Our first full day in Bangkok started with a visit to the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew (temple of emerald Buddha), Wat Pho (temple of reclining Buddha). We walked from our guest house to these places so we were staying in a really good location. So easy to be able to walk and not have to get into price wars with tuktuk drivers. In the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew we had to hire clothes to make us more suitable for visiting these sites. The clothes were so fugly and hot to wear over the top of our other clothes.
Outside Wat Pho we met a tuktuk driver who for 40 baht told us he would take us to see three other tourist sites, plus a suit factory and finally to China Town which is where we wanted to go. As it was mid afternoon and we were told China Town doesn't kick off with food until 5pm we took this guy up on his offer. It was hilarious. He took us to two temples and then to the suit factory shop, where we didn't buy anything. From here we got taken to the last temple where he said he would wait and then take us to China Town. We came out of the temple and he was gone!! Turns out the cost of getting from the marble temple to China Town is about 60 baht and as he would make no commission from us as we didn't buy a suit it would not be worth his while. We got a metered taxi ourselves and felt very satisfied that we got a free afternoon of sight seeing.
The food in Bangkok is amazing, especially in China Town where there are loads of options. Where we were staying (close to Khao San Road) is touristy and you can only find Pad Thai and spring rolls for street food. In China Town however we started with some afternoon snacks of pork dumpling, then chicken satay skewer, pork gyoza and tempura prawns. So delicious. After sampling the best of China town we got a boat ride back to our area. This is how some of the locals commute to work - by taking a river boat. Very cheap too, only cost us 30 baht.
Our second day in Bangkok saw us get up early ready for our 7am pick up to the floating markets. The markets are just a tourist trap - many years ago they may have been an authentic means for locals to get fresh produce, but these days they are purely run for the benefit of tourists. We spent the morning at the markets, not buying any trashy souvenirs but an over priced pad Thai until it was time to head back to Bangkok. The afternoon was spent getting laundry done and doing some more trip planning with a cold beer.
We were only in Bangkok a short while and we loved it. We will be back towards the end of our trip so watch out China Town!
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