Bangkok - Elvis, Tom Jones and Friends

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Hi again everybody. Sofie and I are about to go our separate ways. She has a visa for the People's Republic of China and I for Vietnam. We've tried to reconcile ourselves to travelling separately on our journey but since we'll meet again in Saigon in a month or so it's really not so long at all.

So to Bangkok. Every time I visit the city I am more and more suprprised. Sure it's a big noisy Asian Megacity but it has it's charms. We spent a fair bit of time being choked by traffic fumes but taking the river ferries from Banglamphu via Wat Po and onto the Skytrain gives a different perspective. We met up with another Warren and a Sarah too in Calcutta Airport and spent many an hour eating lunch while they breakfasted or 'second breakfasted'.

We spent 2 weeks in the Big B altogether: but with Sofie doing a 5 day yoga course and me having serial encounters with Bangkok's dental clinics there was never a dull moment. We spent a lot of time hanging out around the KC Guesthouse which is a lovely friendly place at the river side of Banglapmpu away from the drunken neon mess thet is Khao San Road.

Of course when Timm and Grainne arrived the beer really started flowing! hangovers became common-place as did sleep-deprivation. But some places will really stick in my memory of the city. Tamarind Cafe off Sukhumvit Road has really imaginative vergetarian food in a country of fish and meat lovers. We enjoyed a meal there for Grainne's birthday although she doesn't look a day over 32. Then we encountered the cultural magnificence of Wat Po and Wat Arun, the Grand Palace and Elvissuit, Jim Thompson's House and Tom Jones. Bangkok really has it all. For shopping, it is paradise. Huge markets like Chatuchak and the shopping centres around Siam Square have everything one could want while we also went technology shopping: us for a laptop and Sofie for a camera to call her own. The Floating Market south of the city is however probably the worst, most over-priced tourist circus we have seen in 7 months of travelling. DO NOT GO TO THE FLOATING MARKET UNDER ANY IRCUMSTANCES!!!! OR ELSE!!!

So goodbye to Bangkok. Khap Khun khap. Khap khun ka. Sawadee Khap and indeed sawadee ka. Timm and Grainne are off to Cambodia and I will meet Uli in Hanoi while Sofie will see her sister Huma in Beijing. Oh what a tangled web of flight paths our lives are!

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Photos

Wat Po - Reclining Buddha
We've visited huge rerclining Buddha several times and though I don't know what the man himself would have thought of this huge gold covered image of himself I know that it is a must see.

Wat Po - Number One Buddha
This is the holiest of holies in Wat Po. Lovely to see all the monks and listen to their chanting.

Wat Arun - Stupa in the sky
Just across the river from Wat Po.

Cooking for first time
Only in Asia will they make you cook your own food at the table. We went to this restaurant twice and was a lovely experience.

A Night Out - Tamarind Cafe
A lovely place for a meal. Great airy space with creative food (though pricey). There's one in Hanoi too which we ate in last time we were there.

A Night Out - Patpong
Well, it is a tourist trap and pretty sleazy but you have to see it once (or twice).

A Night Out - What's Up Pussy Cat?
We saw Tom Jones too you know...

A Night Out - Strong Thai Beer
Hi Warren and Sarah. Hope you enjoy your diving and climbing. I'm sure we had to get up at 8am but I can't remember...

A Night Out - The King
At Radio City in Patpong there are impersonators every night. Saw Elvis twice and would definitely recommend. Check out Tom Robbins book "Villa Incognito" for a better description.

Dining at Chatuchak Market
Here's our friend Sandrine (HI!!) about to took into something with 6 legs, Say no more.

Chatuchak - Plastic Fruit
This huge 'Weekend Market' has everything. We had to stand to attention as the national anthem played but everybody did.

Chatuchak - Fallen Heroes
T-shirts of Che or Karl or mao rub shoulders with the words of Bobby Sands in a strangely inspiring clash of capitalism and idealism.

Comments

[kieran]

not jealous.
Hi folks, you really looked so stressed after all that traveling. Perhaps you should try to take it a little easier. Post me home one of those gold buddahs. That's the kind of non materialistic religion, we in Dublin can appreciate.