China Town
Monday May 14th
Last evening we met Simon and headed for what the Lonely Planet guide to Thailand described as "If you had a Thai grandmother who lived in the Sukhumvit area, this is where she'd eat." It was the Klang Soi restaurant which was located in Racquet Club complex.
The food was great. But it took us half an hour to convince them that we really wanted THREE beers. They were dispensed the way a posh restaurant looks after the white wine. Sparingly and only when you have finished the first glass. It was an experience. The Thai green curry with catfish was hot spicy and delicious. The chicken stir fry was appetising and Simon's Tom Yum was very flavoursome.
Monday finds most museums and attractions closed. We were not unhappy to slow down a little especially when our eight day tour starts tomorrow. We decided to go to China town to experience the sights and sounds and smells of the hustling bustling area. It is more like China city. It is enormous with everyone packed in cheek by jowl.
We have discovered a new way to travel through Bangkok's grid logged streets. Forget the Sky train which only goes in a straight line from one side of the city to the other. Forget the metro - we had forgotten it existed. Forget the buses and mini vans into which people are crammed like sardines. Forget the taxi drivers who refuse to put the meter on and want to double the proper price if you are westerners. The way to go is called Grab. Grab has grabbed Uber's place in Thailand. Download the app and you are connected to nearby drivers who accept your hire for a low fixed price. Sit back in air conditioned splendour enjoying the sight of grid lock all around.
China town was manic from the moment we arrived and our driver couldn't find a place to stop till the moment we left and our driver couldn't find us when we were 10 metres away. Anything you can think of was available retail or wholesale side by side. At last I spotted what appeared to be a pedestrian alleyway. Unfortunately there were more motorbikes and scooters than pedestrians. If the scooters didn't get you then the hand cart piled to the sky with bags or shoes or flip flops would be biting at your ankles. We walked through a lane which was about a kilometre in length with stalls and shops of every size and complexion overflowing with foodstuffs that even Pauline could recognise scarcely a thing. Fruit and vegetables that we had never before seen. Shredded fish dried fish whole shops full of mystery. The smells were incredible.
Often China town areas in major cities are run down slum areas. This appeared to be a thrusting thriving area. This market was full of middle class ladies shopping for other than necessities. There were some Western faces but we were very much the minority.
Bangkok feels safe and we have never felt uncomfortable or at risk. Maybe were are unaware but I don't think so. Tomorrow we will leave manic but weirdly addictive Bangkok to travel to the Bridge over the River Kwai (pronounced kway) Sutthi our driver and guide is to pick us up at 07.30 (sweep is otherwise engaged) We will need to have an early night. I'm not sure we can stand the pace.
It has been good sharing a few days with Simon where he has been before and we are the novices. He has been patient and solicitous and now he can enjoy his Mouy Thai in peace.
Last evening we met Simon and headed for what the Lonely Planet guide to Thailand described as "If you had a Thai grandmother who lived in the Sukhumvit area, this is where she'd eat." It was the Klang Soi restaurant which was located in Racquet Club complex.
The food was great. But it took us half an hour to convince them that we really wanted THREE beers. They were dispensed the way a posh restaurant looks after the white wine. Sparingly and only when you have finished the first glass. It was an experience. The Thai green curry with catfish was hot spicy and delicious. The chicken stir fry was appetising and Simon's Tom Yum was very flavoursome.
Monday finds most museums and attractions closed. We were not unhappy to slow down a little especially when our eight day tour starts tomorrow. We decided to go to China town to experience the sights and sounds and smells of the hustling bustling area. It is more like China city. It is enormous with everyone packed in cheek by jowl.
 |
| Going nowhere fast |
We have discovered a new way to travel through Bangkok's grid logged streets. Forget the Sky train which only goes in a straight line from one side of the city to the other. Forget the metro - we had forgotten it existed. Forget the buses and mini vans into which people are crammed like sardines. Forget the taxi drivers who refuse to put the meter on and want to double the proper price if you are westerners. The way to go is called Grab. Grab has grabbed Uber's place in Thailand. Download the app and you are connected to nearby drivers who accept your hire for a low fixed price. Sit back in air conditioned splendour enjoying the sight of grid lock all around.
 |
| Peace in the heart of the city |
China town was manic from the moment we arrived and our driver couldn't find a place to stop till the moment we left and our driver couldn't find us when we were 10 metres away. Anything you can think of was available retail or wholesale side by side. At last I spotted what appeared to be a pedestrian alleyway. Unfortunately there were more motorbikes and scooters than pedestrians. If the scooters didn't get you then the hand cart piled to the sky with bags or shoes or flip flops would be biting at your ankles. We walked through a lane which was about a kilometre in length with stalls and shops of every size and complexion overflowing with foodstuffs that even Pauline could recognise scarcely a thing. Fruit and vegetables that we had never before seen. Shredded fish dried fish whole shops full of mystery. The smells were incredible.
 |
| Just one more- I'm sure there's room! |
Often China town areas in major cities are run down slum areas. This appeared to be a thrusting thriving area. This market was full of middle class ladies shopping for other than necessities. There were some Western faces but we were very much the minority.
Bangkok feels safe and we have never felt uncomfortable or at risk. Maybe were are unaware but I don't think so. Tomorrow we will leave manic but weirdly addictive Bangkok to travel to the Bridge over the River Kwai (pronounced kway) Sutthi our driver and guide is to pick us up at 07.30 (sweep is otherwise engaged) We will need to have an early night. I'm not sure we can stand the pace.
It has been good sharing a few days with Simon where he has been before and we are the novices. He has been patient and solicitous and now he can enjoy his Mouy Thai in peace.
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