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Published: December 21st 2005
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Well Bangkok continues to be an interesting place, 8 of us have decided to have a longboat tour (007 style) in the canals of Bangkok. We're heading to the 'Floating Market' for a bit of a mooch. It soon became apparently, that like most things in Bangkok the floating market was not what it was cracked up to be! Either the Thai have become very clever and invented concrete that can float or the only bit of the market that was floating was a couple of food stalls and the rest was on dry land. The real floating market (as seen in the bond film) is about 2 hours away so we make do with what we've got.
One of the things I've really enjoyed on my travels so far is sampling the local food. I spot something on a food stall that looks like a meat dish and I ask the vendor what it is. For the first time on my travels I have a communication problem and she can't tell me what it is, however, she lets me taste a little bit and it tastes good although of what meat I could say. After buying a portion
I start chowing down I found out that the dish has quite a kick to it. I some how sense that it will come back to haunt me!!
Following our trip in the canal we head to see the reclining Buddha. This thing is huge it's 10 metres high and 40 metres long. Very impressive and it only cost me 20 baht (30p) to see it. While at the same time we see another Golden Buddha and have a bit of a look round the temple. The place is impressive just like the Crown Palace we'd been to earlier in the week.
For the nights entertainment we opt to watch some Muay Thai Boxing and then disaster strikes. The meat dish from lunchtime has come back to haunt me! However my friend from Canada who has been a giggle all week saves my night. She has extra strength tablets (Imodium) that seem to do the trick. Four us head to the stadium. As part of our trip we have to get tuk tuk's (3 wheel taxis) and it's two people in each. The two drivers decide to have a race to the stadium and at one point our Tuk Tuk is on two wheels going round the corner - I don't think my travel insurance will cover that!!
At the stadium there is a full night of boxing, 10 bouts of Thai and one bout of traditional boxing i.e. under the Queensberry (that’s how they spelt it) rules! The Thai boxing is quick and fast with most of the bouts ending in a knock out. The final bout is the traditional boxing, which all but confirms the whole thing is rigged! In the 3rd round one of the boxers drops to the floor like he's been hit by Ali, Tyson and Lewis all rolled into one but there was something missing - the punch!! If it wasn't rigged then the boxers must have decided they'd had enough and wanted to go home and watch the football!
The next day I opt for an easy one as I'm heading on to Perth the day after. I sort all my gear out and decide to get me hair cut! I head down to the shop and not one of them speaks any English so I do what all brits do and try the typical dodgy hand signals to indicate I want my hair cutting. I think they get the picture and a young Thai girl washes my hair. Now I'm no expert but when you wash your hair it's a bit of shampoo and rinse and your done - not in Thailand. She must have washed it 3 times and at each point given me a head massage! When she was done she sat me down in the chair and continued with a neck and shoulder massage - I'm beginning to think I'm in the wrong place and it's gonna cost me more than the 1000 Baht I have on me. It's turns out that I'm in the right place and woman starts to cut my hair - 1 problem though. How do you tell some one who speaks no English you'd like a number 2 at the sides and the back and tidy the top up? I try and get nowhere!! So I do what I have started doing at home let her do what she likes. It turns out ok but I've lost most of my colour that Lynne put in for me before I came away. After the haircut I get another wash and massage. I can't help thinking this is gonna be expensive but it cost me just £6 - Bargain!!
At night we have decided to head to Soi Cowboy which is a very similar place to Patpong. While I’m there I spot another food stand, however, this one is different - It sells insects!! There is a bit of banter about if anyone will try anything well you can guess which Muppet said yes - that’s right me (I have the picture to prove it)! I've opted for a cricket which after the initial gag reflex of feeling the legs in your mouth taste good and has a bbq flavour to it but it's not something I would eat a lot of:-)
Well that about sums up Thailand and the Asia leg of my trip. I've met some cool people on the way and thank them for their friendship. I can't understand why though as I've abused almost everyone I've met from being down south or from a dodgy country like Canada :-) just kidding guys. It seems that you can take the Boy out of Lancashire but not Lancashire out of the Boy!
I need to add that I've been playing Pool with Simon all week (from down south somewhere) :-) and I beat him but I will concede that I was lucky in most of the games (That will stop him moaning to his girlfriend Laura).
Next Stop - Pottsies Palace, Perth
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Catherine
non-member comment
Urgh!!
When you must have eaten nearly everything by know!? You've probably had dog or cat in Asia whilst thinking it was chicken and now you've eaten insects. The question now is will you eat a kanagroo's testicle in Oz? xx