The day after the night before

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So we get in from the "Spice Club" at about 4am on Wednesday morning - well, actually none of us can remember when we got in - but we had stamps on our hands saying "Spice Club", so at least we knew where we had been!

We ventured out to explore a bit more of the touristy sights in Bangkok at about lunch time with Claire suffering from the hangover from hell. She managed to control her stomach in the bumpy 5 min river crossing from the hotel to the main river boat terminal where she could go no further. We had to stop for some food - Claire ordered what looked like the poorest attempt at a pizza I have ever seen and therefore ate very little of it!

We took a river taxi about 20 mins down the river to the Grand Palace. I had only saw it from the river the last time, and was looking forward to getting a close up view as everyone was telling us how impressive it was. So we arrived at the river boat stop - and Claire immediately ran as her stomach could not hold out any longer. I guess she was maybe expecting a little toilet where you put 20p in and the doors slide open - no chance. This was a market - and it was also near 40 degrees!

So we kinda run out of the market - and right in front of it is the Grand Palace, and Claire wishing to be sick at the side of it. I'm quite sure you would be jailed for that in Thailand, or maybe even shot! So we walk, and walk until we find an armed security guard kind enough to let Claire use his toilet - which she did, and apparently decided it was “too mingin” to be sick in it - so we walked and then we walked some more. No cafe's, restaurants, hotels - nothing. Only streets and streets of market traders selling flowers. I couldn't understand how they could possibly sell these flowers -there were miles and miles of traders selling them. Anyway....

We find a seat in the park and a street trader selling cans of coke for about 3p - so a couple of them and all was well.
By this point we were getting quite used to the seemingly thousands of people who come up to you asking where you from, how long you be in Thailand, have you been to see Buddha etc. (basically trying to send you to their mates travel agent, or hotel, or bar or whatever) - but this next one was worth a mention. He comes over to us (Claire, remember, was in a less than entertaining mood!) with a massive camera around his neck wearing Bermuda type shorts and a floral t-shit. “Have you been to Palace yet”, he asks. “I have been this morning, I enjoy very much and now I go to visit Buddha because my friend in America tell me it is worth visit”. “I am also tourist, I do not work in Bangkok - I am Doctor in America and I visit on holiday”. At this point, the two of us looked at him (having previously done our best to avoid any attempt at making eye contact), looked at each other and laughed. The guy then went back to sitting on his little kiosk desk thing waiting on the next new arrivals to Bangkok. It amazes me the stories they come up with - we had had security guard, teacher, shop worker - but the Doctor had to be mentioned!!

We headed back to the hotel (Claire was now starting to be able to speak again!) and that was our last day in Bangkok - but there was always our last night in Bangkok to look forward to!

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Photos

After the river crossing
And Claire trying to keep her stomach in one piece!

The river taxi
Claire enjoying the sights of Bangkok from the river taxi!

Elephants
In a traffic island outside of the palace - Claire liked them!

The flower market
Miles and miles of roses...

Comments

[Claire and Ricky]

Have sent you an e-mail. Will phone as soon as I have a calling card. Melbourne is amazing and Eddie and his family are cool, will post or send you photos as soon as they are loaded on laptop x x