AWAY FROM THE BRIGHT LIGHTS AND TOWARDS THE CULTURE

On Tuesday morning we were really disappointed with how late we had woke up because we didn't have enough time to go and see the sights of Bangkok other than the stretch of neon bars and classic 'gap yah' shops and stalls that is Khao San Road. Because of this we decided to get up early on Wednesday to squeeze as much culture out of Bangkok as we possibly could.

We got out the guide books and asked other tourists that we had met about where to go and what to do. Myself, Deeni, Tegan and Joy considered a 15 minute walk in the heat to Bangkok's Grand Palace from our hotel but instead resorted in bartering for a Tuk Tuk. We got it for 80 baht in the end which is just under £2. 

When we got near the entrance of the grand palace we noticed loads of people buying material to wrap around them, although we'd done our research and knew that to enter a temple in Thailand you have to cover your shoulders, knees, chest and sometimes you have to wear closed shoes. Bit annoying in the heat but it's well worth it. Deeni had brought a thin denim style wrap around dress which looks like a fashionable day time dressing gown. However the security at the temple (fashion police as I named them) refused to let Deeni in and got a bit angry saying 'This is for showering and sleeping! No!' We then had to wait for Deeni to rent some clothes for a deposit of 400 baht. The best part is that she looked about 60 years old in her new clothes! 

Deeni and her lovely rented clothes (Left) myself and Joy (Right) 

The temple was incredible and had so many beautifully decorated buildings. We also got to go inside some where you couldn't take photos - a highlight was the Emerald Buddah. 

The Grand Palace was aptly named and I could share loads of photos of amazing architecture but I'd be here all day! This is a definite place to check out if ever you're in Bangkok, definitely worth the 550 Baht (£11) to get in. However it was a big shame that Teegan wasn't feeling so great when we were only half way around the palace so she hopped in a tuk tuk and went back to the hotel. 

Myself Deeni and Joy carried on the adventure but first stopped for lunch where I had Pad Thai Goong, (Fried noodles with prawns) which was arroy mai! (Delicious). 

While we were in the cafe we had wifi and contacted some of the ETAs that we had made friends with. Harriet decided to join us so she could see the rest of the sights on our agenda. However after waiting about an hour we decided to leave because we couldn't get hold of her and no one else had her number. Sorry Harriet! (Turns out she got a bit lost whilst finding us and decided to have a wander and then head back). 

We decided that we wanted to go on a boat ride around Bangkok so we could see a lot in a short time, but also I just really enjoy boat trips. We had a quick google and check on the map and found our way down to the pier. After haggling with a tourist agent selling boat trips we settled on a 1hour 30 boat ride around Bangkok with a stop at the temple, Wat Arun. We had our own boat which was really exciting although a bit scary with how shallow the boat was, definitley thought water was going to come in a good few times! Before coming to Bangkok I had read someone's blog that said after a boat ride around Bangkok they got a rare tropical disease and they thought it was because of dirty water from the Kongs (canals) going into their mouth. I decided to say as little as possible for a change to save myself from every possible disease...

Our boat

It was really interesting to see Bangkok from the water as in such close proximity are wooden huts, lovely houses and beautiful temples. 

Me and our lovely boat driver

We stopped at Wat Arun and the driver told us that we had 25 minutes, so we rushed to get tickets and soon began the ascent up the steep steps of the temple. I'm not afraid of heights at all but in a long skirt it's quite scary to climb such steep steps and I suddenly got the fear. What if I fall down?! I would definitley die from this height. A bit panicked we made it to the top and were met by a man at the top who said he had been stuck up there for 30 minutes because he was too scared to climb down, this really helped my nerves seeing as we only had 25 minutes there altogether, not to use messing about at the top of a temple! I tried to ignore my new fear and took in the view. 

I'm so annoyed that these steps don't even look that steep in photos, I promise they were scary!

FIRST FEW DAYS IN BANGKOK

So the journey began at Birmingham airport. After saying goodbye to my family I went to meet Emilia, another ETA who was on both of my flights which I was very happy about! This is our Emirates plane, nice one Birimingham for the sunset send off! 

I'm not normally one to say i'd actually enjoy sitting in one seat with little space to move with strangers in the sky for 6 plus hours, but hats of to Emirates, they hit the nail on the head with comfort and gadgets even in economy. I got a little too over excited about the starry ceiling and the map which shows you where you are flying. The free drinks also don't hurt!

When we got to Dubai it was actually only about a five minute walk to the gate so we grabbed some breakfast in Giraffe and were shortly onto the next plane. The 2 and a half hour stop over was a great decision.

