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Published: September 14th 2005
Hey folks!
Sorry it's been a while,... think I'm going to update you from my arrival Thailand, and then come back to Cambodia (when I have nothing better to write about in a couple of weeks, having spent about 3 weeks on a beach,.... oh its a hard life! I've made a mental note of all the interesting things that I've seen and done in Cambodia... there was a lot to see and do, so it could take some time!)
So,... Thailand... Bangkok...
Arrived on Wednesday 7th September.
The guys from the trip had their accommodation organised because they were continuing with 'Imaginative traveller' on another tour, but I had to find some alternative accommodation, 'cos I was off on my own again.
Found a decent enough rabbit hutch (with a fan... the one little luxury) on a quiet little road opposite the famous Khao San road in Backpacker central. It was like being back at uni; one small room (ok, so about a quater of the size of my room at uni) with shared bathrooms... at only 2 pound 20p a night, I shouldn't complain!
Met the guys again at about 8 o'clock and headed out for some food. Ate in a very noisy (and surprisingly trendy) bar on the Khao San road. This place is like London, with all of its trendy bars and disco dancing places... but at a tenth of the price! A meal and cocktails here won't cost you more than about 2 pounds 50p! After food, we went to Patpong... lets just say, thats a 'cultural experience' I won't forget in a while! (sorry Mum and dad... I didn't look,... honest!!!)
Thursday 8th
Up early to meet Caroline and off to the National Museum.
This place is the largest museum in South East Asia... and you'd better believe it! We took an free guided tour led by a Lady from the USA... She was great and gave us an overview of the history of the country about all the Kings and ancient battles, and a little bit about the Buddist religion too. Learnt again about the different gods and the sculptures and paintings that depicted various ancient stories. And then about the rise and fall of the many empires that shaped the Thailand that we know today; from the Atruthyian period, through all the Rama kings and up to the present Royal family who are very highly respected and loved by all Thai people. There was so much to see and after over 2 hours, we'd decided that we'd probably seen enough!
Met the other girls at a bar on Khao San road for lunch... had burger and chips... Thai food is rarely an option here! (hey, at least I didn't have a McDonalds!)
After lunch the girls went off shopping and I went to a travel agent to try to work out what I was going to do with myself in the next couple of days. Whilst sat working out where I wanted to go, and how I was going to get there I got chatting to a bloke called Graeme. We ended up getting a drink together and chatting for the rest of the afternoon. He was great to listen to; he'd been to all the places that I'm going to go to this coming year and he was able to give me loads of advice about what to do, and what not to do!
That evening Graeme and I met the girls for something to eat and then I decided to have an early night... this traveling makes you tired!
Friday 9th
Met the girls at the Royal Palace early this morning.
Wandered around looking at the really amazing buildings. The palace was consecrated in 1782; the first year of Bangkok's rule. There are many murals and paintings that depict ancient stories about the kings and stories of the Gods. There is this HUGE urn thingy (I forget the official name) but it was enormous and covered in Gold leaf... you had to put your sunglasses on to look at it when the sun was shinning. The place oozed opulence... everwhere you looked, every surface was covered in little mirrors and gold leaf that sparkled in the sun... think I'm going to model my house on this place one day! :o) Within one of the many buildings (the huge 'Bot' (central sanctuary) at Wat Phra Kaew) sat the emerald Buddha. Well,... they don't think he's emerald, possibly jasper quartz or jade, but they reeeeeeeeally worship this little guy. We weren't allowed to take photos inside the building (so I bought a post card of him!) and we had to sit with our feet pointing away from the Buddha, because the feet are thought of as the least holy part of the body and it is insulting to show them to the buddha. The little man is a whole 60cm to 75cm high and sits on top of a huge gold pillar/throne. He has travelled all around the Thailand and Laos area, moved by invaders and Kings during battles, but now sits here in the Royal Palace in Bangkok. He's thought to date back to the 15th century. He also has a wardrobe,... he has 3 robes, one for the rainy season, one for the hot season and one for the cool season. The King himself will dress the buddha in the appropriate robe at the beginning of each season! Lastly, we had a look around the Royal Thai Decorations and Coins Pavillion - most interesting... we saw many pieces of exquisite jewelry and medals and some tiny ancient coins.
