22 December, 2012

*1222 - bangkok

It made sense to swing by Thailand since we were all the way in Southeast Asia already.  And the contrast between Bangkok and Singapore was remarkable.  

Whizzing around in tuk-tuks: quickly discovered it was cute but a bad idea and switched over to metered taxis.


Man or woman?  We watched the ladyboy cabaret show, albeit nervously on the edge of our seats which happened to be the front row, dead center seats.  Audience participation in a ladyboy show?  Sure gave us the jitters.  

 

And of course we sailed the Chao Phraya river on a long tailed boat.

 

 

This cute little river merchant came by and ended up selling fresh pomelo to the ang moh couple behind us.  I was like UHHHH are you SURE you want to eat ROOM TEMPERATURE RAW EXPOSED FRUIT on the Chao Phraya with your delicate non-Asian tummy bacteria?  Perhaps they were armed with preemptive charcoal tablets like we were.


Wat Arun, temple of the dawn.  Fascinatingly decorated with bits of porcelain, apparently brought by Chinese boats.  Dizzyingly steep, made my knees wobble especially on the way down.

 


The reclining buddha's toes!  

     

And a very.  Eyeopening.  Experience.

 

View from the observation deck of our hotel.  Baiyoke Sky Hotel, the tallest hotel in Bangkok.  The daytime view of Bangkok is a lot better than the nighttime view.  We went up there the first night, peered around, shrugged and went to sleep.  And lo and behold, woke up to this lovely view!



Apparently the best mango sticky rice street stall.  I could not tell you where it was, T led us there.


I looove mango sticky rice.  Especially with the little crunchy things by the side.


Also on the agenda was our first Thai massage ever (involving a roomful of Thai massage ladies screaming with laughter at our pain), other touristy sights, lots of mystery street food (just point and consume and down charcoal pills after), lots of really good non-mystery non-street food, and realising why girls in Singapore head to Bangkok for the sole reason of shopping.