Today aC was on a mission, and as tour guide it soon became her job to navigate us through this hecktic city!
After taking the skytrain to Saphan Taksin station to the Sathorn Pier, we boarded the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat for 100 Baht (about 3.00 cnd). On paper the boat system appeared simple, but once you were on this thing, very few locals spoke english = recipe for getting lost or getting off the wrong station or missing the last boat. Fortunately, aC was at her best, calm and always collected navigating us through the streets to find pier after pier. To say that getting around in Bangkok is not easy would be an understatement....Aside from the stupid traffic and the short skytrain routes, street signs are poorly positioned while boat schedules are not as simple as 'hopping on' the Toronto Island Ferries!
Our 1st stop this morning was the Grand Palace, a royal compound where important religious and royal ceremonies were and still are conducted. One of the highlights here was the Emerald Buddha, one of Thailand's most revered objects of worship. Shortly after we ventured through Chinatown and found this place as busy as ever. With our stomachs growling, traffic stalling and people bustling through the side streets and alleyways, we found ourselves on a mission to get out of the crowds ASAP in search for food. 'Street-meat' (not the kind in Canada) and food vendors were plentiful, but neither of us were feeling adventerous today. After asking 3 different locals, the employee at 7-eleven eventually directed us in the correct direction. Atlast, we found our joy for the next 20 minutes; "Hong Noodle House", and yes served with won-tons and roasted duck for a measily 40 Baht (just over $1 cnd)
...after chowing down on 3 bowls, we walked up towards the 'backpackers' district; Kao San Road. Again, lots of street shopping, many food vendors, and of course lots of tourists!
We somehow found the closest pier where the final boat run of the day was awaiting shortly (good job aC). We then surfaced back on Silom Road (Sala Daeng Station) where we got a glimpse of Patpong, Bangkoks red-light district. We had to make countless efforts to dodge these dudes that were promoting 'ladee show', 'sex-show' and 'ping-pong ball show' (you figure it out)...anyways, the advice i received from a few colleagues regarding the scams and 'she-males' in many of the clubs here, kept us out of there.
After a quick dinner at the MBK Food Centre (awesome spring rolls, padh-thai, fried rice), we found ourselves back for another 2 hour massage. This time, Body-Tune (yes, they have 3 locations in Thailand + the one in Siem Riep) just down the street from our hotel was on the hit list. Ms. 'Deang' was the bomb....she was awesome....and we may find ourselves earning more airmiles here next week!
Well, this brings our quick snap-shot of Bangkok to a close, and we hope to get a few more clips in on our way back from the Islands here in Thailand. Anyways, this city is ruthless; traffic is a complete disaster, massage parlours can be found on every street, food vendors on all corners, street shopping on every major district and plenty of she-males walking around looking like their cosmetic surgeon really did a bad job!.....Although not quite 'Wat'ed out (temples) yet, we're both looking forward to Chiang Mai and the rest of what Thailand has to offer!
After taking the skytrain to Saphan Taksin station to the Sathorn Pier, we boarded the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat for 100 Baht (about 3.00 cnd). On paper the boat system appeared simple, but once you were on this thing, very few locals spoke english = recipe for getting lost or getting off the wrong station or missing the last boat. Fortunately, aC was at her best, calm and always collected navigating us through the streets to find pier after pier. To say that getting around in Bangkok is not easy would be an understatement....Aside from the stupid traffic and the short skytrain routes, street signs are poorly positioned while boat schedules are not as simple as 'hopping on' the Toronto Island Ferries!
Our 1st stop this morning was the Grand Palace, a royal compound where important religious and royal ceremonies were and still are conducted. One of the highlights here was the Emerald Buddha, one of Thailand's most revered objects of worship. Shortly after we ventured through Chinatown and found this place as busy as ever. With our stomachs growling, traffic stalling and people bustling through the side streets and alleyways, we found ourselves on a mission to get out of the crowds ASAP in search for food. 'Street-meat' (not the kind in Canada) and food vendors were plentiful, but neither of us were feeling adventerous today. After asking 3 different locals, the employee at 7-eleven eventually directed us in the correct direction. Atlast, we found our joy for the next 20 minutes; "Hong Noodle House", and yes served with won-tons and roasted duck for a measily 40 Baht (just over $1 cnd)
...after chowing down on 3 bowls, we walked up towards the 'backpackers' district; Kao San Road. Again, lots of street shopping, many food vendors, and of course lots of tourists!
We somehow found the closest pier where the final boat run of the day was awaiting shortly (good job aC). We then surfaced back on Silom Road (Sala Daeng Station) where we got a glimpse of Patpong, Bangkoks red-light district. We had to make countless efforts to dodge these dudes that were promoting 'ladee show', 'sex-show' and 'ping-pong ball show' (you figure it out)...anyways, the advice i received from a few colleagues regarding the scams and 'she-males' in many of the clubs here, kept us out of there.
After a quick dinner at the MBK Food Centre (awesome spring rolls, padh-thai, fried rice), we found ourselves back for another 2 hour massage. This time, Body-Tune (yes, they have 3 locations in Thailand + the one in Siem Riep) just down the street from our hotel was on the hit list. Ms. 'Deang' was the bomb....she was awesome....and we may find ourselves earning more airmiles here next week!
Well, this brings our quick snap-shot of Bangkok to a close, and we hope to get a few more clips in on our way back from the Islands here in Thailand. Anyways, this city is ruthless; traffic is a complete disaster, massage parlours can be found on every street, food vendors on all corners, street shopping on every major district and plenty of she-males walking around looking like their cosmetic surgeon really did a bad job!.....Although not quite 'Wat'ed out (temples) yet, we're both looking forward to Chiang Mai and the rest of what Thailand has to offer!
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