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Published: April 6th 2010
We arrived in Bangkok and headed straight for familiar Khao San Road where we would stay a few days and get Holly's birthday weekend off to a great start. After a good fill at our favourite market stall (scrummy red curry and pad thai for 1 pound!!) we took a trip into the city on the Metro and Skytrain to the wonderful Siam Shopping Centre, where we mostly window shopped but Dee treated Holly to some cool trainers from the Adidas Concept Store (Stella McCartney ones no less, thanks Dee!) and we saw Alice in Wonderland in 3D at the IMAX. Loved how we had to stand as the national anthem was played at the start of the film and at 6pm in the street!
Bangkok looked a little different this time. The Red Shirt protestors were well into their thrid week of protesting about the government and were camped out in huge numbers on the main roads around the Democracy Momument. Road blocks were in force around the city and government buildings were covered in barbed wire and surrounded by army personel. We also saw the Pink Shirt protestors, protesting against the Red Shirts. Bangkok in turmoil.
Next
day was Saturday so we got the bus to the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market, where despite the brutal heat we browsed and shopped all day. The market was HUGE with 8000 stalls and we think we looked and them all.......twice! With sandals, flip flips, sunglasses, a dress and a watch bought for bargain prices we made our retreat. That night we met our friend Jules and went for dinner at lovely vegetarian restaurant Ethos before hitting our favourite Rooftop bar on Khao San for some cocktails. There was a guy singing and playing guitar there, who was also celebtarting his birthday so he sang Happy Birthday for the both of us! Good times
On Sunday we checked into the luxury Banyan Tree Hotel in the Downtown area, which was a leaving gift from work and we'd been looking forward to it for ages. We were surprised to find our family had also paid for a second night in the hotel and as birthday gift!! Thanks everyone! We found birthday cards from home in the room and our friends had booked and paid for dinner that night in the rooftop Vertigo Bar & Grill.....could this birthday get any better. Yes.
The room was so luxurious and so very different from the places we've stayed in over the past 6 months. A hairdryer! A flusing loo! A bath!! So after a bubble bath, a dip in the pool, a complimentary massage, complimentary shopping in the hotel boutique, complimentary champagne and canapes in the Club Lounge and phone calls home, we went for an amazing dinner on the roof. Dress code was no shorts and flip flops...hence the compulsory shopping trip the day before. We had a great table with stunning views over the city and ate food we hadn't eaten in months. To top it all off, the waiting staff came out singing Happy Birthday with a chocolate birthday cake decorated with fresh fruit and candles. I think the girls might have had something to do with this. Thanks guys!. The rooftop breeze blew out the candles before Holly could but she still made a wish!
Next day, after the most amazing breakfast buffet we have ever seen (like all you can eat at Selfridges Food Hall), we took a trip to Esplanades Shopping Centre to the Ramp Skate Park before chilling out in the hotel poo and sauna. We
drank too much free champagne that night and took advantage of the movie channels and room service. We were very sad to leave this wonderful paradise hotel.......we got very used to the pampering. Thanks to everyone who sent cards and emailed birthday wishes. It was the best birthday ever. Being 30 isn't so bad afterall.
So back to the real world........but we had something nice planned, the night train to Chiang Mai..............
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lisa d
non-member comment
Looks like you had a fabby 30th! Glad you enjoyed it :) xxx