Temples, shopping and cocktails (and a hot shower) in Bangkok
We loved Bangkok - a totally crazy city, from it's myriad of walkways, sky trains and bustling 3 lanes (one way) all jammed with traffic and within a square metre of each other! It certainly seems to live up to the sentiment of organised chaos - spaghetti junction eat your heart out!
The cabbies in Bangkok are also completely nuts. A total variety from: "kamikaze jam dodger" (i feared for my life and this guy won't let me wear a seat belt!) "the dude" blasting out the cheesiest US pop song sporting long locks, to the "complete nut case"- wouldn't stop talking and none of it made any sense!
After the journey from the airport, our first night was pretty interesting! We were met by Mr Guesthouse owner and his 2 bitches - I think Neil was a bit scared of going to the toilet on his own!! However, the beer was cheap and the bed was more than a welcome sight.
The following day we decided to get the rest of our accommodation sorted - pretty easy, and we found this really lovely teak house right in the centre - it was also a highlight of the trip since it featured a beautiful hot shower - bliss!
Whilst in Bangkok it was the King's Birthday - lets just say the Thai people love their king. A day didn't go by when a local wasn't wearing a celebratory yellow T-shirt! Every evening hundreds of thai's would congretate at democracy monument to celebrate - big flashing lights, music, people signing a book, having their photo taken with pictures of the king - they're totally nuts for it.
Khao San Road was everything we expected it to be - a hectic mix of Thais and farang. We spent a few evenings there - Katharine developed a penchant for cheap cocktails and ladyboy-spotting.
We visited the Royal Palace and Wat Pho and got fully templed out. Some amazing architecture and a huge reclining Buddha. Katharine became something of a celebrity - surrounded by tons of schoolgirls asking questions. I think she signed a few autographs too.
Jim Thompson's House was a quick afternoon trip, nestled in amongst the shopping malls of Siam Square. Gave an interesting insight into how Thailand used to be.
On our last day we went to Chatuchak weekend market, which was simply vast, selling everything from clothes to squirrels and puppies to food (not one and the same thing in Thailand). Katharine decided we had to buy the heaviest, most expensive thing we could find.... if we manage to get it home in one piece (guess who has to carry it) then the jade dragon will take pride of place on our non-existent mantelpiece.
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