Bangkok: City of Angels

By: Kristin
Friday, Sept. 1. We woke up in Phuket town to a beautiful sunny day...however, we only had enough time to eat breakfast, visit the Family Mart to buy some water and get into a taxi to the airport. We were both really sad to leave Phuket because we didn't get to experience the beaches at all (because of the rain). But maybe it was good to have some down time and just relax.
Anyhow, we were off to Bangkok. We both had mixed expectations for this city as we had heard so much from so many different travellers. But overall, I think we have both enjoyed our stay here.
So out of the airport and into another Taxi who was not really sure where he was taking us. We showed him the address of the Guesthouse and a map but they were all in English. He thought he knew where he was taking us (or wanted to make a commission) and brought us to this pretty upscale hotel. Luckily the doorman knew a little english and told the taxi driver where to go. So we stayed at Thai Cozy House, just a couple of streets away from the travellers centre/hang out "Khao San Rd." We headed right to Khao San and into all the chaos! It was AWESOME. There were people everywhere...mostly travellers walking around. But the whole road is set up as a market and is closed off to most traffic. There are guesthouses, restaurants, bars, pirated CDs, computer software, every single Lonely Planet you could ever want, lots and lots of souvenirs, and clothes, food stalls selling Pad Thai and fresh fruit and there is even an ice cream man that comes along ringing his bell. You can get your ISIC card, or English teaching card or University Diploma made up for you. There were women selling helium balloons and other women selling birds in straw cages that you get to set free. There are little children walking around selling roses or Mentos. And then there are the ladies selling the frogs (wooden frogs)....They have these sticks that you rub along the ridges on the frogs back it makes the sound of a croaking frog...that sound will be forever with me!! They also come right to you when you are sitting eating your meal or drinking a beer and they make the frog sound with the frogs...they are very persistent....Yes, I bought three!
We spent the next day at the Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha Temple), the Grand Palace (King's residence) and the Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha Temple). And to get there we wanted to take a Tuk-Tuk...however, we were not quite "seasoned" tuk-tuk riders and got "scamed"....don't worry it wasn't that bad. Our driver was very nice and he said he would take us to the places we wanted to go for very cheap (10THB each=a couple of cents each). But only if we would go "shopping" at the tailors. See, the tuk-tuk drivers make commission if they bring someone to the tailors and then that person buys something. We are still not sure what the real story is but the drivers say they get free gas when you go into the shops....even if you are "just looking". Anyway, to make what is already going to be a long story, Brendon bought a tailor-made suit, shirt and tie...all for a very reasonable price. Ok, so we bought a suit...now, please take us to the temples!
The Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha were on the same grounds so we walked around for about an hour. Side note: We both had to rent clothing to cover up our legs as it is not acceptable to wear shorts in the Temple and Palace grounds). Other side note: The weather was HOT....another day with clear blue skies and hot, hot sun. (We kind of wished we could have been swimming in the ocean)! The temple was beautiful....well manicured grounds, lots of gold and mirrors and colours, lots of stone statues, buddhas and elephants. Quite an interesting place to visit. The we walked about 1km to the reclining Buddha (15 m high and 46 m long)...Another interesting sight. We spent the night again wandering Khao San Rd.
Next day....off to the weekend markets! They were good...not really what we expected. Very much like any flea market...we though there would be an exotic asian flair with Cobra snakes or something to that effect....but it was pretty normal. Very hot and very busy but we still managed to find some interesting souvenirs. Guess where we spent the night....wandering Khao San.
Next day we visited the largest teak mansion (in the world maybe). This house belonged to King Rama the 5th and was decorated with objects from all over the world....interesting. Once we were finished inside the house Bren and I walked around outside and were stopped by some Thai University students studying English. They wanted to ask us some questions and record our answers on a tape...we have done a couple of these interviews already.
Today we woke up at 6am and went an hour and half out of Bangkok to the floating markets.
We were supposed to leave Bagkok today (Sept. 5) but our original plan was to go to Sukkothai and there have been major floods there b/c of the monsoon rains. So we are staying one more night in Bangkok (we might even venture off Khao San tonight to the China Town night markets). Tomorrow we will go to Chiang Mai.

Khoa San Road.

BBQ on Khoa San.

Sitting Buddha...our first stop with our Tuk-Tuk driver.

Outside Wat Phra Kaew Temple.
Wat Phra Kaew.


At the Grand Palace grounds.
At Wat Pho.

Wat Pho reclining Buddha.
Tuk-Tuk drivers around our Guesthouse.