Bangkok is a new experience second time around, having been in SE Asia for a month and gotten used to the customs and people I feel a lot more confident than when i first arrived & find the mad bustling city with it's strange sounds ands smells more exciting than daunting.
Met Steve at the airport & went back to the hotel looking forward to showing him around and seeing more of the tourist sights myself. We went for dinner at Cabbages and Condoms - a restaurant that promotes safe sex in Asia. The restaurant is in a beautiful setting in outdoor courtyard with loads of fairy lights hanging from the trees (i do love a fairy light or 2!) and lanterns adorned with coloured condoms! Meal was lovely and at the end rather than give you a mint they give you a condom!
Up at dawn the next day & went to Grand Palace area to give alms to the monks. Took some fruit we'd bought from street market the night before and placed in monks' alms bowls then knelt down while they blessed us - feel good experience! Got some coffee and pancakes from street stalls and went to Wat Pho when it opened so no crowds which was nice. The reclining Buddha was really impressive, i had no idea just how big it was going to be! Then went back to Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha which was pretty spectacular but I was still more impressed with the mammoth reclining Buddha. Also visited another temple where they do meditation classes & spoke briefly to a monk and an English girl staying there about meditation and Buddhism. The monk said to come back between 6-8pm as every evening they sit and talk to people interested in Buddhism, unfortunately don't have time to go this time round but would like to if i get another chance as i find it fascinating. Spent afternoon and evening on Kho San Rd knocking back the Changs!
Following morning headed out to floating market which was fun but thought it would be bigger, good to see though. In evening caught overnight bus & boat to Koh Phangan for some island time!