Big day in Bangkok

Yesterday we had a great day in Bangkok.

We starting walking to catch a boat. 2 Thai ladies started chatting to us about how it was unusual to see short farang (foreigners) as most of them are tall. Cheers! Anyway they were lovely and they gave us loads of information about Bangkok and told us about a promotion the govenment is doing to promote tourism after the Tsunami. You can get a Tuk Tuk to take you around the city for the whole day for 20 baht each - thats 30p! Normally Tuk Tuks want about 100 baht for a one way trip!!

The government Tuk Tuks have yellow licence plates and the drivers have blue shirts on. They stopped one for us and off we went. We went to a Buddist Temple. Many are closed to the public at times because Thai New Year is coming so they are having special ceremonies. Unfortunately we miss is it. They celebrate from 10th to 13th april.

The temples are beautiful - especially the roofs - they are gold and glitter in the sun.

After the temple we went to a suit shop - they wont give you an estimate price as they know you will walk straight back out so you go through and pick the materials and colours etc must have been in there an hour before we even talked money. The one we went to is very well recomended - we were talking to a teacher in the temple and thats where he has his suits made. Shop is called called Number 10. Chris has ordered 3 suits 4 shirts and 3 ties - all made from Cashmere with silk lining for 250 pounds. And I have ordered a grey suit with trousers and skirt for 80 pounds. Looking forward to trying them on and hoping there are the quality and fit we expect. The price they quoted us was 1000 pounds! So getting it for 330 was a brilliant bargain. We had to batter with the shop owner and they said we mustn't tell people the price we paid - they really wanted our business and keep all our measurments on file for 5 years so we can order more.

Then our Tuk Tuk diver called 'Aaoh' took us for some street food - not the best we have had so far ( i interupt this messege - the heavens have opened and its now puring with rain!) we hard pork with huge gooey noodles and gooey gravy - the lady then over charged us because we were tourist charge us 1 pound instead of 40 pence. Thats a lot of money to them - we didnt mind though!

We then went to another temple and on to the Grand Palace where the king used to live - didnt go in as it was closing in 40 minutes.

We then caught a river boat - The locals try and get you on tour boats for about 5 punds each but we were catching the local taxi boats which cost 15 - 20 pence each instead! They are like the tube in uk but on water. They have different boats that are faster and stop at less places or the slow ones that stop at eveystop. It crosses from ones side of the river to the other and stops very briefly - you have to be quick!

We came back to our hotel and showered. Then took a meter taxi - the cheapest way to travel (bar government Tuk Tuk) to the Pat Pong district - red light area. We went shopping in the markets but didnt go into the bars filled with ladies. Instead took a taxi to Suan-Lum night bizare - which was amazing. There is a huge eating area for around 1000 people up one side is a long row of small hot food counters - you buy coupons to spend on food starts at about 30pence, the other side is lined with bars to buy beers Large bottle 1 pound. cocktails 2 pounds. Then there is a big stage at one end with live bands and huge screens overhead that show the football and sport.

We then ventured into the markets which are a bit like Spitalfields market in london. Really lovely stalls with different things. By 11.30 pm we have been trhough about 1/8th of the market! So we will return today and continue.

Caught taxi back, chris went out to the bar we were at the previous evening and i showered and read my book. Bed 2-3am!
Terrific day.

Just had the loudest thunder ever i jumped while writing this!!!
xxxx