I'm in Bangkok
Trip Start
Jan 28, 2012
1
25
Trip End
May 04, 2012
Bangkok, Thailand
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The flight to Bangkok was direct, I had bulk head seat so lots of extra legroom. I watched the Hangover II for the first time - hugely disappointed and after I meal of pasta and mushroom in some sauce I proceeded to try and sleep.
After a mammoth 11 hour flight and a pretty decent sleep considering I disembarked the plane to pass through immigration. Oh my how confusing! A couple on the plane said I didn't need a landing card unless I was in transit. Wrong I did!! So I went to visa on arrival only to find out I was at the worng place. Oops, I wish I studied my book more!! I picked up my huge bag and went off to find Tom - our ThaIntro leader, who was meeting us at the airport. After an hour and my mobile not working I started to panic, I couldn't find him, I was sweating so much with my bag and sweatsuit on, I thought I was stranded in a strange country and wanted to cry! Fortuently I bumped into Amy again who called Tom and we found out he wasn't actually picking us up! It was another leader - Alan, who had no sign, we were just informed he had a bright green bag. Thank god we found him!
We got a taxi from Bangkok airport to our accommodation and although a slight culture shock, not as much as I thought.
On arrival to our guest house we only had a couple of hours before we needed to meet the rest of our group for dinner. I needed a shower!! The shower was cold!
For dinner we went to an Indian restaurant down the road. They had cushions on the floor to sit on and eat. Not so flattering for the girls wearing skirts and dresses. The meal was yummy though - about 300 baht for a meal and 2 beers - about 6 pounds!
We then went to Khao San Road - which is full of bars for more drinks. I just opted for Chang - 80 Baht for a large bottle. About 1.50!! I was then handed a dried cricket to eat - oh my god I did it!! Cruncy, salty, chewy. We stayed out until 3am, at that point the drink hit me and I attempted Facebook - sorry to anyone who couldn't make sense of my messages! Lol!
The following day I didn't feel too sharp, breakfast made me feel worse and we had a day of looking at temples started by a river cruise.
We embarked a boat for the river cruise which took about 45 minutes, you can really see the affect the floods had on the city a few months back, it's sad to see alot of peoples homes and businesses had been destroyed.
We got off the boat at Wat Arun temple, these temples really are amazing to see. I climbed to the top, the stairs were huge and steep. Once I was at the top I was scared to come down. I'm not scared of heights, I was just scared of falling. Once I reached the bottom I was shaking!
We then went over the river to Wat Pho - home of the reclining Buddha. It is massive!
We then had our first experience of a Thailand Tuk Tuk - a taxi. They drive like mad men but it was so much fun.
Once back to our guesthouse we went out for some lunch and I experienced Pad Thai for the first time - it's yummy!
After a couple of hours sleep we all met for dinner again at 8, I don't think anyone was feeling particulary sparkly so after dinner a few of us went for a walk around the shops and then an early night in preparation for our Thai cooking class the next day.
The cooking class was really great, we made out own dishes - Pad Thai and Panang curry. I will be attempting to make some when I get home, it was the best food I've tasted yet.
Tonight we board the night train from Bangkok to Khao Sok National Park, it takes 12 hours, this is going to be an experience! We've been told that at the floating bungalows at Khao Sok there's minimal electrcity and no phone signal - that doesn't matter as mine's playing up anyway, I can't call out. The only thing I can do is send texts and receive them.
I'm now looking forward to leaving Bangkok, although exciting there's no scenary and I will be back here again in a couple of weeks.
