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Published: March 26th 2008
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For anyone that moans that hate reading essays, at least mine are interesting! So...
You will all be pleased to know that Dom slept properly last night. A combination of open window, no curtain, eye shade, and ear plugs, oh and minimal(!) clothing menat that i slept through until my alarm at half 8, woop woop! Headed down and had a similarly cheap breakfast in my lobby, cant beat a "fresh" croissant! Fed and watered, I was off!
As for my title, well the reason my feet hate me, is that i walked at approximately ten miles today. NO JOKE! and trust me, in that heat and with slip ons, that is no easy task. My feet now have nice blisters to prove it and my calves are screaming "die die die'. Where did all this walking take me i hear you ask, WELL....
I headed out along the river, through university campus (didnt fit in!) down towards chinatown. That place is amazing! I thought i saw a lot of street sellers yesterday but this was something else! (Dad will try get some more everyday pics!). But not only was it rammed, but the smells at time were
intoxicating. Everything from spices to fish and cooked meat etc, at times it even made me feel a bit woozy. Also, in chinatown i realised that most people must know what they want before they go shopping, because a lot of the shops arent really go in and browse shops, like engine shops, and stuff like that!
Back to my walk, well i was heading this way as i wanted to get to Humalong (or something like that) where the MRT (suybway) starts. On my way i saw the main station, nothing out of the normal, bit like Norwich. Hopped on the subway, and very pleased to get out of the heat! Headed two stops (worth every metre!) and got off at lumphini. The ticket was a bit like my plastic tag i had for the IT office, though i had to give it back...much like the IT tag! Once off in lumphini, i headed into the park, which is in the top 15 things to do, and is the best park in bangkok centre.
The park is known for people going there to get fit, and they are not wrong, the park has its own outdoor gym,
as well as a running cicuit with machines along the way! Decided to have a rest by the lake, nice and cool in shae, and did some people watching. Its great, and the best bit was over near the stretching bars. An old guy was there kind of stretching but not really, then along comes young athletic bloke. He starts doing these insane stretches, and beofre you know it has the old guy doing it. Was just cool to see them like get along so quickly, and have a bit of a laugh together. At this point I am going to chuck in a random, it was hot again!
Left the park and headed up towards Siam square, however on the way took a wrong turn and found myself on this raised walk way that was literally like half a mile long, enjoyed the walk along it and back again though as it really opened my eyes. First hundred yards i didnt realise what i was walking above, then i did. All around this walkway were various houses/sheds packed in close, and at times almost shanty town like, and yet a within a 1/4 mile or so were these
great big high rise buildings. Through no choice, i came down from the walkway and realised that this was actually quite a buzzing community, and they had even built stuff under the walkway (i should add it was wider than a road!). Wanted to take a pic to show people, but felt bad, so i didnt. But the whole thing just highlight the great range of people and money here in bangkok.
Finally got to Siam square, and hunted out the Langime Shrine. Turns out it was for the God of fertility or something, though i didnt realise until i checked my first pic that the "picket fence" was actually lines of wooden...well willys! (couldnt decide which word to use as different people will read this, so have settled for a more funny harmless one! eppie, dont laugh!). I then tackled the skytrain (also on the top15) and took it one stop of a few hundred yards, lazy yes, but i wanted to say i had been on it, and it was my only chance! Oh i should say that at this point, in that 1/4mile from the community i mentioned, everything turned so western and built up so
quickly, it was crazy.
After the sky train, i went to the MBK. Another one on the list though i assumed for its shopping quality. However, i think in hindsight it is for the experience. The place is MENTAL! loads of little shops, and at times its almost like a posh indoor market. Was useless trying to find anything, and then i found the electronics floor! literally rows and rows of identical little stalls, all selling the same thing! i mean who would you go with?! lots of "unlocked iphones" etc, though frankly not worth the risk...you cant exactly take it back from lowestoft now can you!
My final stop of the day was Jim Thompsons house. Went on a tour (cheap rate, thankyou STA for the ISIC card). The place was really cool, some american built it, and its completely authentic thai wooden houses, in a little jungle...in the middle of bangkok, was cool. debated getting tuk tuk back but though, oh walks not far, yeah it was, about 3miles in itself! oh well. all good fun.
Just had tea and now online, obviously. A couple of last random comments for you. 1) Lots of germans
here i am noticing, do you think they do cheap flights/1 speaking of germans, i enjoyed my tea with one, slightly older than me but also alone, nice guy. 2) football here has adverts during the game!!!they just shrink the match picture...unbelieveable! and dad though sky were bad! 3) noticing a lot of western men with asian partners...no comment.
right, thats me. morning of sight seeing and then afternoon around the pool tomoz i think, i will have completed the top 15!!
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plasters
oh dear dominic we didnt tghink to buy those very expensive foot plasters. Anyway flip flops in aus and your feet will soon recover!xxx