Alright, so where were we? Right, so we hop in this tuk-tuk wondering when exactly the other shoe is going to drop....20 baht for four stops just can't be true. Well, we made it to the first destination, the Standing Buddha. I will let you imagine what that might be, but it is just a really tall (100 feet) golden Buddha. After checking that out for a few moments we hopped back on the waiting tuk-tuk. The catch soon followed. Instead of moving onto the next destination, I don't even remember what it was supposed to be, we stopped outside of a tailor shop, and the driver told us to take a quick look. Ah, here in lies the rub. Our assumption is that the driver gets some kind of commission just by bringing people into these shops. So we went in and tried our best to ignore one of the proprietors, who wasn't even Thai. Might have been Lebanese. He was pretty pushy, but after a few moments we ducked out. The driver gave a sheepish grin at our coming out empty handed. It wasn't finished there though. Next stop was a jewelry store. A woman working there immediately came to our side, looking to make a sale. I am not sure if any readers remember, but what I have used as a trick before is this: when asked where I am from, I say South Africa, in hopes that it might dampen expectations (lots of people associate the US with money). So this lady asks dad where we hail from, and he replied South Africa, to which she went "oooohhh, lots of diamonds there"! Whoops. We extracted ourselves after a few moments anyway.
Deciding that enough was enough, we told the driver to take us to our preferred stop, Wat Pho, and just leave it there. He got his 20 baht and whatever commission, and we put an end to the bullshit. Now, Wat Pho is known for its Reclining Buddha, a massive statue set in a temple of Buddha reclining on one hand. Its pretty impressive actually. A nice touch was the soles of the feet (you walk a 360 around the statue), upon which there were several paintings. After checking out the Buddha we spent a couple hours strolling around the rest of the Temple Complex, which offered more ornate stupas and temples.
After getting our fill of Wat Pho we stepped out and walked for a brief while along the Chao Praya River, eventually coming to a small outdoor market which smelled of sea food and cooking meat. By then it began to sprinkle, and we decided to call it a day. We haggled with a few tuk-tuk drivers (Dad just won't settle sometimes) until we eventually got a guy who would drive us the (rather lengthy) trip back to the hotel for 200 baht. The price went up to to traffic conditions which, I have to admit, were pretty bad. After a somewhat harrowing drive back (that isn't the safest method of transport-no seat-belt, and you are exposed. Oh, and the driver is suicidal too). After resting shortly I went out for a quick bite to eat (Dad just snacks on stuff he cops off the airplane, not sure how he survives), and settled on some pork buns off the street from a very cute girl (lots of girls are cute here-one point to Thailand). I ate in the room and called it a wrap.
Which brings us to today. So first Dad wanted to get in his train museum (obligatory). Word was that there was a free-admission one just north of our hotel. So before leaving this morning he gave the front desk the places phone number (which he got from the internet) to call ahead and make sure it was open. They didn't even get an answering machine or anything. So that was encouraging. We set out anyway, for Dad just has to have his Train Porn. We took the Sky Train; a station is just a 10 minute walk up the road. Very impressed with that. Very clean, easy-to-use, tourist friendly, fast, and efficient. Our destination was the last stop on the line.
Earlier research told us this museum sat in the north-east corner of a large park (Chatuchuk Park) just outside the Sky Train Station. We cut through the park, which offered a nice, large green space, and seemed to be a place Bangkok residents like to come to escape the hustle and bustle. We eventually came to where we thought it might be and, low and behold, there it was, apparently open for business. Dad's luck held out. He was happy with that, so I left him to his own devices and we agreed to meet in two hours at the entrance to the park, leaving me to explore the Chatuchuk Market.
The Chatuchuk Market is a massive outdoor market, adjacent to the park, that operates on the weekends. When I say massive, I mean precisely that. I don't think I have ever been in such a big market place, save Istanbul's Grand Bazaar. This place was just brimming with people, Thai and tourist, coming to check the wares. And by that I mean everything. Whatever you wanted, this place had it. Clothes, food, souvenirs, purses, all kinds of this-and-that, even puppies and kittens, which I found a bit weird. So, there are stalls outside, but there are also huge covered portions, that are divided into mazes of passageways. I just did my thing, wandered about, taking in the scene. I wasn't really looking to buy anything, though the thought of buying a bandanna to wear over my face during a tuk tuk ride (did I mention that? Yeah, hope you enjoy exhaust fumes, dirt, sand, and any other kind of shit flying in your face), did cross my mind. The two hours went quick, but I explored much of the market. I was ready to take a breather anyway, walking in the beating sun was taking it out of me.
Met up with Dad, who seemed satisfied with his train museum, and we took the Sky Train back for a quick rest. After catching our breath, we hailed down a tuk-tuk driver to take us to the river front. After another bob-and-weave type drive through traffic, we found ourselves at the boat dock to cross the river, exactly where we wanted. Just across from that dock is Wat Arun, another famous temple complex recognized by its tall prang (a tower-like structure). It is the highest of its kind in Thailand. For a paltry six baht we, along with a few dozen others, piled onto a creaking craft for the short ride across.
And then we did our thing in Wat Arun. We spent the bulk of the time checking out the prang, which proved kind of exhausting actually. You can walk two levels up it, but the steps are incredibly steep, making walking up and down a bit nervy. Of course though, like much of the Buddhist architecture in the city, the prang was beautifully done, very ornate with amazing attention to detail. After that we looked around the rest of the complex, which didn't take too long. The prang is the main game in town in Wat Arun. With that we took the boat back across the river. After exiting a Thai gentleman said hello and just starting chatting us, recommending things to do and see around the city, as well as outside the city. Incredibly friendly guy (older, fifties maybe?), but we were both wondering what the hell he really wanted. Turns out nothing. Thai people are known for their friendliness, and it really shows sometimes. You can't let your guard down, but don't be surprised if someone is overly helpful, but then doesn't want a hand out. After thanking him and walking on, we hopped in a taxi, a real one this time, for the drive back to the room. I liked the driver, he helped me expand my Thai vocabulary from "hello" and "thank you" to include "sorry" and "English". But, as it were, here I am, tired, sun-beat, sweaty, probably smelly, and hungry. Great feeling. Gotta take care of the hunger bit though.
