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Published: August 23rd 2008
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We had planned to get up early this morning so we could go and watch the locals do thai chi in Lumpini park. However, we were both pretty tired so had our first lie in. When we got up we got a Tuk Tuk across town to the park. It was very hot and we wandered through the park to find the lake and sit in the shade. At this point I spotted a lizard about 2 foot long prowling along the edge of the lake. I thought this was amazing and took so many pictures as its not somethng you would see back at home! I also spotted a turtle basking in the sun on the edge of the lake. We got up and walked around the lake to discover there were loads of lizards! The biggest we saw was over 4 foot long and very fat! They looked quite eerie when they were in the water because all you could see was their heads.
As we went to exit the park Dom jumped, we had walked over a grill covering a drain and below it was one of these lizards, pretty scary when you weren't expecting it and
when you consider the proximity! From here we got on the sky train, Bangkoks major inner city transport system, similar to the London underground except well...above ground. All the trains were nice, fresh and air conditioned - just as well considering the heat! We stopped at a department store which was huge and had 7 floors. I cannot remember the name but it had many brands and prices were pretty much the sama as at home. On the bottom foor was a food hall selling Marks and Spencers and Waitrose food as well as Thai food, thinking about it I should have bought some Percy Pigs! There were lots of samples of food as we walked around so we tried quite a few - I have no idea what some of them were but they all tasted good. We got a few bits and bobs and ate lunch here.
Next up we walked to Erawan Shrine whch was very small but busy. We were a little dissapointed because we were expected a very grand temple/shrine and it took us so long to find! However its not the size or grandeur that matters I guess. We then walked back up
to the sky train to get a view of the national stadium from the station. We then got another Tuk Tuk back to Khao San Road. We found a great place for fruit shakes (cannot remember the name but its on the end of the road as you turn left around the corner) and Dom tried a dragon fruit one which was quite nice. On the way back to the hotel to pick up our bags we had an hour to spare so I seized the opportunity to have another Thai massage. After the rather painful experience at Wat Po Dom decided to sit and read his book.
We got our bags and got a Tuk Tuk to the train station. At around 7 we boarded our train to Chiang Mai ready to leave at 7.35. They were all very old trains that looked like big tin cans. We had booked 2nd class top bunk beds which were opposite on the sleeper train so we could see each other but were not one atop the other. We thought that both being above ground it would be safer but in hindsight I would recommend getting a cubicle. When we first
got on we couldnt work out how it worked- who slept where. We eventually worked it out as we had been lookng at the wrong seat numbers! We had dinner on the train, the food wasnt great and it wasnt very hot. At around 9 they set up the beds and we got read to sleep. We had curtains to separate us off but the lights were very bright and it was very cramped. I was paranoid i was going to fall down. the toilets were disgusting, the worst thing I have ever smelt, they were literally a hole onto the track. Neither of us slept very much because the train stopped every now and then, it was noisy and someone was snoring very loudly-even ear plugs could not block the noise out! I ended up reading most of the night.
Sorry if there are loads of spelling mistakes and typos, the keyboard I am using has so many symbols on it and some of the letters have worn off!
I should also mention a word of advice with most forms of transport in Bangkok. Always confirm the price prior to going anywhere!
Rachael xx
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