(A known issue with blogger photo storage problem, I'm officially stopped to add more photos at this point, but will certainly "complete" this post when it's once again available for me to upload!)
(Problem solved...I think!)
For the first time this whole week, I was not slotted for morning duty! Of course, I wasn't about to let it go to waste. Though nothing was set solid, I knew I wanted to head out of this hotel for a bit, even if it were only for a short morning. Possibly to the Grand Palace or the famous Wat Pho as they're both in the same area. I thought to do more planning at breakfast...
Just when I was coming to my senses hearing the alarm jump, I saw a text message from a friend of one of our CM. Apparently, he had arrived the night before and was wondering when I would be heading down for breakfast. Having had to wake up at 6:45am for the past week, I wanted to have just as much time to see a little bit of Bangkok when I could, so I woke up around 7ish too. (For those that know, I LOVE my sleep, so to sacrifice means a lot :P).
Over breakfast, without trying, I had managed to change his mind about having a pool-day today and joining me for an adventure. So the itinerary for today: take the taxi to Grand Palace, lunch, walk over Wat Pho, and then taxi back for my afternoon duty. As simple as that, *laugh*, if only...
After a quick change of clothes and pack of essentials- I couldn't forget my camera- we met up in the lobby and was ready to go! To think we were still contemplating on whether to take a taxi or a tuktuk, how naive. Honestly though, how difficult could it be to get a taxi or a tuktuk on one of the largest streets in Bangkok? Apparently very difficult. Not only did some refuse to drive to the Palace, some called for ridiculous prices, and some just didn't even bother to stop for us. Just a quick price check with the concierge, the normal metered price from our hotel to the Grand Palace is about 120THB. You would never guess how much rip-off the locals are comfortably asking from foreigners: 600THB. That's almost 20USD! Okay, that doesn't sound like a lot, but 400% more is!
With the help of a fellow Canadian- yes, once again I was proudly wearing my Canadian shirt- we learned that it would be impossible to get a fair taxi to the Grand Palace, and that it would be quicker to take the MRT to the riverside and hop on a local long boat up the river to the Palace. Sounded like a plan, so we began our walk down the street to the station, though not entirely giving up on the hope of a decent taxi driver.
Sidenote: Not sure why, but possibly simply because of the "special experience", tuktuks are generally more expensive. Not to mention, some will without disclosure take you to their "sponsor shop" aka. gem store or tailor shop, etc. for exchange of gas tickets. Lucky us, our first tuktuk encounter taught us that, and we were able to fend off offers as such. I believe- no confirmation on this theory- only decent calling prices have "sponsors" that they need to attend to; and the ridiculously overpriced are the freelances. From my experience anyway. it's sad to say, but "sponsored" tuktuk drivers are WAY nicer. It's too bad that it seems you could only be one or the other- gas prices are apparently over the roof. Not sure about that fact either. Regardless. traffic in Bangkok is just horrendous, so take the public transit when possible!
Randomly, our plan had changed to taking a taxi to the riverside for transfer to boat when we were offered that instead. No worries, it would save us some time with getting lost on the public transit anyway. In 70THB, we were forced off the taxi at this secluded pier, despite knowing it was not the "local long boats" that we had asked him to take us to. Not a surprise, it was a tourist pier where they ran river cruises for about 1500THB each. Wow. Talk about scamming as a team. Of course, we weren't going to settle being bullied, so we made our way out to a bigger street hoping to find a local pier...which shouldn't be too difficult as traveling by river seemed to be of a local routine.
Luckily, we ran into yet another couple from Canada and was told of the news that a local pier was located next to the Sheraton. Si Phaya Pier 3, eh? Soon enough, with 15THB tickets in our hands, we were on our way to the Grand Palace, finally! Except, when we landed, we were actually closer to Wat Pho than the Palace, so we decided to check that out first. Easy enough, entry tickets for 100THB each, we were among a decent crowd of tourists.
(Can't believe we finally got here! We gotta learn what we gotta learn)
From what I had read, it was a good idea to get a tour guide as they will be able to tell you in more detail about the place in general. From experience anyway, I feel that it is more interesting to have someone tell you about what you are looking at and maybe a side note or two. Yes, you can read and research all you want online, but it's really a different experience when you can ask all the questions you want and learn more about the people/country as a whole. Supposedly, all male Thai must become a monk for at least 3 months at some age, and that the number 108 is sacred to Thai Buddhists. Supposedly, the 3rd King, Rama III, was super rich, traveling to China many times with lots of souvenir statues which he placed right here in this very temple. Supposedly, the secrets to the Thai massage were written in stone and that anyone could come and learn it for themselves. Supposedly, there was a Buddha for each day of the week, and are identifiable by the positions they take. Supposedly, Obama was in this VERY spot last week and here's the photo to prove it...
