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Back to Bangkok
You would have thought that we would have learnt from the first rather hellish experience of the State Railway of Thailand & just got on a plane back to Bangkok. Unfortunately, however, budget restrictions wouldn't allow it and I would have walked back before getting on another frigging bus so round 2 on the rails it was.
First of all we had our tickets checked in the usual over-authoritarian manner by the armed guard, and then... *shudders at the thought* we had the horrible realisation that the monstrosity of a waiter from the first train had an even more obnoxious twin! And to make it even worse he sang! In actual fact he sang a bit too much and wanted knocking out to be honest - perhaps that's why they employ armed guards! Anyway, needless to say we skipped breakfast.
I didn't particularly rate BKK the first time round - it was too hot, too dirty, too smelly & too claustrophobic but I figured that it was mostly down to culture shock and was prepared the second time to give it a fair chance. In all fairness it was still all of those things but sans the culture shock it was also pretty damn amazing. We did loads of cool things in Bangkok, so once again here are the highlights:
The Buddy's Hotel roof top pool
We didn't actually stay here because it was too expensive. However we did use their pool. Every. single. day.
Grand Palace
Ok, a load of old Wats but they were quite spangly and lovely and provided lots of laughing and pointing at Japanese tourists style entertainment
The Skytrain
It was air conditioned. The end.
The Siam Paragon shopping centre foodcourt
More air conditioned-ness and nut free foodstuffs - winner! Obviously no trip to BKK is complete without a visit to Nandos and the Haagen Daaz Cafe...
The Siam Paragon shopping centre loos
On my second visit to the shiny spangly shopping mall, I spent a lovely couple of hours safe in the knowledge thatshould the need arise (which predictably it did) there would be loo roll in what were arguably the only nice toilets in Thailand. *mental note: next time take a bigger bag*
River Taxis
Yes a second transport option made it onto the highlights list - this is because they are better, cheaper and faster than those pesky tuk tuks and actually take you where you want to go without arguing or seeing a Big Buddha on the way all for 16 pence!
Baiyoke Tower Hotel
True to form, Mikey couldn't resist a visit to the tallest building in Thailand. We arrived after dark and the view of the city stretching out almost infinitely was amazing. Perhaps most fun, however, was had in the exhibition ("woohoo hot air balloon we can play in"), the Sky Bar ("ooh free popcorn *chomp, chomp, scoff like we'd not eaten EVER* "ooh more free popcorn!"...), being overly amused by the fun that could be had with mirrors (especially considering the average group age was 24), and making use of what we thought were the highest non-squat toilet facilities in Thailand (until we found the 85th floor - gutted).
The other roof top bar
(Help me I've forgotten what it was called!) But it was sooo pretty.
Arts & Crafts Evening
Mikey decides to cyber up the new sari pants in a Japanese manga stylee (& gets funny looks whilst sewing by the pool). Later at the guest house, funny little Thai lady who lives (literally) behind reception decides she wants to help with sewing. Other little Thai lady who fanciesMikey also helps with sewing after throwing the man out of room 36 (which transpires is because he couldn't pay because the lady boy he brought home stole all his money!!) Allan sits and watches the whole spectacle in utter bemusement whilst praising the lord for inventing beer.
The Club on Khao San Road
New Japanese inspired sari pants & footwear are inappropriately worn at The Club. The Club is not the best club in the world, however it took us three weeks to actually suss out where the music we could hear all night was actually coming from so it was nice to find out. Plus we also met the guys from the hospital and the full moon party... again.
The Ping Pong Show
I shall say no more - the scars are yet to heal.
So... apart from the final night's camping at the airport because we were too skint to afford a room, that's the first 3 1/2 weeks of my big adventure!
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