Why Bangkok?

Sweets in the food court! Gourmet!

Shark in the underwater pathway

I found Nemo! Lot's of them!

Underwater pathway

A sea turtle just like the one I saw snorkeling off of Gili Trawanga in Indonesia.

A lion fish like the one I saw snorkeling off of Krabi, Thailand.

Well I am headed to Northern Laos and I was told the best way is to go thru Thailand and head south so here I am in Bangkok again making my way to the north!

Started with taking the sleeper train (still not sure why they call it that). It was only 100 minutes late this time and finally were off at 9:30pm. We were originally to arrive at 8am so when the porter started yelling at me at 5:45am to get up I was confused and kept telling him not this stop, Bangkok. Finally the locals motioned to me that I had to get off too. I found out later from an Aussie guy that there had been a train accident further up as we got hearded in mass chaos onto buses for the rest of the journey. Finally got to Bangkok and found a place by 10:30am. Decided to stay close to the train station so I wouldn't have to deal with the taxi drivers, only tuk tuk drivers. Walked around and found out I am in one of the many Gold/Silver/Gem shops area and being Sunday they were all closed. Darn, no shopping for jewels today.....so I hopped on the Sky train to go to Siam Center. It's a huge, and I mean huge, (makes West Ed Mall pale in comparision) World Class Retail Environment Phenomenon- quote/unquote. This was after a tuk tuk driver tried to tell me that 75% of stores would be closed there and he would take me to other 'shopping places'- hah, I read the guide books and politely said, 'no thanks' and walked away as he scowled at me.

On the map I found that Siam Center has an Ocean World and then I was really excited! Turned out to be the most impressive and amazing aquarium I have ever seen with over 20,000 species of marine life and an underwater walkway as well as a rainforest. I saw close up, sea horses, shrimp, sharks, rays and I even found a tank full of Nemos! This was way beyond my expectations of what I would see and there was even a 4D Xventure show that was done amazing well and so funny! After hours spent there I went to check out some more of the area. Endless food courts and restaurants, high end shops for everything imaginable (and they were all open!) After trying out a few different tastes at the food court I headed up to the Paragon Cineplex and to my delight there was an American movie playing called Revolutionary Road with Leonardo Dicapriano and Kate Winslet (together again). The movie cost me 160 Baht ($5.50) and I got to prepick my seat.

After the movie it was 10pm and I was exhausted so decided to take a tuk tuk home. Chaos outside of the Centre so I found one who said he'd take me for 50 Baht and once we got down the road he pulled over and asked me again where we were going. So I showed him on the map and he started to complain it was too far away. He wanted to ditch me there and I was too tired to argue so I just sat there as he jumped around outside of the tuk tuk. I told him it's not fair he take me away and leave me middle of no where (it wasn't really but on the side of the street with no buildings or stores) and he kept saying take a taxi so I told him to find me one. Finally he said he'd take me for 80 Baht and I argued a bit more with him and we settled on 70 Baht just out of fairness I thought as it was a fair distance. I can be very stubborn and cranky (for those of you who don't know me real well....) when I am tired!

Well next thing I knew we were in the Indy 500, I didn't know Tuk Tuks could go so fast. Racing across traffic, zipping in and out and around cars, burning rubber, horn beeping constantly. Not sure if he was pissed off or what but I hung on for my life and braced my feet and yelled at him that's he not going to get any money if he kills me! Finally reached my hotel and I laughed and thanked him for the wildest ride of my life as I paid him his money. Then jumped out and almost kissed the filthy dirty ground!

All in all I had a great day but am happy to say again, Good Bye Bangkok!