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Published: June 10th 2010
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For two tired travellers we sure did a lot today!!
After a long long journey from Toronto, we FINALLY made it to Bangkok yesterday evening. We missed our connection in Hong Kong due to delays and so had time to kill in the airport and arrived in Bangkok much later than we were expecting. Our Hotel, Lamphu Guest House, is great. There is a AC! And a Balcony which is nice. We are very near Khao San Road (main backpacker street, lots of noise and parties and shenanigans) but on a much quieter street.
This morning we got up practically at the crack of dawn. So we seized the day! Over breakfast we decided that we would not take any tuk-tuks (cross between a motorcycle/ricksaw taxi) in the city because traffic is a bit nuts. That didn't last long. We were convinced by this nice man on the corner to take a tuk-tuk tour for 1 hour for 10 baht each (30 cents) and go to various temples.
The first stop was the standing budda (very tall, gold statue). Second Stop was the Marble Temple where there was a buddist monk ceremony taking place. Supposedly to commemorate the
2000th anniversary of the temple. Local patrons used this ceremony to give gifts to the monks. A monk cannot accept anything directly from a woman and so uses a special cloth to accept the gift. We walked the grounds after and were approached by two monks who wanted to practice their english - his friend was too shy and so we were not able to have a conversation. We also were approached by a local man who told us to go to a suit shop and get the latest fashions. Armani for cheap! Buy two get 1 free...
We told our tuk-tuk driver that we didn't want to go to a suit shop and to just take us straight to the Golden Mount. However, we ended up at a suit shop nonetheless and our driver said that if we spent 7 minutes inside he would get a voucher for free gas. After some debate, we did. It's actually a pretty great deal! about $100 for a custom suit and shirts. We decided to hold off until the end of our trip and get clothes made in Vietnam instead.
Then we went on to the Golden Mount. There we
climbed lots of steps for a great view of the city. At the top there was a small temple with a large golden budda on the roof. Across the road there we saw another giant standing budda (see photo with Andrew in front of budda). It was sooooo empty. Very weird. When we were ready to go, suprise suprise, our tuk tuk driver was no where to be found!! Another driver told us that he left because all he wanted was the voucher for free gas. Skeptical we kept looking for him but gave up after a few minutes. At all the other temples he was waiting for us at the exit.
So we hailed a taxi - no tuk tuk would take us for the original fare without making stops for their commission - and off the grand palace we went! We had to borrow clothes because shorts and tank tops were not allowed. There was a lot to see here - not just the palace, but lots of temples. There were many that were closed the public because they are undergoing a big restoration project. The temples are very ornate - lots of gold and mirrors. The
temple of the emerald budda was probably the most ornate. Legend has it that the emerald budda statue is from the 1400s. It was very beautiful.
After this attempted to go to the reclining budda temple but were dissuaded by a random man on the street and told it was closed for a special ceremony. So instead we walked back to the area where our guest house is. Grabbed some street food, wandered through a market with a plethora of stolen cell phones, and made it back safe and sound.
Tonight we took it easy (after our 4 hour nap) and walked around and found a restaurant for dinner. Something is wrong when your beer costs more than your meal!
ps. We now have a cell phone. I THINK the number is 011 86 09 29 606. We should have free incoming calls.
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Miika Hasanen
non-member comment
Bangkok
Wow guys, nice start, and I must say Sarah your blogging is very thorough, I dig! Nice pictures too. The Grand Palace definitely looks pretty impressive! Silver how many coasters do you think you'll nab on this trip? -Miiks