Mark Smalley

Monday, 28 Feb - Bangkok
A simple breakfast is included in our 1540B a night guesthouse: bread and jam, muesli, melon, porridge, freshly cooked eggs on request.
We breakfast at 0845, after an odd night of getting used to the difference of 6 hours and 25c. I slept 3 hours, was awake 4 hours, slept 3 hours.
We're off to explore the city and catch the modern skytrain(50B for a day-pass) for a few stops down to the river where 10B each takes us from Tha Sathon upstream to Tha Banglamphu. A short walk along the river leads us to Santichaiprakan park where we watch some old folk doing their morning exercise. Thai Chi? They waive at us to join in, an offer we can't refuse. Lots of amusement on both sides: we're pleased to join in, they're pleased to have us.
We carry on and, stopping at a crossroads, get approached by a guy, and later another who joins in, who're keen to 'help' us get a tuk-tuk for 40B to take us around a few site, presumably taking us to a couple of jewellery shops along the way. We give this a miss.
End up at the Grand Palace where 250B each gives us entrance (after Marijke was required to borrow a garment to cover her shoulders) to an amazing collection of architecture, most of which is covered with gold. So much that you get saturated after a couple of hours and feel guilty about it. A couple of 20B fruit drinks and later on a little 60B microwaved green curry with rice in the little cafe. We move on to Wat Pho - entry a bargain at 20B each - where a 45m long Buddha reclines. Wat Pho also houses the massage school, which we catch before closing for a 30m session at 180B each. I ask whether they have any blind masseurs as they are reputed to be the best, relying mainly on what they feel not what they see. They don't have any but kindly offer to blind one of the sighted ones for an extra 100B. Just kidding. Almost everything gets kneaded, pulled or trampled on. Worth another visit for a longer session. It's 1800 and we head for the river where we wait for about 15 min for the boat to arrive. Half a dozen young monks in orange garb wait with us. The sun is setting just across the river, close to Wat Arun, the temple of dawn.
Before dinner I get a haircut, nice and short, for 150+50B tip. Takes her 30 min of close attention to detail.
Eats this evening are at a place close to the guesthouse. Amongst some other dishes, we manage to order 3 soups, all part of a stay in an unfamiliar country. Friendly people relieve us of 460B incl a litre of beer in a pitcher. No complaints, apart from the off-key live (western) music.

posted by Mark Smalley @ 4:05 PM