From Chiang Mai to Bangkok,
On the family trip we decided that if our parents were going to go on a sleeper train it would need to be first class. So we were on the train, with only two to a room (a small booth with bunk beds, a basin, and a very small table. We were supposed to be on an AC train, however the AC was broken, and in first class you cannot open the windows, so despite the added luxury (including a free water, and orange juice) nobody slept very well as the bedroom compartments were like ovens. Our train arrived 1 hour late at around 8 am and we were met at the station by our guide for the day, taken to the hotel to drop off our things and shower. Then we were whisked off on a whistlestop tour of the main attraction of Bangkok, THE GRAND PALACE, and grand it was. See info on the palace here. There were lots of buildings, every one coated in mosaic glass patterns, and statues and stupa's everywhere you looked, each having a different focal point to catch your eye. In the palace grounds is also the Wat Phra Keo which houses the original Emerald Buddha which was once in the temple at Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai as well as several other places! This was a fascinating venue, but it was very crowded, the temperatures were extremely high and we were rushed along as we had other activities to do that day. A visit to the royal masterpieces gallery in a former residence of the King. This place had some beautiful pieces in, paintings, teak sculptures, gold leaf covered models, but again was too busy, filled with other tourist's to stop and completely appreciate the art (also we were flagging by this point due to our lack of sleep and so struggled to appreciate all of the details!).
We did however manage to get back to the hotel in time for a beer by the pool and watch the sunset behind the skyscraper filled skyline. Then with a bit of research on Tripadvisor, we realised the restaurant at the roof of our hotel was not to be missed, it was an Indian restaurant called the Rang Mahal which had won many awards. We were not disappointed the food was exceptional, the service was even better. The hotel and restaurant info is the Rembrandt hotel.
The next morning was a very early start for a trip to Damnoen Sudak floating markets, these were quite far outside Bangkok and they had little to offer except the uniqueness of buying your souvenirs from a floating market. However, the tour didn't stop here for too long and we were taken on a longtail boat through the local villages and along the Mae Klong River to a temple with a hand carved teak panelling interior telling the story of Buddha and also a smaller temple encased in a Banyan Tree. Then we started a 27km bike ride along the through villages, banana and coconut farms, over streams and rivers. This tour was being led by Spiceroads, they run tours all over Asia and we wouldn't hesitate to use them again, the pace was relaxed the food was very good, the guide was informative and easygoing. Then after our busy day it was a minivan journey back to the hotel, an a rest before we took a stroll to the EM district night market on a weekend, it was a place for very fashionable people, there were clothes stands and food stands but they were all selling unique products to them, not like some markets which all have the same products on offer. It was lit up nicely and looked very festive, and was a nice way of spending the evening.
This was our first 2 days in Bangkok, and we will be coming back after the tour for some more time here as there is plenty to see and do and we only just scratched the surface.
On the family trip we decided that if our parents were going to go on a sleeper train it would need to be first class. So we were on the train, with only two to a room (a small booth with bunk beds, a basin, and a very small table. We were supposed to be on an AC train, however the AC was broken, and in first class you cannot open the windows, so despite the added luxury (including a free water, and orange juice) nobody slept very well as the bedroom compartments were like ovens. Our train arrived 1 hour late at around 8 am and we were met at the station by our guide for the day, taken to the hotel to drop off our things and shower. Then we were whisked off on a whistlestop tour of the main attraction of Bangkok, THE GRAND PALACE, and grand it was. See info on the palace here. There were lots of buildings, every one coated in mosaic glass patterns, and statues and stupa's everywhere you looked, each having a different focal point to catch your eye. In the palace grounds is also the Wat Phra Keo which houses the original Emerald Buddha which was once in the temple at Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai as well as several other places! This was a fascinating venue, but it was very crowded, the temperatures were extremely high and we were rushed along as we had other activities to do that day. A visit to the royal masterpieces gallery in a former residence of the King. This place had some beautiful pieces in, paintings, teak sculptures, gold leaf covered models, but again was too busy, filled with other tourist's to stop and completely appreciate the art (also we were flagging by this point due to our lack of sleep and so struggled to appreciate all of the details!).
We did however manage to get back to the hotel in time for a beer by the pool and watch the sunset behind the skyscraper filled skyline. Then with a bit of research on Tripadvisor, we realised the restaurant at the roof of our hotel was not to be missed, it was an Indian restaurant called the Rang Mahal which had won many awards. We were not disappointed the food was exceptional, the service was even better. The hotel and restaurant info is the Rembrandt hotel.
The next morning was a very early start for a trip to Damnoen Sudak floating markets, these were quite far outside Bangkok and they had little to offer except the uniqueness of buying your souvenirs from a floating market. However, the tour didn't stop here for too long and we were taken on a longtail boat through the local villages and along the Mae Klong River to a temple with a hand carved teak panelling interior telling the story of Buddha and also a smaller temple encased in a Banyan Tree. Then we started a 27km bike ride along the through villages, banana and coconut farms, over streams and rivers. This tour was being led by Spiceroads, they run tours all over Asia and we wouldn't hesitate to use them again, the pace was relaxed the food was very good, the guide was informative and easygoing. Then after our busy day it was a minivan journey back to the hotel, an a rest before we took a stroll to the EM district night market on a weekend, it was a place for very fashionable people, there were clothes stands and food stands but they were all selling unique products to them, not like some markets which all have the same products on offer. It was lit up nicely and looked very festive, and was a nice way of spending the evening.
This was our first 2 days in Bangkok, and we will be coming back after the tour for some more time here as there is plenty to see and do and we only just scratched the surface.
Beautiful buildings at the Royal Palace
Unbelievable detail - even on the roof!!!
Floating Markets - Its Crazy what they manage to do from a boat!
Us looking incredibly fetching on our bike ride!!!
These are family pagoda's - where family ashes will be kept...we spotted a few of these along our bike ride
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