Bangkok Sunrise

Ko Shan Road
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Having been in Bangkok a few years ago I wasn't expectng much this time around but decided to stop on after my harrowing bus journey from Koh Tao. I managed to wander about for about 10 minutes and found myself a nice hotel just off Ko Shan Road so checked myself in for two nights.

Most of my time in Bangkok was spent browsing the many stalls off Ko Shan Road the surrouding area as well as drinking a few beers or fruit shakes to cool down! Ko Shan Road is a great place to people watch - everything from people getting tattoos and hair braided to vendors selling fried insects and pad thai going on - it really is a wacky street. Several make shift bars line the pavements with folk sitting around on stools or indeed the ground drinking vodka or gin etc from buckets (regular sand castle buckets)!!

everything from people getting tattoos and hair braided to vendors selling fried insects and pad thai going on - it really is a wacky street

My kind of happy hour!
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I also took in the Chatukhak Weekend Market which was an experience in itself. Hundreds of stalls cover a massive area about 1k wide selling everything from postcards to clothes to furniture. You can pretty much name your price in any of the stalls which is the case all over Thailand. The best tactic I have found so far is to at least half the price that they are offering you and work your way from there, hasn't failed me yet so far!

As yesterday was the Queen's Jubillee I decided to visit the Royal Palace ground to see what was going on. Once I got there I was informed I wasn't dressed appropriately so had to go to their 'borrow clothes' stalll to get a lovely navy skirt and over sized mans shirt to cover up - sexy!! The palace grounds are extremely impressive - much for so that the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda in Cambodia. Outside the grounds several stalls were set up and locals were picnicing all over. The trees were covered in fairy lights and local thais were wearing yellow and / or blue t shirts - royal colours. It clearly was a big celebration for them.

Royal Palace Grounds
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After that it was time to board my overnight bus to Chiang Mai and after 13 hours which included a breakdown on the motorway I arrive here at 7.30am this morning! Health and safety regulations clearly do not apply in this country - when the driver was fixing the bus with some locals who stopped to help, everyone pilled off the bus in pitch dark and groups started playing cards on the inside lane, as car were speeding by!!! It was an experience for sure!

Needless to say I was more than happy to see my room when I arrived here this morning.  Two english guys I made the journey up with from Bangkok are doing the trek with me also - we have yet to meet the rest of our group. The trek begins and 9am tomorrow morning so more to come once I get back from that - if I make it alive!