Day 1: Bangkok

We started our first day in Bangkok pretty early considering we arrived at the hotel just before 1am. We were down at the hotel lobby at 9am and decided to have breakfast at the hotel restaurant. It was a traditional western breakfast. After breakfast we went exploring and took the famous BTS – Bangkok Transit System, Sky Train. We are very close to 2 stations, Nana and Phloen Chit. We walked to Pholen Chit as we didn’t know our bearings.

We took the train to the Chatuchak weekend market. This is a massive outdoor market. We must have spent between an hour at least just wandering the various stalls. I bought a new Thai t-shirt. The ones you see of the 2 red bulls. But that was all we bought. We then decided to head back into the main area of Bangkok and get some lunch.

We got of at Siam station and went into Siam Paragon, a new shopping center complex. It looks very modern and upscale; very posh, as the British would say. Here you can find Hugo Boss, Chanel, Armani and so forth. We wondered into the Food court section and found a massive area for food. They have a circular area where there must be at least 20-30 vendors selling Thai, Japanese and some westernized food. To buy from these shops, you first need to buy money on a card. The vendor then swipes your card and it takes off the amount of the food. When you are finished you return it and get any money back that is on the card. I had Pad Thai and Lauren had Pad Thai with Prawns. It was very fresh and tasty. Also within this mall are separate restaurants that are also located near the food court. As well as a Gourmet Traveler grocery store, an upscale food store. As well as well known fast food shops – McDonald’s, KFC and Burger King.

After lunch we wondered around the Siam Paragon and found it just a visual fest of shopping. We then headed next door to the famous MBK shopping complex which has 5 huge levels of shopping. On one of the levels Lauren found a place to have a facial. While she was having a facial I wondered around looking at music, watch and electronic shops. After Lauren’s facial we decided to head back to our hotel for some rest. In our hotel they do Thai massages. We booked one for the both of us for 5pm.

At 5 pm we headed down and had our massage. For those of you unfamiliar with Thai massage. It is not a relaxing massage, especially if it is your first massage. It is meant to be a restorative message that involved lots of pressing and pulling. At various times my massage therapist was kneeling on my calves with both of her knees and walking on my back or my legs were pushed back at the same time she was plugging on my arms. At times I found it painful and likened it to involuntary hardcore yoga. I am not sure if I want to try it again. I am told you need to do it at least 3 or 4 times before it stops hurting less.

After our massage we decided to head out and have dinner. We were given a recommendation from a Thai person in Melbourne. The restaurant we ate it was authentic as there were no foreigners there. We decided to have meals we have had before to see what the difference was. The difference was very noticeable, the flavors more subdued and it was very fresh.

After dinner we went and visited the Limpini night market. The same as the Chatuchak market, but maybe a better selection of goods. We walked away with some items and headed back to our hotel on the subway and sky train.

That was our first day in Bangkok, the next day we decided to visit some of the famous sights of Bangkok. More of that in my next blog entry.