Bangkok knew I was a mess, trusting in me and keeping me moving with those free MRT rides! Sanam Chai held the key! With only one place in mind for the day, Bangkok needed to show me some surprises because that Thai era had already kicked off! 'Wat Phra Kaew' was the one but it all started in Silom! No, I would never sleep on Bangkok but the 'Reclining Buddha' would do!
Feeling slightly hungover I did, Bangkok saw me moving again before a respectable time. With breakfast taken care of, I found myself on the MRT heading towards Sanam Chai Station. I had lucked out because that very station was on the same line as Si Lom was. The heat of the day had kidnapped my senses, I wanted to make the 'Grand Palace' my first stop of the day. Now, I had a very loose plan for Bangkok, I was playing with my own time and I had to trust the process. I had dressed well, donning my cream cotton long sleeve shirt and baggy trousers made from the same material would leave me in good stead. I passed through those gates after going on a wild goose chase as I had gone through an underground walkway to reach this Bangkok icon. I didn't need to buy any elephant baggy trousers because I had already learned a lesson about modesty in the Philippines! I would eventually learn that my desired photo spot was called 'Wat Phra Kaew' otherwise known as 'The Temple of the Emerald Buddha'. Oh, I was about to be truly amazed!
I was able to find those photo spots with the quickness, I was blown away by the amount of gold I could see! A Thai travel dream had come true, I marvelled at those stunning structures, each golden spired roof left me speechless! I was able to weave around those photo hungry tourists because I didn't want to spend all day in one place! I walked through one of the temple buildings, taking my shoes off was no problem, I wanted to follow the rules and be a good tourist. To be honest, I wanted my photo from a similar angle as those online had schooled me, it was all about that famous angle! Satisfied with that unstoppable temple, I followed the signs for the 'exit' to find the western style 'Chakri Maha Prasat' building. I was shocked to see such a western looking building but I wasn't mad because it looked great! I took that second spectacle in before exiting the vast 'Grand Palace'. My Bangkok morning was just getting started, although I wanted to see the famous 'Reclining Buddha!' 'My Bangkok Era' had only just started! Wat A?
Sanam Chai saw me walking around in circles, the previous nights antics had caught up with me. I kept on moving closer to 'Wat Pho' to see the 'Reclining Buddha', another iconic golden icon that I deserved to see. I was done with the sunshine, I told myself this day spot would be the final during daylight hours. Paying my entrance fee without hassle, I wasn't bitter paying those coins because that temple was immaculate. I had the pleasure walking around those many intricate designed parts of the temple, every single detail took me to another dimension. I took my time but kept an eye on those digits at the same time, I wanted to 'recline' but knew that I would need to draw some strength from that docile looking golden buddha. Would I be able to find it? I really needed to keep my head in the game, it was no actual joke! Unbothered as that buddha looked, I made sure that I got my photos once again but in a respectful manner because I'm no hypocrite. Was I able to see those famous four 'Chedis?' Bet your bottom baht, I did! Go!
Serving the most beautiful patterns, I was saw several of those famous 'Chedi' structures, I was in love with 'Wat Pho!' Was I feeling reckless? I wanted to spend my coins to get my cards read, I wanted to know what the future held for me! Keeping an open mind, I put my trust in the cards and in the person who would act as translator during the reading. Those cards didn't lie, detailing that I would be getting more responsibility from my job and that I needed to keep on pursuing my dreams. I was sceptical but agreed with some of the cards, I wanted to trust those cards that I had picked. Yes, I found that 'unbothered looking' buddha before I had given hope. The sleek and sulking buddha paid those tourists no mind whilst she gave us all the side-eye, an eye for an eye, babes! I gawped along the walkway, my eyes were transfixed on that reclining buddha with an accomplished feeling, I knew what my mood would be from that moment! Unbothered! Heading towards Sanam Chai Station, knowing the night ahead would be major!
My friend, Andy had not long arrived from Pattaya, we met at my hostel in Silom for our first drink of the evening. I had literally had the quickest shower and had changed with the quickness, I was ready for my second night-time experience in Bangkok, Thailand! Would I be able to survive this night-out? I was up for the challenge! Heading for a pint, we chose an Irish bar before heading towards Chinatown. It had been a hot minute since we had last shared a drink in our shared expat country, we were feeling that Thailand vibe good and proper! Known as one of the largest Chinatown's in the world, I am going to leave the particulars for another time because 'Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner' deserves its moment to shine! After finishing our food, we headed out to another bar to hatch our next plan. Finding a cracking beer deal on the main street, we supped on those beverages with much to say! We put the world to rights! Where would we head to next? Tuk tuk she better not? Bangkok saw me boarding my first Tuk tuk! Madness!
Silom had been my chosen place to stay whilst I was in Bangkok, I had enough funds for the night but Andy needed to replenish his paper! Heading back to his hotel for a brief pitstop, I later found that his hotel was in a convenient location, placed near our next watering hole! Khaosan Road was a place I had vowed never to visit, but you know when in Thailand it has to be done! I had a scorpion snack in mind, was I mad? Yes! The energy changed the closer we got to Khaosan Road, I wanted to at least step into that 'mecca' for backpackers. How the other half travel? Very that! The noise was unbelievable! Khaosan for me was doing a lot, I needed to sample some delights and that we both did! Just which you don't need to know! Oh, I found my scorpion and it was dry as sand, I didn't enjoy the taste but it was another thing I wanted to achieve! This 'era' saw me doing too much! Those bars catered to a certain tourist and we weren't that kind, the people watching made for champion viewing though! Pleb central? Yes!
Khaosan Road had been a lot, we needed to take a break from the noise. Mary Jane, who? Thailand played by her own rules and as tourists with a moral conscience we reciprocated with respect. Fading fast, it was like walking down easy street whilst the chaos of that party street played out. Looking on the brighter side of life, our night out in Bangkok took a slower gear. We weren't hazy, everything was bang on the mark, this South East Asian country stands as one of the most progressive systems in the world. Breezing by without any wrongs needing to right, that brief intermission was a relaxed affair. Bangkok's ways kept the noise out, navigating a relaxed pace reminded me of a time spent in a certain European country. Make your own mind up, we knew that taking the time to think wasn't a bad thing! Where would our final stop of the night be? As we closed that blessed chapter, it was time to make some enquiries as we needed some help. Reset and ready, we headed back into that epic pantomime that was Khaosan Road!
A 'Ping Pong Show?!' Yes, I had been to see a Benidorm institute, 'Sticky Vicky' during that Spanish holiday in 2022 but Bangkok was about to turn things up a few notches! We had already asked around for details about the nearest 'show' and we were introduced to a man who took us on the longest ever Tuk tuk ride ever! We arrived at this shady looking club, it was questionable to say the very least but when in Rome! Andy and I waited for the first act to appear and for me I wasn't bothered by the nature of the show, it was a one-off. Well, I will never look at an empty bottle of Pepsi the same again, talk about a refill! Not the kazoo? Yes, another moment in time, that was a musical masterpiece! I couldn't deal with Andy's face, he was not doing well! Where was this club even located? We headed out because it was shady, so shady! That establishment was luckily around the corner from my hostel, that was a blessing in disguise! The day and the night had been long, it had been a lot of things, I had sopped up every experience! Oh, Bangkok!
Bangkok's A Vibe!
Desperately Seeking Adventure
