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Published: October 16th 2005
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Egg #2
We finally made it out of the UK after hanging around for weeks on end getting in everyone's way! Having travelled for about 18 hours we checked into our hotel at local time 5pm and went to sleep for 12 hours. We're staying in this place called the Royal Hotel - bit old and run down but very clean and has a nice wee pool, very close to the Grand Palace and Khao San Road where all the serious travellers hang out. Got up at 5am - breakfast buffet at 5:30am (hello - what happened there- up before 12 noon?! Call the cops!) Anyway - went for a walk about round the sights and got stopped loads by tourist touts masquerading as friendly Thai passers by - just helping us Farangs (foreigners) out. Took us 3 minutes to suss them out though as we're well read up on the cons via extensive reading of lots of travel books and other folks blogs.
After about an hour or so we headed off in a hair raising (well Alan's hair didn't rise,did it) Tuk Tuk to the massive weekend market called 'Chatuchak' which is north-ish of the main centre
of the city. It was excellent - and we spent all morning there just taking it all in and stopping ocassionally for essential hydration at the water stalls. You can get everything at this market except for electric plug converters. Most stalls are really exciting such as clothing, silks, shoes, jewellery and cool oriental furnishings, however there were a number of things that were erring on the side of disturbing, such as the pet stalls. Being a full on dog lover, it was difficult to walk past the numerous cages of puppies of all breeds lying around in cages, quite clearly not too happy with their lot. We held our breaths walking past the cock fight circle aswell, with hundreds of domed wicker cages covering prime cockerals - Bird flu? No thanks. We were grateful that we missed the fight that had just finished - the survivors had been plucked clean of most of their spectacular feathers by their opponants.
PURCHASES SO FAR:
2 x Teva sandals - 3 quid a pop (they are about 45 pounds back home)
2 x tie around trousers for Shaz - about 2 pounds total.
Had my first coconut water at a
Reclining Buddha at Wat Po temple
Reclining Buddha is 45m long - big guy - all covered in gold. cafe in the market too. They just whop the top off the coconut and stick in a straw. tasted very refreshing, but they give you a spoon too so that you can scoop out the flesh. That was a bit weird as the ones that we win at home next the waltzers have hard flesh, but these ones have slimy white goo inside. Boggin actually.
SMELLS:
Walking along the street in Bangkok, from a 'nose' point of view, puts you in heaven in one moment and sheer hell the next. You have a myriad of street vendors selling gorgeous looking stick satays and other delicacies, then you have the lovely heady scents of the incense shops. Then its the BINS. basically its the bins that bring the whole thing down. I was literally gagging at some points as we tottered through the stalls outside - there is a lot of bin juice on the ground. Waste disposal franchise must be the worst career move here, I swear.
Anyway - enough of that... We are on Khao San Road at the moment, and we've just had some lovely curry in a bar along the road - 80 baht -
Shaz having fun....
...while Alan took some amazing photos... that's about 1 pound 10p.
Heading off home soon for extra kips, then its up early in the morning for some sight seeing and hopefully a river tour. Will prob add some photos tomorrow. We're trying to meet up with my pal Gareth who lives here, but typically, I can't work the phone so we've got our fingers crossed hoping for the best that he manages to get through on our hotel number.
SPECIAL MENTIONS:
We just want to say an enormous thanks to everyone at home for all the wonderful support, encouragement, gifts, cards, champagne, cards and vouchers, and kicks up the arse that you so lovingly devoted to the McCabe Big Trip benevolant fund. We really appreciate everything that our friends, family and colleagues have done for us. We'll miss you all very much. Special mentions to the following:
JOE & SHEENA ( Egg seniors) for hotel services over the last 3 weeks, and storage facilities in their loft over the next year.
GEDDY: Postman Pat, and general 'sorter outer' of all things financial while we are away. We couldnt do it without you ye big smelly gobsh*te - stay away from the biscuit tin!!!
SARA:
Looker afterer of our white elephant in Dunbar - dont worry, honest, it'll be easy. .....just don't answer the phone..
CATHY & ALEC - Garage service management. Now, remember, it only needs washed down once a week, and don't bother with the insides!
OK - offsky now, but will do another update soon and add the pics asap.
Love to all,
Cabo and Shaz. xxxx
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Steven Ross-Watt
non-member comment
Hi Chaps!
I have been reading your blog updates as they come over on email. Glad to hear you have made it out of the UK. Sounds like your having a good time in Bangkok. Its a pretty wild place! The smells, the sights, the wildly different culture! I had a great time in the islands. Bangkok itself was just TOO much at times. I'm looking fwd to reading your blogs once you get out of the city! Travel Safe! Steven RW