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Published: March 12th 2008
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VIP Bus
Our Brightly Coloured Bus from Vientiane to Bangkok! Although only being back for 36 hours, Bangkok still managed to remind us what a great city it is.
As I dozed on the bus from Vientiane, I knew we had arrived when I spotted the first brightly coloured taxi. Then, a sense of confusion fell upon me. The bus was meant to arrive around 5.30am, but out my window, the roads were still packed with revellers, some eating in resteraunts, some in bars, others carrying backpacks around. Its 5am I thought, the place should be a ghost town. But then I realised. This is Bangkok, Khao San Road, Bangkok.
As the bus had arrived early, Paul and I had longer to wait before checking into a guesthouse. So we nipped into a 24hour Subway resteraunt for a Sub of the day and refillable drink. With the refil privelages well and truly abused, and 45 minutes passed, we headed out. It seemed as the sun started to rise, that was the signal for the area to become slightly quieter, but even as the bustle of the night faded away, we still remembered our way around from 4 weeks ago. To kill a bit more time, we decided to
Bangkok Accommodation
Our room for our 1 night back in BKK. head to the train station. We needed to book our tickets down to Surat Thani on a sleeper train, and as the train is usually full, therefore we took the oppurtunity to go at the crack of dawn to make sure we got our spots. Fortunately we got some of the last sleeper berths for the next day. Once back to our Khao San Road base, we went searching for a place to stay. We found a large guesthouse just off Khao San Road that fitted the bill perfectly, and despite sleeping a little on the bus on the way to Bangkok, we napped until about 12pm!
We were always going to be in Bangkok in transit from Laos to Southern Thailand, but the visit also allowed Paul to meet a family friend living in Bangkok, and pick up his cash card. The meeting was arranged for the following day, so the rest of the day in hand was ours. A bit like Vang Vieng, Bangkok, especially Khao San Road makes it very easy to pass an afternoon. The oppurtunity was took to renew our friendly banter with touts and taxi drivers and just browse all the stalls and shops. It wasn't long before dusk fell. Watching a movie in our guesthouse served to pass another couple of hours, and before we knew it, it was evening. The one thing we hadn't done on our last visit to Bangkok was visit the Patpong district. Although notoriously seedy, it is recommended in all guidebooks just to say you have seen it. I'm glad we went, because now we can say we have seen all sides of Bangkok.
Pauls meeting the next day was in Bangkoks' business district, which we hadn't quite ventured to on our previous visit to the city. It therefore gave us the oppurtunity to ride some of Bangkoks many forms of transport that we hadn't yet experienced. First by river boat, which went someway to justifying Bangkoks title as 'Venice of the East'. Cruising down the Chao Phraya river gave us a chance to see the city from a different perspective. Passing ancient temples as well as modern skyscrapers, it was a great way to sample the city. Once off the boat it was onto the BTS Skytrain. We hadn't tried the skytrain before, although had obviously seen it above our heads in various location in Bangkok, as well as its huge supporting columns. It didn't dissapoint, everything from the purchasing of tickets, to the ride itself was uber-modern and spotlessly clean. It was mentioned that it is years ahead of systems such as the London Underground, and I would have to agree. After a little bit of looking around, we found the designated resteraunt of the meeting and had a fantastic lunch. It allowed us to sample yet another side of Bangkok - its sophistication.
By the time we left the restaurant we had a few hours before our train down south was due to leave, so we had a quick look around and then enjoyed the leisurely journey back to Khao San Road. After buying a book each (in the 4 weeks we have been out, Paul and I have probably read twice as many books than all the time in our lives prior!) and picking up our bags, it was time to head to the station.
For the first time in our trip, leaving Bangkok bought on a tinge of sadness. We have visited many great places, but Bangkok was a place that we both had developed an attatchment to. Maybe it is because it was our first point of arrival a month ago, or maybe because it is the first place we have been to where there is still so much that could be done. Either way, we are in no doubt that Bangkok is a city we would like to visit again in the future. And I would recommend it to anyone. It seems strange to think, when you tell (non travelling) people that you are arriving in Bangkok, there seems always to be an obligatory in-take of air. The 'Ooh, Bangkok' reaction, its as if any mention of the city sets alarm bells off in peoples heads. I can say categorically that such reactions, to us anyway, seem completely unfounded. It has a reputation it does not deserve, and I would implore anyone to reserve judgement on the city, until visiting it, and seeing the delights it has to offer.
But anyway, before I begin to sound like a member of the Bangkok tourist board, I'll sign off.
Khop Khun Khrap (that's Thank-you in Thai!) Tom.
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paul
non-member comment
phone?
hiya,was just wondering what phone your using to blog all your trip on,seems like you can use it anywhere.and well done on the blog,looks class your trip.