BANGKOK PART 1: GOLD-COATED AND UP ALL NIGHT!

"We'll get it when we're in Bangkok" was a much heard expression as we started running low on supplies while hopping around the islands for a few weeks, and it's fairly true to say that you can get most anything in Bangkok, and at a bargain price too! We passed several busy bars on the street leading to our guesthouse, it was five in the morning, but we resisted the urge to join the party in favour of getting some necessary sleep to energise ourselves for some city time.

A few hours later and we were on the streets ready to sample some of Bangkok's legendary street cuisine. Restaurant quality food is readily available from street vendors for as low as a quarter of the price. Our bums could regularly be found on the plastic stools surrounding Mr. Yim's vegetarian foodstall mmmm mmm! s-picy!



A visit to the Grand Palace introduced us to a couple of pairs of ugly slacks(you can't wear shorts in the Palace complex so they rent long trousers) and some of the glitteriest architecure we had seen. Huge gold stupas, enormous crystal coated pillars, dazzling dragons and beaded Buddhas glisten in the scorching Bangkok sun. Just when you think you're getting used to the Asian heat Bangkok teaches you otherwise. The temple complex is quite huge and will definitely keep you impressed for a few hours. I would suggest maybe not doubling the rented trousers over your shorts though, as one tends to overheat.





Not far from the Palace is the beautiful Wat Pho which houses a magnificent reclining gold Buddha. This Buddha is absolutely massive, too big to photograph properly even! He just lies there looking all rested and enlightened as scores of tourists snap happily all around him. How much gold can there be in this city?! It's positively dripping!



The signs begin to get more vibrant and the streets just a little more hectic as you make your way into Bangkok's Chinatown. I love Chinatown here, every alley-way brings new surprises and everything is for sale. Sampeng lane is a temple to all things pink and plastic. Blnking Blythe dolls appear everywhere, fabulously outrageous sunglasses convince you that you need to buy them, bags, watches, accessories, phones, it's all here, like one gigantic pound shop. I dare you to walk this lane and not purchase!





If by some miracle your wallet has left Chinatown unscathed, then the Chatuchak weekend market will most definitely cause some dentage. Our rucksacks definitely became fatter in Bangkok.



We also tried to get a look at another big gold Buddha in the Chinatown area but unfortunately he was in the process of moving temples and there was just a picture of him instead, ah well!

Of course the nightlife in Bangkok is another big attraction and one that kept us there a few days longer than we had planned. From the flashy, seedy bars of Pat Pong to the makeshift pavement bars of Banglamphu, we did it all and I'll not lie, we enjoyed it thoroughly. Bangkok is a meeting point for lots of backpackers as it's a sort of hub for all other countries in South East Asia so you tend to bump into people you've seen on your travels. Lisa and Hugo, we had such a laugh meeting up with you again, see you in Europe. Maciek, Warren and Anne, I hope you're behaving yourselves in Koh Chang, see you back home in september.