By the time I left Chiang Mai (1/25) and arrived in Bangkok (1/26) via the overnight bus, I was spent.
We'd done so much, experienced so much, enjoyed so much about our trip, that it just felt as though what more could there be!?
I'd been to what-felt-like-a-million wats, seen Buddha subduing Mara so many times that I was starting to wonder why Mara kept coming back! I had done so much that Bangkok was feeling a bit lackluster to me. In truth, it felt that way before I got there, but you have to do Bangkok. It's Bangkok!
My first day did not start in a manner that was setting me up to fall in love with the city. Issues finding the hostel, issues checking in with the hostels - too many issues after too few hours of sleep! Once I had showered and slept for a few hours on the lounge/couch/bed things in the front lobby, I was ready to head out and readjust my attitude towards the town.
My attempt did start well. I came across of wild crowd of locals, all clamoring to buy raw meat, eggs, paper bits, and other things outside of a small temple. I wanted to be apart of the swarm! So I casually made my way into the Buddhist Temple and tried to act as if I was part of the crowd. Only white girl around for miles, I'm sure no one noticed me!! ^^ It wasn't until I was leaving the temple that I learned what was going on. New Year's!! All the locals were in to make offerings in hopes for peace and prosperity in the new year. I bought a Buddha flag. Come on fat man mama wants a new pair of shoes! trip to Taiwan!
From there I wandered on. And I was really wandering because... I think I don't know how to read a map. :-/ I had a goal destination in mind, but I was definitely wandering without a clue on how to get there. Down a street and then turn left was the general idea I was following. It wasn't too bad. I found a little shop to get tea and locals kept coming up to me, thanking me for coming to Thailand, asking me what I did
Me: I'm an English teacher in Korea.
Thai person: Very nice! When you are done there you come to Thailand and teach! Make lots of money.
Me: Ok...?! (force a smile)
Eventually a met a really nice man, who was so bewildered that I was 26 (same age as his daughter), that he grabbed my map, circled the top temples/shrines/locations to visit, flagged down 2 Tuk Tuks before he decided the 3rd was the best one for me, told the man my travel plans for the day and set it all up so that I only paid 40 Baht - just over a $1 - and sent me on my tourist way!!
Flying around town in my own, private Tuk Tuk, I went to see the Sitting Buddha at Wat Benchamabophit, paused for a photo outside of Anata Smakhom Throm Hall (at this point I realized that I wasn't actually " getting hooked up with a special Tuk Tuk deal". I was involved in a littls scam operation. The driver would take me around for 40Baht, but I had to look around some random shops so that he could get gas vouchers. At first I was fine with it, fine with it until my driver started rushing me at the temples and telling me to take my time, even lecturing me if I didn't stay long enough, in the crap gas voucher shops. >.< Not cool man, not cool), continued on to the Standing Buddha at Wat Indrawiharn, and finally was dropped off at the grounds of Wat Ratchanatdaram and Loha Prasat monastery (as known as the Metal Castle).
This turned out to be not at all close to my hostel, but I used the walk back to see a few more landmarks - Democracy Monument, Sao Ching-Cha (the Gaint Swing) and my favorite wat - Wat Suthat. It has a breath-taking chedi that features a full 360degree mural incasing the high seated Buddha. Just outside you can shake out prayer sticks, which gave me a message I couldn't have picked out better myself!
The next day (1/27) I went on a day trip out to the Floating Markets and the Tiger Temple. Shit. Crap. Poo. TERRRRRRRIBLE. Omg a waste of time. The Floating Markets were a tourist trap on water. Get in this boat and let me float you along the canal, while loud, grabby venders try to get you to buy their cheap souvenirs you could get back in the city center. It might have been one thing if our boat was one of a few on the water, but it was a New York traffic jam!! Boats were packed! Slamming into each other. All filled with tourist doing the same thing - staring out at the stalls wondering how they could have been so mislead that they came to this poop sight.
Between the market and the temple we stopped for lunch at Kanchanaburi, home of the River Kwai. After lunch we had time to walk around (more crap souvenir stalls) and even walk on/across the Bridge on the River Kwai. That was pretty cool!!
From there it was on to the Tiger Temple!!! please see its own post
I spent the night on Khao San Road with new friends I had met on the day trip. It was a great evening! No agenda, no sights to see, no wats!!! Just walking around looking for the next place to sit down and have a beer.
My last day in Bangkok (1/28) I saved for the big guns - Wat Pho, Wat Arun and the Grand Palace.
Wat Pho I got lost in. Saw the Reclining Buddha and then spent the next hour lost in a maze of who knows what and of what significance. I finally found my way out to head to the ferry crossing and travel across the bay to Wat Arun were again I wandered around for a bit. Climbed to the top of a very tall, steep chedi, only to descend and cross the river back to the main area of town.
*** I fully admit that it was ME who was worthless this day and not the temples or sights. ***
All that was left to do in Thailand was see the Grand Palace. But mother nature (and the way I was dressed) thought otherwise. As I was making my way through the Amulet Market rain starting pouring down. I spent the better part of 2 hours making conversation with the sellers and buyers as I hopped between umbrellas in my attempt to get back to my hostel. We talked about the amulets they were buying, what they were looking for, what they meant to the Thai people, where people were from, where their children live/do, where they'd been in the world. It was great!! I just wish it had happened on a dry day so that I could have really taken it in and gotten some pictures.
I never made it to the Grand Palace but my chats in the Amulet markets more than made up for it. I really don't think I could have done another wat, no matter how large or grande it was.
And that was it. I went back to the hostel, dried off a bit and waited for my ride to the airport.
For a place I had no desire to go (this happened with Japan) I'm so glad I went... and can't wait to go back!!
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