So over the second leg of the journey I attempted to sleep again and failed nearly as miserably as the first flight which wasn't ideal. The other thing that wasn't ideal was my urge to sing along to Frozen for the whole plane to 'enjoy?'. Well I couldn't resist so people around me might have heard me whisper most of the lyrics, the lucky things...

This flight was also exciting because it was a bigger plane and with this came a camera on the tail of the plane which I could look at on my screen. AMAZING.

Landing in Bangkok was made even more special than the tail camera. Because of time difference (Bangkok being 6 hours ahead of the UK) It was as if we had almost been travelling for 24 hours. Meaning we saw another amazing sunset which I managed to get a photo of that looks like a screensaver, even if I do say so myself! Thank you for the lovely welcome Bangkok! 

After being hit by the heat and instantly melting, myself and Emilia met up with Joy in the airport who had arrived an hour before from the Philippines where she had been visiting her sister before the TET program for 2 weeks. We hopped into a big taxi while the taxi men laughed at us for bringing so much luggage, rude. We are here for 3 months! When we arrived on Khao San Road I was majorly overwhelmed and slightly scared. It was so busy, loud, bright with the lights and lets face it, tacky. But this tourist hot spot was to be home for the next 3 nights and the bars did look quite fun. We checked into the D&D Inn with the choice of a noisy room with a window or a quiet room without. We took the windowless cell option and that it was! Although it was clean and importantly cheap so we were happy, we were only going to use it to sleep anyway so who cares?! We got connected onto the wifi and saw that other ETA's at the hotel had posted on the TET Facebook page about meeting up to go for a drink so myself Emilia and Joy went down to 'Lucky Beer' to join the big group of ETA's for a cocktail. This was going to be a night with a couple of drinks before an early ish bed time because of the long flight. But oh no. This is not how Bangkok works. After a crazy tuk tuk ride and 17 of us seeing a ping pong show (bizarre and innocence destroying is the only way I can describe it without going into too much detail) we went back to Khao San Road to a bar where we bought our first cocktail buckets. It turns out that in the day this bar is in fact non existent but is instead a clothes stall. We then ended up at 'The Club', which is probably not 'The' best club to be at but nevertheless it was a pretty good night.

Absolute nutter, tuk tuks or bumper cars?

Obligatory terrified on a tuk tuk selfie

The strongest bucket of alcohol ever

Its safe to say that no one made it down for breakfast the next morning, which may have been because of the effects of the buckets or because in windowless room there is no sunlight to wake you up! We were pretty annoyed that we'd missed most of the day because we were in Bangkok early to see everything! We decided to leave venturing out to the temples until Wednesday and instead cure ourselves with some food and mani-pedis. Who is going to say no to a manicure and a pedicure all for £6?! Not me! 

  

This is my chicken fried rice at Sunrise Taco on Khao San Road which was a good safe bet, didn't feel up to being adventurous or trying any street food at that point. 

We ventured up to the roof pool at our hotel and found Jess who will be teaching at a school not far from mine. Then it was dinner time and a group of us found a cute restaurant to get some Thai food. 

I'm sure my meal was called Pad Ci Eew (I think that's how you spell it!) and it was delicious. Noodles, chicken and vegetables with a soy sauce flavour. Mmmm :D 

We then headed to a bar and tried some of the touristy delights that we later realised no Thai people eat, because they are gross. Say hi to my scorpion friend. 

So you can probably guess from my face that scorpion isn't something I'll be trying again! 

So we were ready for a change from the bright neon lights of Khao San Road: 

One of the group suggested we walk down one of the dodgy looking alleys to see what was on the other side. I tell you what the grass was greener! We found the cutest street which was still bustling but it was more relaxed and pretty so we settled down in a bar with live music. 

When we went back onto Khao San it suddenly felt even tackier and in your face. Regardless we headed back to the pop up bar which has a building site behind it as you can see in my blurry photo of the DJ and digger! 

I then bumped into another ETA, Dip who by a great coincidence I actually met 5 years ago on holiday. 

We all finished the night with a trip to 'The Club' with entry at 150 Baht (£3) it's not bad seeing as you get a drink as well! Kind of reminds me of Birmingham's Gatecrasher, just a bit shabbier, more Thai and without the brummy accent. Of course we also had to sample some street food.. 

The best spring rolls in the world

Myself Deeni and Tegan were the quietest we'd been since meeting while eating these! 

Freshly cooked chicken skewer (on second thought not actually sure how long the raw chicken had be sitting there but hey go I was fine!). While we were enjoying chicken a street dj started up, here's a snapshot of Harriet and Tegan loving life. 

Khao San road leaves no one unscathed