Jess & Jude's Adventures in Thailand 2004

Thursday 17 June
Chiangmai to Bangkok

Well the Chiangmai chapter of our journey has come to an end. We awoke at 6.30am and packed our last bits and pieces, then ducked down to Starbucks for a last cafe latte. The guy here knows me so well now I don't even have to order he just has it ready for me! We checked out at 7.30am and caught a songthaew to the airport (50bt). We had checked in by 8am and our flight took off at 8.55am.

Arrived Bangkok in a heavy rain storm. We took a taxi from arrivals, couldn't be bothered lugging our bags upstairs to save 50bt. Our taxi driver ripped us off he took us a very long way around to the Indra Regent Hotel. The hotel is very plush, we have a room on the 15th Executive floor. We have a good view over Bangkok, the room has lots of amenities and a good bathroom.

After a quick load of laundry and unpack we went out to explore our surroundings. The Pratunum Market is right outside our doorstep. We only skimmed the outside of the market and kept walking towards the World Trade Centre. We stopped for some lunch at the WTC then explored the 8 floors of shops. The top floors have an ice skate rink, movie theatre and a bowling alley.

On the way back to the hotel we checked out another shopping complex that contained a Big C shop (very similar to Coles and Kmart). We bought a few nibbles for our room instead of using the very expensive mini bar. We were back at the hotel by 3.30pm and had a shower and a rest. Bangkok is so hot and grimy.

Out again at 4.30pm to look for an internet place. The hotel wants to charge 100bt/15min. We got side tracked in the Pratunum Market and I got a great pair of joggers for 450bt. Finally found an internet place for 30bt/hour. Back at the hotel we booked our trip to Ayuthaya for tomorrow. Fairly expensive (1600bt each) but its for the full day and includes lunch and return by cruise boat down the Chao Phraya River.

Back at the room we dressed for dinner and decided to check out Bangkoks Hard Rock Cafe in the Siam area. We bargained a tuk-tuk driver down from 150bt to 60bt to take us there. The Hard Rock Cafe didn't greet us very well, apparently they discourage children even though we only wanted to stay for dinner. We were ushered upstairs and stuck right down the back almost like they were trying to hide us. I had a slight coronary when I saw the prices, should have left. The meal cost 720bt for 2 softdrinks and burgers. What a rip off and the food wasn't that great. Never again!

We walked up to the Siam Centre and checked out the area. Bangkok is really crazy, saw an elephant walking up the main street in amongst cars, tuk-tuks, taxis and buses, totally bizarre. We had enough by 10.30pm and grabbed a tuk-tuk back to the hotel.