Blogs from Central Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 928

Day 1 in Bangkok We arrived in Bangkok at about 5am plus in the morning. Dropped off on the streets of Bangkok, in the middle of who-knows-where. Everyone was accosted by a bunch of vulture-like taxi drivers trying to have a piece of us. We ignored the drivers and stood by a quiet corner to think and assess where the hell in Bangkok were we at. We felt a bit lost, so we just followed some backpackers and wandered into Soi Chana Songkram by chance. Vivi found some of the names of the guesthouses familiar and flipped through the guidebook. And yes, we actually landed right on the lap of a popular backpackers' stretch - the West Bang Lamphu! Very lucky really, considered this is area we intended to stay in. Talking to other backpackers, we ... read more

So, I have finally arrived in Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udom Ratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanu Kamprasit, the city which so many of my fellow Swedes have already discovered. The flight lands in the early afternoon and the heat can be felt through the airport walls, and what is that strange smell? (The Don Muang air has a very special character that I've since come to appreciate more and more). After passing through immigration my friend Kay picks me up on her way back from the office, which is nearby. She's suggested and reserved a room for me at the Karnmanee Palace (a nice hotel which has since become a favourite stay of mine) where I can dump my bags and take a much ... read more

I returned to Bangkok, this time for five nights. Initially I had great difficulty finding the enthusiasm to do anything other than sleep or read, knowing that my time here was really just to fill in before I left for Singapore and my flight to Australia. However the day after I arrived was the King's Birthday, and in Thailand they really love their king. Around 2 million people had converged on the small park in front of the Grand Palace to hear the speech by the Prime Minister, watch the fireworks and enjoy - if that word can be applied - the Thai boxing. Not willing to look cowardly in front of two guys from my hostel, I joined them in making my way into the crowd. There were literally peoplecrushed against you in all directions, ... read more

After two nights in Ko Pa-Ngan with a mixture of torrential rain, homesickness and overwhelming depression, I had decided to move on. I was fearing my necessary visit to Bangkok as I had heard that it was busier, dirtier and smellier than KL. It was, yet for some reason I really liked it there. Whether travel had hardened me, or whether Bangkok just has a great atmosphere I do not know. Walking down Khao San Road during the day was pretty interesting, but at night when the traffic is closed off it is an amazing sight. The street is filled with backpackers and travellers walking up and down, passing jugglers, street vendors, hawker and endless lights from the signs of bars and hostels - it has to be seen. Here is where westerners are a majority ... read more

Near Bangkok, there are other interesting places worth a visit. In the huge canal system surrounding Bangkok, there are several floating markets. We visited one of them, namely Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. When you see pictures of these markets on the internet, you usually see the wooden canoes filled with multicoloured fruits and vegetables, and the Thai women wearing straw hats. All this was nice to see, but I also remember seeing lots of tourists (including me of course ;-) touring at the canals. Some canoes didn't sell any fruit like in the old days, but sold souvenirs instead. So I fear a little bit the disappearance of the original character of this... Wat Pho is the oldest and largest wát in Bangkok, featuring the largest reclining Buddha (46m long, 15m high). It is also the ... read more