(The focus being the left bottom corner: non-thai gang?)
(This was the only way to take a photo with le reclining buddah. Hopefully he/she was smiling!)
(I couldn't help but notice these European-looking Chinese Statues! These aren't new~)
(Here you go! The Secrets to Thai Massage)
(A picture with the buddah atop the pile of gold...hmm!)
(This was the only shot where I could cut out the most people)
(Don't question: Obama took off his shoes too...)
(If you're ever at Wat Pho, look for this guy. Interesting character with lots of side stories to share. Promise it's worth the RM300/2ppl fee. He even palm read for charity price! Amazing guy~)
Truthfully, I've always believed in the Traveler's Luck- that things do happen for a reason, and how everything turns out is how it's meant to be. See, we took forever to grab a taxi or tuktuk in front of our hotel that we attracted a fellow Canadian to hint us of a better way, which led us to walk further and hopped onto a sketchy taxi, which dropped us off at a tourist pier, which led us to the right pier, which took us to the Wat Pho, which timely introduced us to our amazing tour guide, who just so happened to be the leader guide, who told us a great place for lunch after a great tour! It all worked out, and I couldn't have asked for a more exciting 5-hour adventure in Bangkok.
Following a local pad thai and my favourite thai iced milk tea for lunch, we rushed to the Grand Palace (only a short 15mins walk from Wat Pho), hoping to at least have 1.5hr there. The place was just, OMG-packed with people. It was almost repulsive...enough for me NOT to want to take photos. We did all the must-sees and was out by 3pm.
(Somehow, none of the Thai iced milk teas taste quite like the one I had in Phuket...)
If you had noticed that it was already the afternoon and was wondering why I haven't returned for duty, you were paying attention! Actually, as the CM's were all invited for a presentation at the Grand Palace, they had left the hotel by 1:30pm, and since my shift didn't start till 2:30pm, it would be pointless for me to be sitting in when the very people I'm on duty for aren't going to be at the hotel anyway. But just in case they do return before my shift ends, we made our way back to the hotel and by 4ish, I was sitting in office on duty. Good thing I was because my boss came running in not long after :P It all worked out~
(It has taken such a tourisy feel, lacking the authenticness I was hoping)
(The Emerald Buddah at Wat Phra Kaew- no photos inside, so super zoom!)
(Look at the intricate designs, or my super cool Cambodian pants :P)
(Definitely grand enough, except WAY too many people...just a sea of people!)
(Since we weren't able to get a tour guide, I had to self-assume this is a lady-bird. See!? We're better off with tour guides...)
For dinner, we went to a local restaurant called "Suda" about 10mins walk from our hotel. It was strongly recommended by other CM's, and as we didn't know what to have for dinner, why not try it out. Wow, did they do justice to Thai food. The crowd seemed to be mainly of foreigners, but locals made up a few tables too. The price was decent and environment relatively clean. I would definitely head back there for lunch or dinner again if I'm staying in this area on Saturday night. Lots more to see and lots more to eat.
(This is the name of local restaurant that has a very extensive Thai menu. Right across Terminal 21 on the next street in. Just look for this sign~)
(FISH CAKE!! Definitely spicy but texture is just perfect)
(Chicken wrapped in banana leaf bursting with flavours)
(Famous drunken noodles, though noodles aren't so foreign to me...)
(Just gotta try some Thai chips...not bad~)
So what did we learn today?
- always check the average price for the trip taking a taxi/tuktuk, and if in doubt, take the public transit
- make sure your tuktuk isn't taking you to a sponsor shop unless you don't care to waste some time for them
- take local long boats for 15THB at listed pier stops
- take tour guides only WITHIN the place you are visiting- the ones outside will attempt to tell you the place is closed and take you elsewhere
- postcards are about 5THB and stamps for 15TH
- make sure to bring cover if you do wear sleeveless or shorts as Palace and temples will require proper dress code- flipflops are okay
That's all I can think of at the moment, but I will add to the list if I remember any more. Bangkok has proven to be a difficult city so far, but I think it's a good thing to learn all this today, so I can be better prepared for this coming weekend when I'll most likely be traveling alone. Two more days of work, and it's Bangkok playtime! Can't wait...
Time for bed...hm, maybe I should check out the pillow menu- yes, there is a pillow menu here. Talk about servicing the details! Anyway, GOOD NIGHT!
Jessy out :)