So here we are! WOW!
Arrived safe and sound to our reserved guesthouse in Bangkok, in the heart of the travelers mecca of Khao San Rd. It's clean and pleasant and the staff are kind and friendly.
Our economical flight proved that you get what you pay for - we can't say it was particularly comfortable in the grubby old plane that China Eastern flew us in. We have never seen a plane with a shared-use bar of handsoap before!!! Eww. But it got us here. (that was on the Shanghai-Bangkok leg of the trip). The Shanghai airport was expensive, hot and stuffy, grumpy and irritating. By contrast the MASSIVE four year old BKK airport is dazzling -cool, green and leafy with live orchids everywhere, pleasant helpful staff. It is without question the most beautiful and efficient airport I have ever seen.
We checked in a little after 4am at the Tuptim guesthouse, 24 hours after leaving Vancouver. Exhausted. Had showers, a beer and some food and the neighborhood was still wide awake as the sun came up. Surreal to say the least. Went to bed and slept for a few hours.
Today has been very mellow, recovering from the trip out. We awesome 30 minute foot massages ($2.50) today and wandered around getting our bearings.
Khao San Rd, Bangkok is a travelers destination where you can get outfitted in all the gear you need, from bikinis, fake birks, fake North Face backpacks and a pair of convincing fake Ray Ban aviators, all for under $50. There is so much tempting shopping. Lots and lots of tasty food, places to sit and people watch and drink beer - but if you're not drinking your face off or shopping there isn't much to do and the novelty wears off quickly. All it's good for is networking, making travel plans, booking transport and getting organized. As soon as our Vietnam visas are ready we will head south to Railay/Krabi, Ko Phi Phi and Ko Lanta, hopefully in a few days. We CAN'T WAIT to get down south on to the beaches.
Tomorrow is Vietnam embassy, and the Royal Palace.
I shall check in when I can. love to you all.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
You be sure and have at least one bowl of pho in a little Vietnamese village.
Go to Crystal's facebook page. She appears to be updating there. Yesterday, the 10th at 6:00pm her update was "Daryle is finally awake. Lots of pain and blood transfusion right now. Send healing energy pl."
Please make sure to take a picture of the aforementioned bowl of pho... Or at least have one slurp with me in mind!
Hey Jess, I was just talking with Phillip and Heather about Bangkok, and they suggested that you check out the buffet at the Shangri-La Hotel - apparently just stunning to look at, even if you don't feel like shelling out the fifty bucks or whatever it costs to eat there. They just went in an had a glass of wine, and said the view of the river was amazing.
Post a Comment