We then took a wander to Wat Pho, the oldest and largest Wat in Bangkok...just around the corner. This is home to the HUGE reclining Buddha. I never expected it to be so HUGE! you really have to see it to believe how huge this statue is. The Lonely Planey bible to Thailand says that the reclining Buddha is 46m long and 15m high... yes it is! It is made out of plaster but covered in gold leaf and the feet are inlayed with mother-of-pearl. It was amazing... but actually quite scary too... looking down on you as you walked around it! It was also quite difficult to get all of it in one photo!
Jackie and I then headed off for the afternoon on our little missions...me to drop my music player off at the Sony service centre (damn thing broke the other week... poo!) and Jackie to find the STA travel shop. Both were convienently in the Silom area of the city. Having accomplished our missions, we headed home on the sky train and by river taxi (a big speed boat ferry thing!) - an adventure in itself and a great opportunity to get to see some more of the city!
That evening we all met up in Gullivers (a bar at the top end of the Khao San road) and had drinks... well, it was 'Happy hour' and at about 75p a drink, I wasn't going to say no! ("Gofton drink column update"... Khao San road is the place to be if you want a night out... great bars, wide range of music, lots of cheap drinks, makes for a great night out! well I think it was, what I can remember of it!) Had a couple of 'happy hour' drinks and moved on to get some food. Then continued drinking after our meal at an Irish themed place with fantastic live music. Discovered a new drink, sparkling wine in a small bottle... v. tasty and only about 1 pound :o) .... however, this wasn't enough, we wanted 'buckets'... I mean, buckets of alcohol... these can be found at little make-shift stalls on the side of the road. So, for 160 baht (70 to the pound) Jackie and I purchased a little plastic sandcastle bucket each, full of Samson (whisky/rum... god knows?!) coke and reb bull. I stupidly (mouth in overdrive situation) told the man at the 'bar' that he'd jipped us on the alcohol and DEMANDED that he put a lickle bit more in... please!... ummmm...maybe that was my downfall?! Bucket in one hand, straw in the other we (unsurprisingly) ended up in the middle of the road in a rather drunken state, in the rain, on a little plastic stool... afraid there is little/no (cough) photographic evidence of this...! But it doesn't stop there... I chose this moment (of all, in the last 3 weeks) to phone mum and dad and update them as to how I was getting on,.... sorry!!!
Saturday 9th
Woke late... with a v. fuzzy head... I hate alcohol.
Tamsin and I went shopping to MBK... one of the biggest shopping malls here in Bangkok... oh my god... I could have spent all day in there!
I ended up buying 2 pairs of jeans and 2 t-shirts... and only spent about 15 pounds :o)
Headed back to Khao San road and bought some 'Diesel' trainers (needed for my next couple of days trekking in Chiang Mai) for about 7 pounds (I love shopping here!)
Said goodbye to the guys that I'd been with for the last couple of weeks as I prepared to get the bus to Chiang Mai that evening.
Photos to follow shortly... am snapping away like a mad woman but finding it difficult to get them uploaded (slow connection/no USB port)
Hope that you're all well, keep me updated with what's happening at your end!
Thanks to everyone adding comments (esp. dad... now you can all see where I get my sense of humuor from :o) !)
Miss you lots,
Clare x
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anonymous
non-member comment
Thought you'd been 'adult'napped somewhere along the way - haven't heard from you for a while! Glad you're having fun. I'm now 3 weeks in to the training programme and people are really nice and up for a lot of going out - think I finally need an early night!! Flat is good too - the guys are easy to get along with, and Angel is really relaxed. Right, well have to get back to it, but keep emailing and keep having fun! :-) xx