Day 33: Bangkok Outskirts,☁️ ☔️ 31°

If It’s Going To Rain, We May As Well Go Home!

We changed tact this morning. After having a simple breakfast in the foyer of a big office tower we counted our remaining Thai cash resources. There wasn’t very much left. Enough for the metro, but maybe not sufficient to get inside the temple grounds that we had gazed across the river at last night if they demanded a cash only payment as is often the case in Bangkok.🤔

After some not too careful consideration we decided that we didn’t really want to take more money out of an ATM. More importantly, gazing at the lighted temple last night across the river while enjoying a very good meal was a pretty good way to remember both the temple and Bangkok.

We’ve seen some pretty amazing places these past weeks. So we decided to pack our gear, check out of the hotel noon and book a Grab ride to take us out towards the airport to our last hotel.

It took us about 45’ to get to our hotel, mostly on a high speed toll road in yet another type of well used car, make and model unknown. This city is massive and seems to spread forever. I wrote to my friend Jim this morning who with Corie is also experiencing a bit of a crazy city while in Dar el Saalam Africa about to travel by ferry to Zanzibar. I suggested that when travelling I usually look at a place from the perspective of, could I live here? As much as I’ve enjoyed our wander through this part of the world, for many reasons I wouldn’t choose to live here for very long. I have found many places in the world where I could happily live, but this isn’t one of them. But it sure is a brilliant place to travel!

Our hotel tonight is in a pretty noisy working area of the city. A new metro system is being built out front which sits on a very busy road. Oh, and it’s also close to the end of one of the busy airport runways!🛫🛬

We went next door for a bit of a late lunch. We were the only non-Thai people in the place. So we knew there was a high probability of good food.

We decided to walk off lunch and survived a dash across the highway to where there seemed to be a bit more of day to day Bangkok worth a wander.

We passed a number of road side food stalls.

As we walked on we came upon a Thai market that serviced the local population. Not a tourist bus in sight! Just local people going about their daily business. Nice to watch.

I always wonder about the handling of food. There were lots of healthy looking cuts of chicken, pork, fish and beef sitting on tables without any sign of refrigeration. We’ve observed this everywhere on some very hot days. Perhaps we are a bit over regulated at home? That said, I think I’d rather not want to worry about the condition of the food we purchase.

The local ‘buses’ were constantly zipping past. This one was full of school kids. We saw several full of kids bulging out the back door and standing at bumper level. A very different life here.

Favourite Things!

At the end of every trip we almost always discuss the successes and failures; the highs and the lows; the good and the bad. It’s sort of our way to review and assess our travels. I thought a record of this would help us to remember a few things in the years ahead.

Favourite Meal: we had some really different types of meals and many that were just ok, but not outstanding. For AM it was our meal last night in Bangkok on the riverside. I didn’t have a favourite meal, but I enjoyed all the various flavours. The hot spices, curries and textures. Hot spicy soups were probably my favourite.

Favourite Activity: there were just so many! We were both amazed by the Chiang Rai International Balloon festival. Walking through the huge balloons and seeing them light up in the evening was almost beyond words. We also both completely enjoyed the boat trip from Phuket up to the tower karst area of a national park. I have to also add that finally witnessing the sunrise at Angkor Wat and walking the temples was a hi-light! That experience was on par with sleeping on the ground at the foot of Ramses at Abu Simble temple in southern Egypt, and catching the sunrise there in the morning.

Favourite Destination: AM and I both really liked the whole trip. I guess our favourite destinations in no particular order were Malacca. Chiang Rai and Koh Lanta.

Biggest Surprise: both of us were delighted by the many Chinese New Years celebrations and special events we were fortunate enough to witness in different cities. The majority we just lucked out not having planned to be specifically in a place to participate. Thinking of the celebrations in Malacca, KL, George Town, Phuket and the full moon festival in Chiang Mai. We also didn’t have the airline issues with our flights in SE Asia vis-à-vis luggage allowances that others did. The street markets and street food were marvellous!

Favourite Accommodation: hands down for both of us was our little Koh Lanta bungalow. Great walking beach, lovely sunsets from small beach restaurants and a nice overall laid back vibe.

Most Photogenic: the hot air balloons, the Blue and White Temples in Chiang Rai, Angkor Wat, the tower karst at Phang Nga Park, the Hindu Batu caves and some of the night markets.

Disappointments: very few. probably the impact of so many people going to the Cameron Highlands and the complete traffic chaos, making it almost impossible to enjoy the beauty of this area. We probably should have spent one less day in Chiang Mai and given it to Chiang Rai which we enjoyed more. The over the top mass tourism in Bangkok. It’s the same in almost all of the great cities of the world, but it still surprises.

Pleasant Surprises: the local people in all three countries we visited were very welcoming, helpful and open with us. This always makes a travel more interesting and enjoyable. Also spending three wonderful days with our friends Linda and David in George Town. How special that we were there at the same time!

I’m sure we’ve forgotten to mention a few other notable activities, but I think we have covered the main events.

No matter where I travel there is always something to see and an interesting story to write about. Somethings though, I just can’t explain what my eyes are seeing! I came upon this one today😂

That’s it from SE Asia. A wonderful experience with lots of good times and lovely adventures! Now it’s time to return home to see family and friends. We are both missing our three lovely grandchildren and a new one who’s just about ready to join us!❤️

Next travel; in just 86 days I have a flight scheduled to Toulouse, France for a beautiful solo walk along the northern edge of the Pyrenees Mountains. This is subject to a few things at home and of course a rapidly changing world geopolitical situation. Time will tell if it happens, and if it does I’ll make a first post here likely at the beginning of May. 🚶🏼

Thanks for following along. Hope you enjoyed it. Oh, and it barely rained today. Almost a completely rain free travel! Now if I can just replicate this in May and June!😅

Cheers!🍻🇨🇦🇨🇦

Geoff