Hope this wasn't too much. Look here for more tomorrow.
Deciding that enough was enough, we told the driver to take us to our preferred stop, Wat Pho, and just leave it there. He got his 20 baht and whatever commission, and we put an end to the bullshit. Now, Wat Pho is known for its Reclining Buddha, a massive statue set in a temple of Buddha reclining on one hand. Its pretty impressive actually. A nice touch was the soles of the feet (you walk a 360 around the statue), upon which there were several paintings. After checking out the Buddha we spent a couple hours strolling around the rest of the Temple Complex, which offered more ornate stupas and temples.
After getting our fill of Wat Pho we stepped out and walked for a brief while along the Chao Praya River, eventually coming to a small outdoor market which smelled of sea food and cooking meat. By then it began to sprinkle, and we decided to call it a day. We haggled with a few tuk-tuk drivers (Dad just won't settle sometimes) until we eventually got a guy who would drive us the (rather lengthy) trip back to the hotel for 200 baht. The price went up to to traffic conditions which, I have to admit, were pretty bad. After a somewhat harrowing drive back (that isn't the safest method of transport-no seat-belt, and you are exposed. Oh, and the driver is suicidal too). After resting shortly I went out for a quick bite to eat (Dad just snacks on stuff he cops off the airplane, not sure how he survives), and settled on some pork buns off the street from a very cute girl (lots of girls are cute here-one point to Thailand). I ate in the room and called it a wrap.
Which brings us to today. So first Dad wanted to get in his train museum (obligatory). Word was that there was a free-admission one just north of our hotel. So before leaving this morning he gave the front desk the places phone number (which he got from the internet) to call ahead and make sure it was open. They didn't even get an answering machine or anything. So that was encouraging. We set out anyway, for Dad just has to have his Train Porn. We took the Sky Train; a station is just a 10 minute walk up the road. Very impressed with that. Very clean, easy-to-use, tourist friendly, fast, and efficient. Our destination was the last stop on the line.
Earlier research told us this museum sat in the north-east corner of a large park (Chatuchuk Park) just outside the Sky Train Station. We cut through the park, which offered a nice, large green space, and seemed to be a place Bangkok residents like to come to escape the hustle and bustle. We eventually came to where we thought it might be and, low and behold, there it was, apparently open for business. Dad's luck held out. He was happy with that, so I left him to his own devices and we agreed to meet in two hours at the entrance to the park, leaving me to explore the Chatuchuk Market.
The Chatuchuk Market is a massive outdoor market, adjacent to the park, that operates on the weekends. When I say massive, I mean precisely that. I don't think I have ever been in such a big market place, save Istanbul's Grand Bazaar. This place was just brimming with people, Thai and tourist, coming to check the wares. And by that I mean everything. Whatever you wanted, this place had it. Clothes, food, souvenirs, purses, all kinds of this-and-that, even puppies and kittens, which I found a bit weird. So, there are stalls outside, but there are also huge covered portions, that are divided into mazes of passageways. I just did my thing, wandered about, taking in the scene. I wasn't really looking to buy anything, though the thought of buying a bandanna to wear over my face during a tuk tuk ride (did I mention that? Yeah, hope you enjoy exhaust fumes, dirt, sand, and any other kind of shit flying in your face), did cross my mind. The two hours went quick, but I explored much of the market. I was ready to take a breather anyway, walking in the beating sun was taking it out of me.
Met up with Dad, who seemed satisfied with his train museum, and we took the Sky Train back for a quick rest. After catching our breath, we hailed down a tuk-tuk driver to take us to the river front. After another bob-and-weave type drive through traffic, we found ourselves at the boat dock to cross the river, exactly where we wanted. Just across from that dock is Wat Arun, another famous temple complex recognized by its tall prang (a tower-like structure). It is the highest of its kind in Thailand. For a paltry six baht we, along with a few dozen others, piled onto a creaking craft for the short ride across.
And then we did our thing in Wat Arun. We spent the bulk of the time checking out the prang, which proved kind of exhausting actually. You can walk two levels up it, but the steps are incredibly steep, making walking up and down a bit nervy. Of course though, like much of the Buddhist architecture in the city, the prang was beautifully done, very ornate with amazing attention to detail. After that we looked around the rest of the complex, which didn't take too long. The prang is the main game in town in Wat Arun. With that we took the boat back across the river. After exiting a Thai gentleman said hello and just starting chatting us, recommending things to do and see around the city, as well as outside the city. Incredibly friendly guy (older, fifties maybe?), but we were both wondering what the hell he really wanted. Turns out nothing. Thai people are known for their friendliness, and it really shows sometimes. You can't let your guard down, but don't be surprised if someone is overly helpful, but then doesn't want a hand out. After thanking him and walking on, we hopped in a taxi, a real one this time, for the drive back to the room. I liked the driver, he helped me expand my Thai vocabulary from "hello" and "thank you" to include "sorry" and "English". But, as it were, here I am, tired, sun-beat, sweaty, probably smelly, and hungry. Great feeling. Gotta take care of the hunger bit though.
Hope this wasn't too much. Look here for more tomorrow.
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