I’m No Farang!

Still tired from yesterday’s looong day of wandering, we decided to just stay in Bangkok and cancel another supposedly quick out-of-town adventure.

 

So far, with 6 days in BKK, we’ve tried all of Bangkok’s modes of transportation -- train, Skytrain, Metro, taxi, bus, free bus, tuk-tuk, and river ferry.  As we wanted to get around like a local, or simply to save money, there’s still one means of public transportation that we haven’t tried -- the notorious Khlong taxi.  We got curious (and alarmed) with Elexis’ advice, “Don’t open your mouth throughout the entire ride.”  What’s that all about?

 

From the Khlong station at The Mall, we were supposed to get off at a station near Jim Thompson’s.

  The problem was we didn’t know what station we got in & the map wasn’t very helpful either.  Station signs were in Thai characters; others in English alphabets but the map & station signs didn’t coincide.  Some local helped us but still we got confused.  MJ & I were constantly talking, figuring out where we were, how many stations to go before we’d get off this boat.

 

Then the big splash happened.  So that’s what the warning of not opening one’s mouth was all about!  Hahahaha No, we didn’t drink the dirty khlong water!  Our reflexes were working just fine, just in time to cover ourselves with the maps that we’re holding.  :)

 

Anyways, I told you we were confused with the signs & the map.  And so we ended up getting off the khlong about one station after our supposedly drop off station.  We ended up walking quite a few blocks.

 

Then we met this guy.

  He speaks English well.  We were impressed.  He was helping us find our way to Jim Thompson’s House.  He was very friendly.  Then I heard the magic words, “Jim Thompson’s is still close.  It’s lunch break.  Why don’t you go to this center where they sell Thai crafts?  While waiting for Jim Thompson’s to open, you can stay there for awhile and look around.  It’s airconditioned anyways.”  SCAM ALERT!

 

I wanted to walk fast & ignore him but MJ was listening to him attentively, exchanging facts about Thailand & Philippines.  When I eventually got MJ’s attention & told her that we’re going to a jewelry shop, it was too late.  We can no longer refuse & disappoint a friendly Thai guy who gave us directions.  We went inside the shop.  A lady ushered us inside, all smiles.  She showed us where the pieces of jewelry were made and finally led us to the display area.

  It was huge -- stones of various colors & designs were everywhere.  First we looked at the expensive section.  Obviously, we can’t afford it & so we asked where the sterling silvers were, near the exit.  Great, our escape.  :)  But since the guide was so hospitable and kept showing us their items, we still looked around, pretended to look around.  I guess she felt that we’re not going to buy, so she showed us where the exit was.  Then her smile faded.

 

Sticking to our itinerary for the day, we went to Jim Thompson’s House or should I say just outside his traditional Thai house.  Again, the entrance fee hindered us to go inside the museum.  I’ve heard that the food in their restaurant is a must-try but after seeing that it’s full of Caucasians, I figured they don’t serve traditional Thai food (& for sure, it’s not within our budget), which was what I was craving at that moment.  So after a few clicks there and everywhere, we decided to go to Siam Paragon instead.

 

Looking at the map, Jim Thompson’s House seemed far from Siam Paragon, so we decided to take a cab (or we were just lazy that day).

  Luckily, a cab stopped in front of us & two foreigners got out and told us to ask the taxi driver to use taxi meter.  Not contented, he opened the passenger’s seat door and told the driver to do so.  Well, thank you but we know what to do.  Was there a sign on our foreheads that read stupid farangs?

 

 We eventually arrived in Siam Paragon, safe from a very short & quick with a meter-on taxi.  Lunch was at the food center at Siam.  Dessert included my fave Thai crepe.

 

After lunch, we’ve nowhere to go.  So much for our IT.  So we decided to do what we love most -- to exercise our biceps & triceps, as well as our calf muscles & Achilles tendon, again.  On our way, we passed by Wat Benchamabophit.  For the sake of doing something cultural, we went inside.  We saw Buddha images in various postures, 9 to be exact.

 

After seeing Buddha in 9 different poses, we went mall hopping.  First stop was the all-electronics store, Panthip Plaza.  This multistory shop is the ultimate source for electronic gadgets.  They have everything!  I drooled over the new Canon Powershot S10 IS.  MJ, on the other hand, cannot get her eyes off the cheap lenses compatible for her camera.  And before we ended up swiping our cards, we hurried for the Exit.

 

For the entire night, Jof accompanied us with our shopping spree.