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Published: March 4th 2013
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Siam Centre
Innovative ways with plants 27th February Last time we were here was about two and a half years ago and we were disappointed that it was so western. Has Bangkok changed in that time?Driving from the airport we noticed that there were mainly cars and few motorbikes, so more affluent than its neighbours. We arrived at the hotel we stayed in before and it has had a facelift and has been renovated throughout, however the welcome we received was not as we had remembered or as we had received in Vietnam and Cambodia. There a welcome drink would be offered but more importantly a smile, the staff here do not seem happy to see us. Our room is way above expectations and they are very efficient supplying what we phone for but the costs are stupid for the Internet £5 for 2 hours, and poolside drinks, well that will be a one off as %!&(MISSING)#39;s are added to every bill so £9 for a tonic water and fruit juice, a bit different to the last time we were here. We walked out in the evening and the traffic was as we remembered, non- stop. There is no problem crossing roads as there are traffic lights
and they are adhered to. The stalls are still on the pavements but all seem a bit cleaner, still many massage parlours but some of them seem more upmarket. We are looking for a decent restaurant but can't see any and end up in crowds of people and loads of clothes stalls. I am holding on to my arm hoping I can avoid it getting bashed and looking at where I am walking so I don't trip again and then we see a park, thank heaven! Walking through the park is delightful, and it appears there is a mass aerobics session going on we wanted to join in but both of us are feeling a bit geriatric so just watch for a while. We eventually found a restaurant that looked half decent but I ordered western and Steve had a Thai green curry! He had forgotten how spicy the food is and couldn't manage to finish it and I didn't finish my ratatouille but we had enough, its so warm you really don't feel like eating. A short walk back, a film and bed, maybe we will sleep
tonight.Although my arm still hurts it was my cough that kept waking
Bangkok
View from hotel me, Steve slept better. Chores to do today like getting the laundry done, how will I cope when we get back and there is cleaning, washing ironing etc to do. Oh well better enjoy this while it lasts.We had bought some milk, juice, muesli, fruit,and bowls and kept the plastic spoons from the plane so breakfast for the next three days cost us about£7 unlike the £60 we would have paid to the hotel. We took the free shuttle bus from the hotel to the Siam centre. Here we had a real coffee, Bangkok is like any capital city having all the shops you could ever need, want, and more. There was a great exhibition on small space gardening with lots of innovative ideas to grow herbs and veg hanging painted cans full of herbs on walls, insulating foam was filled with peat and planted up then attached to a vertical frame, great if you only have a wall.From here we went to MBK another shopping centre but this one has some Thai shops which are less expensive than the big name shops. Steve bought a watch for his birthday and some videos, we stopped for lunch at Bon Pain
where you can design your own lunch, it was really good but the strawberry smoothie was so cold I had to take it with me, we wanted to get back for a swim. We decided to go back via the monorail but after buying a ticket and going through the turn style I was asked to go back, I had the smoothie with me and no food or drink is allowed. All very civilised when we got to the train there was a queue to get on not the huge crush you get on our underground. Leaving the train we tried not to go the wrong way back to the hotel but we did so our journey took a little longer but we finally got back and had a swim, well Steve did I just float. It's just three weeks since I hurt my arm so I suppose I cannot expect too much. Felt exhausted after being out in the heat so we stayed and ate in the hotel and it was delicious.Slept in this morning, had the best night for ages, Steve slept in longer he is also slowly recovering. He went for a swim before breakfast then we
went to the post office to send more stuff back then went for a walk through the park where the children from the local school had made a dragon and it seemed like there was some kind of protest in action. Stopped for a coffee right across from the hotel and they have free wifi! and the coffee was very good.Returned to the hotel, checked bills and sat around the pool, Steve went in the gym and got talking to a jovial Australian who holidays here regularly eating out on the street maybe that was why his wife was sick in bed. After a swim we showered and went on the sky train to the river. We saw a different Bangkok, very upmarket with loads of swanky hotels and parks. On arrival at Taskin station we boarded a free ferry to the Oriental Mandarin which ranked about 4 on trip advisor. We sat in the shade overlooking the river with fans for extra breeze. The restaurant lived up to expectations and we had the most delicious meal ever. Took the ferry back and then the train and finally a walk. There are a few beggars on the street and look
to be in a bad way, one had burns over most of his visible skin, a woman had paper wrapped around her feet. I felt sickLife is so unfair, what had theses poor souls done that they should suffer like this, we probably spent on a meal what they might have in a month.We were so hot when we got back and tired but stayed up to watch a fim before falling asleep around midnight.Another good nights sleep, what's going on? Steve had another swim while I packed, it takes longer with one arm. Went for breakfast at the cafe opposite, free wifi, then back to the hotel for a final laze and I finished my book about a 100 year old man, totally fiction and improbable but so amusing and interesting. Had lunch at the hotel and left at 2. Bangkok airport is massive, it really is a shoppers paradise even Steve has gone for a wander. Thoughts on Bangkok, its improved from when we were last here in terms of being cleaner but the land of smiles isn't smiling in Bangkok, maybe its because this is the capital city or losing touch with their religion not sure. It's
still a fun place to isit or as Steve and I proved you can chill out in Bangkok
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