Thai'ing up loose ends
Trip Start
Feb 10, 2012
1
8
25
Trip End
Feb 26, 2012
Bangkok, Thailand
Monday, February 13, 2012
chinatown has 3 faces: early morning setup, which is tranquil; midday mayhem, and nighttime chaos. I wonder what real china is like.
I walked a bunch of klicks down to see wat pho and the HUGE reclining buddha. I actually somehow managed to wander in through the back entrance without the ticket booth or guards. (but I did be honest and good and found the ticket place toward the end).
next I hit the harbour for some snaps of wat arun, which wasn't open to non-thais today. there I met an overly friendly tourist policeman who pointed me to sights he felt I needed to see. actually everyone seemed interested in pointing me to the palace or various places, despite my coming from seeing where they wanted me to go. they seem very proud of their royal family and kingdom.
after seeing the grand palace and emerald buddha, it was back to the hotel to pack and check out.
the thai authorities are good at warning people that there are pickpockets around, but make sure to point out that they're "non-thai" gangs apparently.
observations today: department stores don't exist, every store sells a particular item; lawn mower store, gun store, grandfather clock store, trophy store, royal family portrait store, etc. and they're all bunched together. there was gold chain lane, and power generator corner. they are also scarce on daytime restos, instead there are loads of street vendors selling anything fried. p.s. green tea ice cream is good anywhere.
there are loads of french people, I met a few at the palace. I met my backpack twin who was from regina. and russian tourists just seem like arses no matter where they are. I also met some cool american girls on the MTR wrapping up a 6-month asian trip (jealous), and a super granola but cool family from vancouver who have taken their 10 year old daughter out of school this year and are on month 7 of a 1 year trip!
off to the airport I go. next stop: saigon!
