Tuesday 28 October 2008

First Few Days In Bangkok

We arrived in Bangkok early hours of Monday morning, staying at the Wendy Guest House http://www.wendyguesthouse.com/evos/front/bin/home.phtml
The first room they put us in was so small we asked to be moved. Once we had got our suitcases in we couldn't move. They were very obliging and moved us straight away at no extra cost. I cannot praise the people that work here enough, they were fantastic. For just 1,000 BAHT a day, which includes breakfast, this is well worth staying in if you are in the area. It is a walking distance from the big stores, MBK and Siam Centre.
Talking about stores, we needed to have foot massages as we literally shopped until we dropped. Visited jewelry factories, had made to measure clothes and bought tons of clothes from MBK. MBK can get a bit tedious though, with five floors of shops and nearly everything is the same. Very easy to get lost in there too which we did on numerous occasions.

Even with all the shopping we did we managed to get a few trips in. Hiring a taxi for the day was great. You needed to bartar with them a bit but we managed to get our driver for the day for 2,000 BAHT. He took us to the Floating Market and to see and ride the elephants.
Floating market was a bit like MBK, everything was the same and the boat driver stopped at every stall.
Our elephant ride was an experience but I doubt if we will do it again. The trainer has a hook like tool that he waves in front of the elephant and we actually saw another trainer bashing another elephant very hard on the head. I know they have to be trained but this was upsetting for me.
I really did not like the city (I am a country lass). It was very polluted and smoggy, you could actually smell the fumes walking down the street. We drove around in a "tuk tuk" for our local shopping and that was an experience. They weave in and out of the cars - not for the nervous!

7 comments:

createascene said...

Wow, what an adventure you had! Lots of wonderful memories there. Thanks for sharing these pictures--love the one of you on the elephant! -- Jeannie

jealousydesign said...

Sounds like you had a lovely adventure! The photos is great!

Catherinette Rings said...

You had a great time . I lived in Bangkok for a few months and it is an Awesome city with the great ever smiling kindness of the thai people.

Anonymous said...

Great photos - I'd never heard of the floating market, but I kind of want to go see it now! I look forward to hearing more of your adventures.

Anna said...

What an experience you're having! So amazing! Have a great time!

Victoria said...

Looks like you had a pretty cool time. Loved seeing all the pictures!

Bangkok Hotels said...

I have ever go to floating market since April 2009. I have found and tasted many kind of thai fruits such as mango, durian,rambotan,pomalo,coconut. Morover i have seen thai villagers and leraned to their simply life. And your traveling blog have make me remind to floating market. Thank you for sharing your story....