So my travel blog has finally become a travel blog because finally, I'm travelling! (check out the word repetition in that sentence!)
After a long day of flying I got in late Thursday night. I love flying into places at night because it means that you get to go to bed straight away and then wake up to an exciting new destination. So Friday morning, after having some pretty good hotel breakfast and pretty terrible hotel coffee I went for what I thought would be a nice, relaxing walk. Of course this didn’t happen – and no I didn’t get lost (thought that’s plausible) but I got accosted into taking a tuk tuk ride. It turns out that Friday was ‘Buddha Day’ and there was a government promotion giving all tuk tuk drivers free petrol, so I could get driven around to lots of different places for 10 baht (about 30c.) So I spent the morning looking at five or so temples and Buddha’s, and then of course the mandatory jewellery shop and tailor. So I left the hotel to buy a lemonade and ended up buying a suit. The tuk tuk driver didn't seem to appreciate this so much though and seemed quite disappointed I didn't buy any jewellery because I think he would have got more petrol coupons if I had.
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| View from the tuk tuk. Note the anti polical poster in the background. |
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| View from the top of a temple. I'm not sure which one... |
About a week before I left home I got in touch with a friend of mine from school who I found out has been living in Bangkok and we made arrangements to meet, so after my morning outing I came back to my hotel to meet Frieda at 12. Thankfully Fred was also already at temple viewing capacity so we went to a few different parts of bangers –with a definite focus on food and shopping. I was amazed at her mastery of Bangkok's public transport system - we went on a bus, the sky train (which is really cool, feels like you're flying!), the subway and a ferry! Having a guide is the best way to see a city. One of the most interesting places we went was the very upmarket food markets, where the King sometimes shops. Apparently when he's there all the store keepers have to swivel to constantly face the him. There was some crazy food in the markets.
Favourite Engrish so far - A teeshirt that said 'The weather is warn, warm, very comfortable.' Also a bar on Kao San road - their sign said 'Golf Bar Cocktails Very Strong. We do not check ID card.'
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| lunch |
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| In the fancy food markets. 'This is the biggest mango I've ever seen!' |
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| Making iced sweet tea. Gross... but Fred loves it. |
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| Curries in the fancy food markets. |
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| Mmmm waffle sandwich... |
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| On the ferry. |
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