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Published: December 12th 2006
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We arrived in Bangkok about 4pm, just 10 minutes after Lesley. We bumped into her at baggage reclaim, collected our backpacks and walked through 'Nothing to Declare' to find dozens of people thrusting taxi 'menus' at us, luckily we'd researched and knew that a taxi from outside the airport should be allot cheaper, and it was. 400baht compared to the 900 being offered to us inside! The traffic was a nightmare, so it took a over an hour to get to our Hotel, 'Trang' a few roads away from Koh San Road. We checked in, freshened up and headed out to find some food. We wandered up to the end of the road to what we thought was Koh San Rd, headed right and passed many food stalls at the side of the street, we came across a nice small looking eatery almost full with Thai people, we thought this was definatly a good sign and went in. As we opened the door, all the people in there looked round! The owner came over and said 'Come In, Sit down'. So we did, and had a lovely meal (although the portions were on the small side for us!) and drink there
for about 1 pound each! We wandered back to the hotle and ordered a drink and some more food! The prices were not so reasonable there!
Friday we awoke a bit fresher and Les and I went down to the pool (indoors) for a swim to help wake us up, Hayley decided to stay in bed!!. We all went down for a buffet breakfast, (not as good as the one in the hotel in Beijing). We headed back to what we thought was Koh San Road and found a Tourist Information office, we popped in and asked for a map and found that we weren't on Koh San Rd, and we had headed completely the wrong way the previous night, but the exploration was worth it for the cheap and tasty food. After finding Koh San Road we wandered up and down looking at the cheap stalls! Unbeliveably cheap, and you can barter the vendors down to rediculous prices, eg I bought a bikini for just under 3GBP! We came across a tour office and booked up a trip for Saturday to a floating market, Bridge over the River Kwai and a temple. After having a bite to eat
Koh San Road
Barry bargains! for lunch we decided to take a tuk-tuk ride, for 10baht each! We were driven around to a couple of temples by a guy called John, whom we thought seemed quite friendly. After the temples he took us to a tailor and told us to go in as he'd get his fuel paid for by them if we bought something! We walked in and walked back out again as we were not interested, he then got a bit shirty with us and took us to the Tourist Information centre so we could book something up with them in order for him to get commission. We thought we'd best not aggrevate him anymore and so Hayley and I booked 5 nights accomodation in Koh Pang Yang for over Christmas (something we needed to do anyway, sure they added a bit onto the price, but it saved us worrying about finding somewhere as places seem to be pretty well booked up). He then dropped us back in Koh San Rd. After a few more hours of shopping and stopping for a bite to eat and a the occasional drink, we decided we were in need of some relaxation and went for a
facial and massage, which were amazing and cost us 6GBP each! We had our evening meal while we were out and caught a taxi to Phat Pong for a couple of drinks.
Saturday we awoke v early as we were being picked up at 7.15 for our tour to a floating market, bridge over the River Kwai, and another temple. The first stop was after 2 hrs at Kanchanaburi, for the floating market. We got off the mini bus and into a long speed boat which dropped us at the market. We then got on to paddle longboats (we grouped up with a retired couple from Devon who were on a 3 month world trip!) and this took us around the market. More of what we'd seen in Koh San Rd really, so we all abstained from buying anything! Back onto the minibus for a further drive to the British P.O.W cemetary, where the British guys who died building the Bridge over the River Kwai were buried. The average age was 24 yrs old. We then stopped round the corner for a pumpkin curry and green curry lunch (inclusive onm the tour) at a lovely picturesque place on the
river side. V quiet and green. We took in the views over lunch and then carried on to the Bridge. After a look around the museum we were informed by Mike (half of the retired couple), that this was not infact the original bridge, but a second bridge built using peices of the first which was bombed in WW2 3 months after it was completed! We walked part way onto this bridge an thought better of it. It didn't look too safe! Back onto the bus and by this time the heat had really got to us! We stopped at a temple just outside Bangkok, wandered in through the gates, but couldn't find the actual entrance in to the building! we'd seen a few temples on our tuk-tuk ride and they were starting to look the same anyway, so got back on the bus and were driven back to the hotel. We went back out to Koh San Rd later to meet Rod as he was on his way back to the UK via Bangkok. Had a meal and drinks with him and hit the hay about 4am! V knackered!
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Richard
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Luxury
All looks far to luxurious to me. When are you going to move into a hut on the beach?