Trip to Thailand

Check out the Chatucuk weekend market (watch your wallet); cross the river on a longtail boat to Wat Arun; visit the Royal Barges (100 Baht to take photos); eat Thai food at the WTC food hall;

Quick Tips:

If you're going to indulge in a massage and/or facial, do so on your last day in the country. And remember you're on vacation - so even though the city seems to be bustling about you, take it easy!

Best Way To Get Around:

The BTS Skytrain is the most central and least congested means of getting around Bangkok. It's reasonably priced - depending on how long you intend to stay in the city, a 3 day pass is recommended. You also get a handy map with a mini-guide book. But there may be some walking involved. Taxis are also alright - but remember it's rush hour traffic most of the time in Bangkok and insist on the meter when going to the airport (you save about 100 - 200 Baht). Tuk-tuks can be stressful, agree on price and destination beforehand.

A spacious bathroom, with handy "nightlight" for toe-stubbing free, midnight nature calls. In-room safe. Cable/satellite TV. Air-con. Remote control panel for lights, TV & air-con.

We had the buffet dinner. A varied combination of starters - salad, seafood, soups. The main courses varied from Thai to Indian - even a Sherpard's pie! Dessert was plentiful.

A multi-layer department store with just about everything. There''s quite a wide selection for different budgets - especially for those of us who cringe at prices at home (Norway). Good quality (and name brand) clothing at set prices - no bargaining activity here. Staff are more than willing to help and most can speak English.

There''s a permanent sale of sorts on the 6th floor - from Tissot watches to baby push carts with discounts from 5% to 70%.

Once you''ve made your selection in say, British India, you''ll need to follow the salesperson to the cashier. Tourists get a 5% discount when initially paying (you just have to fill out a very short survey form) - no passport necessary. And then you get a 5% discount coupon for your next purchase. Then you can either lug the stuff around to Calvin Klein, or drop them at Bag Deposit.

When you''re done for the day head for the VAT refund (7%) area, in the store, if you''ve spent + 2000 Baht. Passports are requested, but I only had my driver''s licence which they accepted. Check the receipts next to the form before signing (as the purchases are recorded in Thai). Remember to fill out the form on the same day as the purchases. You get your actual refund (minus 100 Baht service fee) at the airport - be sure to follow the signs before going to check-in, and have the purchases on hand for inspection.

On our first trip to Bangkok, we tried to get a tuk-tuk driver to drive us to the river bank to get across to Wat Arun. All we got was "No, special holiday, Wat closed today. Special monk holiday. I take you to other Wat--only 5 Baht." Needless to say, we never got there. The sense of defeat bouyed us on, as our next trip to Thailand gave us a second chance.

We hopped onto the BTS skytrain to the end of the Silom line. A short walk from the station was a boat terminal of sorts. We paid about 4 Baht each for a ticket to ride the boat up the river. There was no indication of how regularly the boats came, or which one to take. We simply waited and hopped on the one that seemed to be going up river.

Make sure you keep your ticket stub (as they do check), or buy a ticket on board. The boat trip was a noisy one. There was some seating, but no signs stating how many passengers were the limit. The ride took about 15-20 minutes. We then had to take another 2-Baht boat ride to get across the river to Wat Arun. The boat terminal seemed rather shaky, so watch your step.

Wat Arun has a rather stately look to it from the river. There seemed to be preparations for some festivities on the day we arrived. We didn't ask because there were quite a few vendors waiting to empty our wallets. We almost got into a dispute as we'd been about to take photos with some cardboard cuttings of Thai dancers--we didn't see the sign about the cost to do so until we were just about to take the photo. Fortunately, we had a digital camera and could prove we hadn't taken a photo.

The Wat itself is decorated with pieces of porcelain procured and donated by Bangkokians to the Emperor of the time. The steps are steep (the road to enlightenment is not an easy one) and one can't climb all the way to the top.

Our trip ended with an offer to take a photo with a rather large snake, resembling a python. The lack of photos here speaks for itself.

Med students would probably love this place. As this is a learning hospital, a local scientist made the first contributions toward starting this . . . "museum." Don't go there right after any meals--especially not after a street vendor snack. Don't go there if you're squeamish--it would be a wasted trip. I watch my fair share of horror films, but this takes the cake.

The exhibitions are in different parts of the hospital--there's a brochure with a map and descriptions one can refer to (once you find the first exhibition). There is no entry fee, but donations are accepted.

There's the exhibition on human anatomy abnormalities, including unborn babies with two heads, or a stomach on the outside in glass containers. Also, the effects of certain nicotene addictions on the human body, as well as cancer-ridden limbs.

The next exhibition, focused on why it's important to not eat before coming to see this exhibition. Vivid pictures of what the wrong tape worm in your intestines can do to you. Amplified photos of what those little bacteria that eat, when you don't rinse food properly, look like.

The last exhibition was less . . . stomach curdling. Granted, the mumified remains of a notorious Thai rapist/murderer can be somewhat uncomfortable for some. We were also treated to the effects of not wearing a seat belt when a car crashes (well, there were the broken bones). And holes left by bullets streaking right through someone's skull. The entrance is also near the emergency room entrance, with vivid pictures taken of actual accident victims and others that experienced excurtiating pain.

The whole experience is not recommended for everyone. But, it is frequented by young Thai students . . . great school day trip, huh?

One of the things I most enjoy about traveling is taking the time to walk around a new city. The downside of doing so in Bangkok is the pollution. It seems that just about everyone owns a car / motorbike. Then there's the buses and the tuk-tuks. Taking the BTS skytrain took the strain off, but this meant walking up and down flights of stairs to get to the "next traffic" level. Walking around also means you get to see more of the city (have a good map handy and good walking shoes) - like the flooded back roads during monsoon, and locals selling their wares off converted bicycles.

One of the other downsides was trying to cross the main roads - almost like Paris' Champs Elysee *grin*. Once you master the art of ignoring the persistent tuk-tuk and taxi drivers, you can marvel at the weaving and maneuvering Bangkok drivers indulge in to avoid traffic jams. The traffic officers are pretty strict - with their tight brown uniforms and white gloves - we saw a good deal of taxi drivers getting pulled over.

Generally the quickest way to get around central Bangkok seemed to be the BTS Skytrain. Alternatively a meter taxi once traffic thins out in the later hours.