Bangkok

23rd September 2006

No sleep. We are located on the main backpackers road in and the general rule is that sleeping is for losers. I was finally overcome at 3.30am and collapsed. We had been out for some drinks and a bite to eat at a place called the Silk bar opposite our hostel.

The girls wanted to live it up a bit for the first night and Lizzie and Gill had a bucket of whiskey and coke – all the rage in S.E Asia. Then we went to an area called Rambuttri, just down the road, which is full of little shacks of bars, entwined with twinkly lights and loud music, with women patrolling from bar to bar incessentaly selling you things you don’t need.

Today we attempted to visit the Grand Palace. We were denied entry due to inappropriate attire… long trousers and long sleeves required. Outside we were scammed, very convincingly, by a young guy claiming to be a ‘student from Phuket’ who would show us around ‘for free’. Ahh, how innocent we were. Miraculously, he lead us to a ready waiting tuc tuc who would take us around the city to all these magical places he knew of. We were so gullible.

His Bangkok tour took began with the standing Buddha, a pretty, tall, gold statue. Locals come to worship and offer money, flowers etc. Also for sale are tiny caged birds to ‘set free’ and make wishes. We wanted to buy all the birds and set them all free, as we felt sorry for them, but they’d only go and find more to cage, so it’s not even worth it.

After this we were taken to the sitting Buddha, where we conveniently met another guy from Phuket. He asked us why we were there as tourists never usually go there. He said we were ‘very lucky’ as that particular temple is only open one day a month and is very lucky (a complete lie). He had the most perfect teeth I have ever seen.

Next we were shipped off to a silk/tailoring shop, as is standard practice for the gullible new traveller.

Then we were delivered to a temple called the Golden Mount. It was ordered by King Rama III and the construction was finished by Rama IV and V. It is considered the most precious property in Thailand by the Thai people.

The tuctuc man took us to the river for a river tour. We were taken down all the little water inlets to see floating villages and riverside temples, military bases, fish farms and the like. It was actually very nice, particularly the floating villages, where all the locals houses were like little barges. We finished off at the lying Buddha.

After all that excitement we headed back to Khao San road where the heavens opened. We just sat in a bar whiling away the afternoon.

After tomorrow’s trip to Kanchanaburi, we’ll be heading to Chiang Mai for a three day trek. We’ve booked this already and will be forming a small group of 12. We’ll be staying with local hill tribes and sleeping in little huts. Pretending not to dread it…

 

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