Busy Bangkok

Spot the funny character!
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Sawasdee kha! (Hello)! We arrived on Wednesday at about 2pm before getting bus to Khoa San road (the cheap backpacker area of Bangkok). It was really hot at 32 degrees but was raining quite hard.  Bangkok is a really busy smelly city, but you can find real peace and serenity in all the wats (temples-of which there are over 300) . We've discovered that there are some really nice people who try and help you as much as they can or others who just try to rip you off! Chris hasnt been able to work out which is which yet!

Standing Buddha at Wat Intharawihan
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On Wednesday, we just settled into our guesthouse (with a nice pool on the rooftop) and headed out for some nice traditional food. We then wondered around the market, discovering delicious banana pancakes along our way for 15B! (about 20p!). We then sat and had a drink in a bar and headed for bed as we were both exhausted.

Probably why everyone was looking at us!

On Thursday, we got up and had breakfast in our guesthouse before heading out to Siam square (the big shopping area). We managed to figure out how to get ourselves on a Thai bus, where we were serenaded by the bus conductor and the bus nearly drove off before Suzie got on! We wondered around the shops, bought some essentials and met a very nice Thai man who directed us to where we could buy train tickets to Chang Mai. Then we got the Skytrain down to the bottom of the Chao Phraya River (again all by ourselves) and then got a river taxi with all the Thai people up the river back to where we were staying. We got back to our guesthouse and went for a swim and then checked out to stay in a cheaper place for the night.  In the evening we went to China town by TuK-tuK ( Three wheeled taxis with crazy drivers) who weave their way through the 14 lane roads at full speed.  We had a yummy dinner and then headed back to our guesthouse. After a wander round and a beer we were again ready for bed!

46m Buddha at Wat Pho
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Friday (today) we got up early, found some pineapple from a stall for breakfast and tuk-tukked around to Wat Intharawihan, with a huuuuuuge golden buddha and a Jehovahs witness guy telling us that the Thais have a faith but it is most definately the wrong one! Very strange man. Next stop was Wat Thai, then Wat Benchamabophit, then the Wat Saket and the golden mound, with views all over the city and then the Grand palace (amazing) and Wat Pho with an even bigger golden buddha (46m long)! Then we got the river taxi back up the river, and half way through realised we were in the area reserved for monks (probably why everyone was looking at us).

The Grand Palace
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We're now about to get the overnight train to Chang Mai where we are staying for a few days and are going trekking on elephants and rafts. Update in a few days