from LONDON to BANGKOK - around a Bit and Back Again!

Landed in Bangkok in the early hours (around 6am). We were met by our Tour East rep – Mr Mac! Couldn’t understand a single word he said, apart from he was to pick us up at 6.30 the day after next to take us to our next destination – Chiang Mai. Most encouraging! Oh well, we got the jist eventually – “Take taxi to hotel, take some time for sleeping, he call us 12 noon” – apparently to try to sell us some Tour East adventures, trips or something or other.We were then taken to our Bangkok hotel, the Montien Riverside: a 5 star hotel located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

On our arrival at the Montien Riverside we were greeted five star stylee. The doormen looking like something out of a 1920’s African safari with their comical hats, and the hotel staff in their elegant dresses or smart suits. Admitedly we felt like absolute scrubbers and a tad out of place! Everyone dressed to impress and us standing there in our shorts looking like we were lost. Everyone was so polite and greeted us with what we now know to be the customery Thai welcome – the hands together in prayer position and slight incline of the head with the greeting ’sawatdee kaa’. Top shit.

We were then shown to our room, the bellboy bringing up our luggage and then showing us whats what and obviously expecting a tip.

Having just arrived, all we had was large currency and travellers cheques and had to stand there smiling until he buggered off! Not at all awkward.

Next thing we knew we were fast asleep, knackered from the long 12 hour plane journey, with only Scooby Doo 2, The Boy Next Door and Spy Kids 2 to keep us entertained – cheers China Airlines, and the the large headed Chinese guy who blocked SA’s head the whole journey. We were awoken at 12 noon by the Macmeister, enquiring as to what trips we wanted to go on. We chose the evening dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya river.

We then threw on our trollies and headed down to the pool. The heat was amazing, sun was beating down and the pool was empty. We alternated between swimming and sun bathing, in just half an hour SA had tan lines.

Being the wimp she is, we then decided to go out and have a mooch around town. We walked out of the hotel and down the long driveway and were confronted with a large road, so decided we had better ask directions. The hotel consierge grabbed a big map and drew on all the best places to go and eat. As it turned out, the Montien Riverside has a sister hotel in the middle of Bangkok, and they offer a free mini bus service between hotels.

We took the mini bus to the sister hotel, just at the foot of the Patpong road, and made our way up, amid them setting up shop for the night. Along the road we came across a DVD shop, offering folder loads of DVD’s for around a 100 baht. Having flicked through we ended up buying about 5, and made plans to come back again when we’d had a chance to cash some travellers cheques.
We headed in the direction the consierge suggested to get some food. Crossed several busy roads as it began to pour with rain, slipping off our flip flops whilst dodging early evening traffic, and fearing for our lives we found a little courtyard with one restaurant open. As it turns out, one person spoke very little english and all the clientele were Thai locals. Just the type of place we wanted to find. We ordered a few dishes and some rice, each costing around 30 pence each, I had my customery four of five fantas, together totalling to around a pound. The food was superb! Tom Yum Goong, Spicy pork and Chilli Chicken. For us this marked the real beginning of our thai adventure!

On heading back to the Patpong Road, we saw a huge transformation. It was dark, the stalls were all set up and the whole road was hustle and bustle. Music was coming from the clubs on the roadside, locals were ??vying???? for your attention to sell you whatever it was they were selling??. this ranged from ornaments, hand bags and pretty lamps, to bootleg designer shoes, clothes and bags, to the most up-to-date dvd releases for 100 Baht each, little over a pound. We began snapping up some deals for souvenirs and gifts, nervously getting use to the bartering that is expected.

Soon we ran out of money and had to grab the mini bus back to our hotel to grab some travellers cheques. After that it was right back into central Bangkok for more shopping. Alot of time was spent going through the many dvd’s they have to offer.