnt the lesson now tho, Bangkok is full of smiling assassins, even that sweet little man in the black Buddha!
That night I drank a bucket then went to bed, enough said!