"A rainy visit !" a Bangkok Travel Page by dragontml

Bangkok, Krung Thep, defined as ' City of Angels '. Population around six million people.

My first visit to the capital was with 2 other friends but they were on a business trip - so that means I had to get a good map and explore the places on my own during the day and we would meet up in the evenings for dinner.

We arrived on a Sunday afternoon, after checking into the hotel, we were off to Chatuchak market. Only open on weekends and lots to browse and buy. Our first purchase together was a par of sandals each ! We walked for several hours around the market and still did not see every stall ! As we were wanting to leave the market, rain was starting and it was really impossible to get a taxi to head back to the hotel. We were wondering why ? We later found out - traffic jam ! So, I suggested that we take the train as we saw a train station - Morchit station - so we walked quickly to the station to avoid the big down pour ! We got to the station, bought out tickets and was on the way back and so was many other people. The train was packed with people. We arrived at Chong Nonsi station and it was still raining and we walked out and managed to get a tuk-tuk to get back to the hotel. Remember to ask for price first or else negiotiate.

Monday, friends left for work and I was off to the temples. As I have done some reading about people approaching tourist and telling them that all the big temples are closed till 1pm because of some buddist festival - this is what actually happened to me too ! I was actually approaced by 2 different men - they speak really good english and they tell you you can go to two other smaller temples for free. One temple you can even see a buddha with three eyes ! I had to tell the 1 man many times, I am not interested to go. So, I walked on and again another man approached me. He told me the same story ! I was thinking to myself - there must be some thruth in it - that was where I was wrong. I had wanted to go to the marble temple and this man OK, he will tell the tuk tuk man for me, so he tells the tuk tuk man in Thai and it was agreed that it would be Baht20 to the marble temple and back to the grand palace. So, we arrived at the temple, at first, I did not see any marble. I asked the caretaker there and he said it's not the marble temple ! He too told me the same story about all the big temples only opening after 1pm today because of a buddist festival. I was really angry then, I told the tuk tuk man to take me back to the Grand Palace - he said ok but he still tried to tell me to go see some jewelery where he would get free petrol tickets ! I said NO !
I finally made my way to the Grand Palace and the weather was not too good, so I just walked about rather quikly. With this ticket to the Grand Palace, one can use it to go to the Vinamek Mansion which is near the Dusit Zoo. After the Grand Palace, I made my way to Wat Po to see the reclining Budda.
The rain started and I just waited and I saw some ladies traders selling umbrellas at various prices to the tourist.
I did managed to visit the Vinamak Mansion and it was really worth the trip - after trying many times negioating tuk tuk prices. After the mansion, I found my way to the Marble temple ! ;-)

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another photo taken from my window seat...

Tuesday - a day trip River Kwai. A very interesting day it was. Met other tourist from different part of the world. Took a one hour train ride with really beatiful landscape. Had a simple lunch by the river. Sat on a bamboo raft with 5 people and 2 of them jumped into the Mekong Delta ! After it was the elephant ride and that was really interesting. We also stopped by the waterfall. It was then back to Bangkok and once reached the city - the traffic was just awful !

Wednesday - I bought a one day skytrain pass and went around taking pictures and exploring the city. Visited 2 parks and some shopping centers too. I must say that the cinemas here are really great ! Rather classy, I would say. Walked into a shopping center called ' Emporium ' and the cinema there was just amazing. Rainy evening. Had a VT meet in the evening at Central ChitLom. Met up with Phil, Patt, Neng, Nim and Peak. We left and we 3 decided to head to the Irish pub near the hotel for a drink as it was Shirly's birthday the next day. It was really crowded there and also a live band playing. We decided to move on to a place where we could get a place to sit and found a mexican place. We had drink and waited for midnite to wish ' Happy Birthday ' !

Thursday - A rainy morning and day ! A day trip to Ayutthya. By bus and returning with a cruise. The guide was very knowledgeable and very friendly. We had dinner this evening at the Water Front and the food was good. This place was recommened by Neng. We later head to the Sepanput night market to shop !

Friday - Half day tour to the floating market which I was really dissapointed about. It was not at all what it would be like. It was raining the whole morning and we were running late, waiting for people and the traffic was bad ! We were suppose to head to the Coconut farm but did not cause of traffic. The drive to the floating market was rather long and the roads was not good as roadworks were in progress. After the floating market, the guide took us to the Cobra show - suppose to be an exciting show with snakes - Baht200 to go in for 1/2 hour - which I did not pay. After that, was a art craft center, which was really touristy. Finally, it was time to go back to Bangkok. Did some last minute shopping. We had our last dinner at Khoa San Road - Tom Yum Kung Restaurant, another recommendation from Neng. We walked abit after dinner, shop somemore and went into an Irish pub where a live band was playing which was excellent.

Saturday - Flight back to KL. Was delayed and I slept most of the time.

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myself, mehala & shirly

The stay was great, first trip and not my last for sure !

Many thanks to Mehala and Shirly !