Well, where do I start with Bangkok? It is one of the best places I have ever been. We found the place we are staying in, Centre Point Silom, through the Trip Advisor web site and it is truely lovely, positioned perfectly over a department store and beside the Sky Train station at Saphan Taksin and the river so its really easy to get around. The night we arrived, there was a fabulous fireworks display just outside our window.
We went for dinner at Cabbages and Condoms which came highly recommended by Thecla, Tracy and Mike.
The whole restaurant is themed around HIV education so it felt like a bus man’s holiday for me but it would be amazing to have a place like that in London. The food was OK but the street food has beaten everything else I have tasted, the Thais really have their street snacks down to a fine art. We have had a few rides in a tuk-tuk now and I loved the first time but its not so much fun when there are 3 people and it brings the air pollution sharply into focus. The drivers in Thailand are a lot safer than in India, but the tuk-tuks don’t feel that safe at all when they are taking turns at full speed.
The cost of a daily sky train pass is 120 baht (£1.80) and a single 10 or 20 minute journey in the tuk-tuk costs just a little less. The sky train, as its name suggests, is well above ground so can give some great views of the city and its air conditioned. Steve came to join us from London for a couple of weeks and we hired a long-tailed river boat for an hour and a half. The driver stopped at a ‘floating market’ and a lady in a little boat sold me an oriental type fan. I haven’t yet seen a floating market but expect it to be more than one little boat.
The following day I went on a much bigger river boat which took me from one end of the city to the other, stopping off at lots of piers along the way where people could get on and off to see the sights. It’s a great way to see the places that aren’t serviced by the sky train and unlimited travel for the day was £1.50. Lots of life happens along the river and there are great contrasts between the buildings and the standards of living. I found my way to the Khao San Road where all the back packers ('real' travellers) go and I plan to go back to have another look and to go to China Town and some of the weekend markets. Steve is interested in doing a short cookery class so I hope to join him on that as well. I haven’t had a massage yet so that will need to be remedied in the near future but it can be difficult to tell the reputable places from the slightly seedy. On this subject, we have taken a look into the red light district but its all been very tame compared to the stories I have been told. We went to Soi (street) Cowboy and to the three storied Nana Entertainment Plaza, where tiny girls dance on the bar wearing tiny bikinis and a number which makes it easier for the guys to identify them and take them on a date later and possibly marry them.
I understand these places are ‘female friendly’ and there are places where ladies like myself just don’t go. At any rate, I had a great time. The shopping centres here are second to none. The Siam Centre is particularly luxurious and I was impressed to see lots of posh cars on the second floor (I’m sure there must be a huge lift somewhere but I couldn’t see it). Last night we went to the 51st floor of the tower next door to the block where we are staying to have a quick cocktail looking at the amazing view.
At a stretch, I could see down into our roof top swimming pool. The weather has been lovely so we have been trying to get some time in at the pool as well soaking up some rays. In short, this place is pretty close to paradise.
We went for dinner at Cabbages and Condoms which came highly recommended by Thecla, Tracy and Mike. 
The whole restaurant is themed around HIV education so it felt like a bus man’s holiday for me but it would be amazing to have a place like that in London. The food was OK but the street food has beaten everything else I have tasted, the Thais really have their street snacks down to a fine art. We have had a few rides in a tuk-tuk now and I loved the first time but its not so much fun when there are 3 people and it brings the air pollution sharply into focus. The drivers in Thailand are a lot safer than in India, but the tuk-tuks don’t feel that safe at all when they are taking turns at full speed.
The cost of a daily sky train pass is 120 baht (£1.80) and a single 10 or 20 minute journey in the tuk-tuk costs just a little less. The sky train, as its name suggests, is well above ground so can give some great views of the city and its air conditioned. Steve came to join us from London for a couple of weeks and we hired a long-tailed river boat for an hour and a half. The driver stopped at a ‘floating market’ and a lady in a little boat sold me an oriental type fan. I haven’t yet seen a floating market but expect it to be more than one little boat.
The following day I went on a much bigger river boat which took me from one end of the city to the other, stopping off at lots of piers along the way where people could get on and off to see the sights. It’s a great way to see the places that aren’t serviced by the sky train and unlimited travel for the day was £1.50. Lots of life happens along the river and there are great contrasts between the buildings and the standards of living. I found my way to the Khao San Road where all the back packers ('real' travellers) go and I plan to go back to have another look and to go to China Town and some of the weekend markets. Steve is interested in doing a short cookery class so I hope to join him on that as well. I haven’t had a massage yet so that will need to be remedied in the near future but it can be difficult to tell the reputable places from the slightly seedy. On this subject, we have taken a look into the red light district but its all been very tame compared to the stories I have been told. We went to Soi (street) Cowboy and to the three storied Nana Entertainment Plaza, where tiny girls dance on the bar wearing tiny bikinis and a number which makes it easier for the guys to identify them and take them on a date later and possibly marry them.
I understand these places are ‘female friendly’ and there are places where ladies like myself just don’t go. At any rate, I had a great time. The shopping centres here are second to none. The Siam Centre is particularly luxurious and I was impressed to see lots of posh cars on the second floor (I’m sure there must be a huge lift somewhere but I couldn’t see it). Last night we went to the 51st floor of the tower next door to the block where we are staying to have a quick cocktail looking at the amazing view.
At a stretch, I could see down into our roof top swimming pool. The weather has been lovely so we have been trying to get some time in at the pool as well soaking up some rays. In short, this place is pretty close to paradise.
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