So here we are for the first time completely alone in the foreign city. What now? Bangkok is huge and we have only one day left… On the same day we are going to take a night train to Trang – provience located in the south of Thailand.

Here comes the first surprise-the train we were going to take is full. We only manage to get tickets for the train next night and only 2nd class top-level sleepers without air con, but only 500 baht and we are saving on accommodation costs.

After making the reservation, our next steps are taking us to Grand Palace- the famous buildings complex which used to be the residence of the King. It houses beautifully ornamented buildings such as: the palace, pantheon, corronation hall and the most famous The Temple of Emerald Buddha. Although Buddhas image which gave the name to the temple is not really emerald, it is the most worshiped image in Thai world.

Grand Palace

The place is really magical: from esthetical point of view it compares to places such as La Alhambra in Granada or the Old City of Jerusalam. One can hardly believe that the place like this can be located in the heart of Bangkok – the hactic, noisy and polluted capital of modern Asian world. Bangkok is a city of contrast.

Grand Palace

Unfortunately, today also merciless heat follows our steps. Coming directly from -10 degree we did not yet get to used to being fried alive in direct sunlight. I think that is what someone would feel if put inside micro oven set to maximal cooking power! Needless to say we are completely exhausted after spending 3 hrs in the heat.

Monks

Nevertheless, we don’t loose our time in Bangkok and continue to Wat Arun – a 100 m tower dominating over Bangkok. In order to get there we need to cross the river. At the harbour a number of agencies offer us their boat trips, but we want cheaper crossing service boats popular by Thai people. It proves not so easy to get on one of them because the “travel agents” force us to buy a ticket on their boat and do not let us go. Finally, they leave us alone and we get on a public boat, which we hope will take us to the temple… Not so fast, we overestimate our Thai reading skills and end up in another temple, located on the same side of the river but in a opposite direction.

On the prom

It takes the rest of our energy to find the right spot, but at least we could observe everyday life in a typical Bangkok street. Finally, we climb up the tower of Wat Arun, it is not easy in the temperatures, but the view of Bangkok is worth it. From (almost) top of it, we can see the urban planning of Bangkok: the modern city with skyscreapers on one side and run-down houses intermingled with gold-decorated temples on the other side of the city. All of this is intrinicately cut by a system of a river and channels.

View from Wat Arun

The enormous effort to get to the top of the tower is rewarded with fresh cocconut which we buy after we get back down.

Wat Arun and monk

On our way back home, we are taking, this time on purpose, an express boat which is going in opposite direction to see how the city looks from the river. The boat is full and we don’t get the best places, but we did get a glimpse of houses sitting along the river.

Wat Arun seen from the river

On the river

Now, we earned some relax. After a short shower we decide to try Thai massage. At one of the nearby massage shops nice Thai women offer us warm tea and large selection of body treatments: from feet care to whole body massage. We choose one hour traditional Thai massage. First, we are taken to a dimmed-light room where two materaces and fresh cloths are waiting for us. We have some trouble to wear unbelievably loose pants which would easily fit the two of us together, but after some help we manage. The massage involves stretching, pushing of our muscles to the degree that I almost feel them breaking. What for me feels like a torture, triggers in Maja only salves of laughter: she is so sensitive to touch that she gets giggles while being massaged by one of the women. The women move from tips of our toes towards upper limbs and head. Sometimes they even use their feet, legs and arms to shape our bodies into a deformed position. Honestly, after finishing it I was more appreciative to the physical strength of the women than healing effects of the massage.

The massage did wheat our appetites, so we have some warm Thai food sold at a street in Ko San neighbourhood. I eat pork with red curry and vegetables an Maja eats the same but with chicken instead. We finish our day with a pint of cold Chang (Thai beer), fresh papaya and sticky rice with mango. Everything delicious!!!!

Bangkok, 22 February 2010