Bangkok - Bad Day.

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Bad day = Thursday 9th October


Arrived in Bangkok about 6ish - already dark when got here. Got bus to hostel and a taxi - really nice lady helped us with taxi - told taxi driver where we wanted to go and made sure he charged right amount - really nice - good start and v.different to HK.

Hostel lovely. English owner so could tell us lots about Thailand and what to do. Bar and restauant inside and a gym (got really excited about that, but didn't use it - bit like January when have all good intentions!) Room only had fan though, no air con - all HK hostels had air con; makes a BIG difference!

Was bit late when finally got to hostel, just went down to bar for few drinks and a chat. V.cheap - local lager about 70p bottle, cocktail 1.20 (no pound sign on this keyboard!)

Had to put mosquito net up in room because been bitten already...think I must have tasty blood...possibly due to all tasty food that eat! Putting it up was comedy sketch. Nothing to hang it from so tried balancing eveywhere. Mine kept falling down so ended up sleeping under it like a cover..not sure thats quite how it's supposed to work! Kept waking up in night with net in mouth...looked like a giant fish that had just been caught...sweat made me slippery like fish too!

Anyway, got up early Friday and caught sky train down to bottom of river (v.clean and cheap) to visit famous temples and stuff. Didn't know where it was but loads of really friendly people helped us...big difference to HK.

Were going to walk to Grand Palace, but ended up getting boat ride. Managed to haggle on price a little bit, but need to get better at that! Boat was ace - basically long canoe with a motor on end! Man took us round for an hour, showing us fishing villiage and stuff. Loads of houses/huts all built into water and balancing on sticks.

Got out and headed for Grand Palace, but saw a man who told us to come back later bacause of praying in Palace. Showed us to go to Happy Buddha and Sleeping Buddha. They were good. Saw another man there who told us more about places to visist and about TAT - tourist information.

Headed there next. Walked in to book a tour and by time we had come out, spent 500 pound and all month planned. This is where the day went bad! At first, thought booking was a really good idea, but then dawned on us how much money had spent...not good! Now v.clear what mum always says to me - might be clever, but no common sense! Unbelievable that Deb is just same - maybe it's a blonde thing!?!

Anyway, entire trip booked now with all accomadation and travel for a month and lots of things wanted to do. This is what will be doing for next month:

Bangkok 2 days = floating market trip, Bridge over River Kwai, Tiger Temple
Ayutthya 2 days
Chaing Mai 5 days = jungle trekking, stay with tribe, riding elephants, Thai cooking...
Ko Phe Phe - 2 days
Krabi - 2 days
Koh Samui - 4 days
Koh Phang Nyang - 5 days
Ko Toa - 4 days

Anyway; day got worse. Saw an elephant being dragged around streets so tourists could pay to feed it peanuts - actually made me cry
😞 Then, told hostel man what had booked and he made us feel really bad; apparently TAT worst place can go because charge way too much! Felt quite sick then, had to go to bed early!

Going to reserve final opinion until done trip - then will see whether TAT good idea or not?!

Steps: 12, 791
Miles: 5.5
Calories:337

Calories lost from stress and sickness feeling: At least another 300!

Also, Grand Palace was ace. Couldn't fully appreciate it because of stress, but brilliant viewing...v.opulent (love that word and so rarely get to use it!)

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Photos

Happy Buddha
People get married in front of him - also called Lucky Buddha.

Temple Door
Never seen as much gold and extravagance in a given area. Every bit in walls full of gold and mosaic.

Tiny part of temple
Bit of top photography coming into play here ...

Emerald Buddha
In main temple...guess he's kind of a big deal.