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Next day we got up early to
beat the heat as we had to wear t-shirts, long trousers and
shoes to go and visit the Grand Palace. Well there was
thousands of others there doing the same but it was amazing in
side and “very grand” indeed. We saw the Emerald Buddha which
is the most revered religious site in Thailand apparently, but
the Buddha itself was tiny up on this huge platform!
Being over in that direction we
walked to one of the piers and got on a taxi boat to the Wat
Arun temple across the river. This is one of many temples but
probably one of the famous ones of which was an impressive site
to see. We then caught a taxi boat back further up the river
near to where we were staying. The water is so dirty with
allsorts floating down it and the boats just speed up and down
without any care causing huge waves and choppy waters!
After a quick dip in the guest
house pool to cool off we headed off down to the big MBK
shopping area for a mooch about, then got on the sky train to a
place where we were going to get some suits made. I had one
made last time I was in Bangkok, it fits like a glove with
quality materials so we were looking for that again.
There are hundreds of tailors
to choose from, but we had seen one advertised in the aeroplane
mag that had won awards etc, so we thought we would start with
them. Well they said all the right things, they didn’t push a
hard sell, and most of their business was repeat business
overseas too. So after choosing the cloth we were quite
literally measured there and then and told to come back in an
hour for the second fitting. We saw various people disappear
out the door with materials and measurements. So a quick bite
to eat and drink over the road and we were back trying on our
basic suit jackets with the tailor doing his thing…
The next day we had booked a
trip to combine the floating markets then onto Kanchanaburi to
see “The Bridge over the River Kwai”. It was a very early start
with a 7am pick up as they were both quite a way out of
Bangkok. After a quick pit stop at the coconut farm we got to a
place where we got on a longtail boat and boated down what were
like narrow streets of houses to the place of the market. You
can then walk about or get in a little paddle boat and get
boated up and down passing many a trader selling their wares
either from a boat or on the banks. All very mad and definitely
made for tourists! It was a bit crazy sitting in a boat and
being bombarded by people selling allsorts right on the river
bank and from other boats floating along.
Back in the mini-van we then
stopped at the War memorial for the building of the
Burma-Thailand railway during WWII. Just rows and rows of grave
stones of various troops that lost their lives in horrific
ways. All such young men (most in their 20s) and lots from the
UK. We then took a short drive for some lunch then onto the
town of Kanchanaburi to see the famous bridge and to actually
walk along the bridge tracks over the river. We toured around
the museum and read the full horror story about it all. It was
strange to think that a sight of such devastation and suffering
is now a fully blown tourist attraction, even with floating
restaurants where you can dine and supp your drinks overlooking
the bridge itself.
We got back to Bangkok about
19:30 so a quick shower and a cab back over to the tailors for
the next fitting of the suits. There needed to be some
alterations done to Rachel’s suit but the jacket and trousers
fitted great for me. I just needed to have my shirts slightly
changed. Like a whirlwind again we headed off back down the Ko
San road area for some great hawker food and a Thai massage.
Another early pick up the next
day, this time to take us to the island of
Ko Samet for a few
days of sunshine and to escape the madness of Bangkok before our
return here before we fly off again…
We arrived back in Bangkok
after the few days in the sun relaxing in Ko Samet. Straight
after getting our big bags back and getting into our room we
were off to shop and to try on our suits again and take away.
With Christmas coming we even started our shopping early and had
planned to send a box load of things back via DHL as they were
doing a special shipping deal as they were a new outlet in the
Ko San area.
On our last full day we went
and did a Thai cooking class for the morning where we got boated
to a traditional Thai floating house and were shown as well as
had a go at cooking a few of the favourite Thai dishes. Always
the good bit of eating it all as well! We were given the
recipes to try when we get back so we need a wok to try out some
of these delicious foods when we get home!
Then that afternoon we packed,
unpacked and packed again until all the things we bought went in
to the DHL box, got it sent and spent the rest of the time
chilling out watching the world go by.
Next day we had a midday flight
to our next stop of
Hong Kong. |
