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Published: March 10th 2008
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Airport Shock
Opened bike box as found in Bangkok Airport Day 3 - Impressions on Bangkok
Bangkok is big (especially when compared to Adelaide), bustling and dirty. Well that was my impressions from the first 24 hours, but today i saw a nicer side too when postponed the bike preparations (checking over gear that emerged from plane with bike box wide open) and shopping and headed to some tourist draw cards.
Arrived in Thailand at 11pm after a pleasant BA flight, made all the better for not having to pay any excess baggage despite weighing in at 47kg (with a normal limit of 20kg). Although booked with Qantas, the flight was being operated by BA and they allow an additional 23kg of sporting goods for free. My Thai visa was examined closely both in Adelaide and Bangkok but i was waved through without question. This was also a welcome relief as despite having purposefully got the visa in advance (I would not be able to get a visa on arrival which is the normal tourist method as i do not hold a flight out of the region) this was queried in Adelaide. So so far so good. What would go wrong... Moments later i was staring at my
Modern Bangkok
Shopping district Siam bike box which wasn't in the same pretty state i left it in.. The top had come completely open and hole had mysteriously appeared in the bottom. I felt sick imagining that half the parts would be gone and irreplaceable. A quick check suggested the essentials were there (3 wheels, saddle, frame) and a more detailed check the next morning has put my mind at ease. A lucky escape..
The following day I headed out to explore the surroundings. I'm staying in Siam, which a MAJOR shopping district (not the reason i chose it but useful none the less). It is pretty central to the city and came recommend (thanks Jez, so far it has worked out). I headed into a nearby shopping centre. It was huge. Imagine Milton Keynes shopping area (Brits) or Marion (South Australians). Then build 6 floors of them. I didn't actually made it to the top two floors. And half the shops are little stalls meaning that i probably saw more shops in 3 hours than i have in the rest of my life! I was later to realise this is one of three centers in the area. I would certainly recommend this area
Old Bangkok
Food stalls Ko Ratanakosin to the shopaholics out there - but please leave boyfriends/husbands at home for the week! So the shopping took a while and i had breakfast and lunch in the same building. Both Thai meals - i resisted the urge to acclimatise slowly with some western food (all the chains are here, McD's, KFC, dunkin donuts, wendys even nandos). I wasn't sure what i was ordering exactly but both turned out well. The afternoon and evening were spent recovering from the shop (despite not having bought that much - most of the time was spent bartering and then trying to find the place i got the best price at again) and sorting out bike gear.
Today did the 'must sees' straight out of the lonely planet. Some were super crowded and others barely a soul. The big tourist buses seem to only visit the grand palace. The temples were very impressive and I hope to learn more of the history and importance as i continue the trip as without this they do all start to look the same..
I also went off in search of ABC : amazing bicycle tours of Bangkok. From my experience so far : walking
and 2 taxis i do not fancy the roads in Bangkok. My taxi from the airport had some lucky charms covering the speedo and he did not understand (or know the answer to maybe?!) my question about the speedlimit. The second hit 80km/h down city roads. Also the traffic is mostly 1 way making navigation with basic maps very hard. The bike tour finds quite paths next to the river and from the photos it looks like paradise - and within Bangkok. I was thinking of joining them to get out of the city but they head south and then you still have very busy city to navigate. Michael the owner suggested I take the train north to Ayuthaya 90km north of Bangkok and this is what i plan to do tomorrow - I can't wait to finally get on the bike after months of talking about it non-stop and years in the back of my head.
Next post will be from the road 😊
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Matt Haskett
non-member comment
Flights
Chris, great to see that it has started. Just a quick one to let you know that more camping gear has arrived, and the training has started as from today! M.