BANGKOK: Part One

15/11/2014 - 17/11/2014 KOH TAO >>>> BANGKOK

I left The Simple Life Resort in the morning, 0900hrs to get the most to the mainland. The boat was proper chops, all the way, I was feeling a tad delicate too which obvs didn't help. It was just under a 2hr journey from Koh Tao to Chumphon on the mainland. It was there I met a lovely Thai lady who gave me a cold towel, she had been travelling for a bit around the country as she was visiting from New Zealand. She was heading to Pai as there is a beautiful flower blooming there at the time of the year, she did tell me what it was but I natch can't remember, after investigation it's called Bua Tong Flower. Our paths did not cross again, sadly but I did find that flower she was going to see;

Bua Tong Flower

The VIP bus was interesting, it wasn't at all VIP. I was not allowed to sit in my allocated seat, I find that sort of thing irritating. I was sat next to a leaking window. After about 3hrs I was told to get off the bus and was moved on to another one. I had no one to talk to the whole journey, it was pretty dire. I booked through Lomprayah who run the boat from Koh Tao, it was their bus, that reminds me, I must trip advisor this. Despite all this I did find myself arriving in Bangkok somewhat frustrated but excited to see the KTK once more.

I arrived a bit earlier than the KTK to BKK. As soon as I stepped off the bus a pack of taxi drivers descended on me wanting my fare. It was a bit much. They all claimed not to be metered taxis and I had previously read to avoid non-metered cabs. After about 5 minutes of being lost and confused I got a taxi with an apparent non metered cab, which turned out he did have a meter, but this was conveniently not working. He charged me 400baht (£8) to go what I now know is a 3 mile journey on a meter this would have cost no more than 50baht (£1).  I was just relieved to get to my hostel if I'm honest. So my initial introduction to BKK was not brilliant.

HOSTEL: I stayed at Boxpackers Hostel. This has a great concept, where you share with others, however the beds are in holes in the wall therefore creating the privacy people need. There were mostly Asian people staying here and they seemed to know each other. There was literally no atmosphere or socialising going on in the social areas. I was sharing with a female who appeared horrified that I was in the room, she stared and then ran out hahaha. My second day I met Damien who is an 18yo Aussie lad more about him a bit later. I wouldn't stay here again, it's not particularly near the main tourist hubs or anywhere of particular note. 

My first night involved meeting up with the KTK, we did this at their hotel, the Millennium Hilton Hotel which is along the river, about 6 miles from where I was staying. My journey there was incredibly frustrating, six taxis and two tuk tuk's later and I arrived. The cabbies refused to turn their meter on, or claimed to say it was too far away or that they didn't know where it was. One taxi driver even agreed a price with me and off we went, only to find a mile into the journey he had changed his price and the direction in which we were going. Needless to say I got the right hump and had a few choice words, politely of course, before getting dropped off God knows where.The tuk tuks were effectively saying the same thing and wanted no less than 400baht for the journey. I finally got in a taxi and it cost me 300baht (£6). It was such a relief and delight to see the KTK and we had only been apart for about 12 hours!!! We went out in Khao San Road, if you don't know, this road is full of backpackers, tourists. Cheap drinks, a bar to suit everyone, clubs, and these bizarre bars that just pop up on second and disappear the next, there was various other treats along the street, by treats I mean cooked food/insects. We didn't get out til quite late, we went to quite a good but grubby bar, where there was a one man band who was singing indie hits and playing his guitar, quite good actually, surprised Nichols didn't take over on the sight of a guitar!! We stayed their until closing, about 0200hrs, and the big finale was all the backpackers singing a song appaz called 'In The Morning'. Something I've yet to learn or here anyone sing in Australia, or any other part of Thailand for that matter, must've been a BKK thing.

We left the bar and it appeared everywhere was closing, I annoyingly forgot to bring out my lonely planet guide offering advice as to what is open later in the city. The only thing that sprung to our minds was a ping pong show. Yep. So with obvs not enough alcohol in our system we walked along Khao San Road until we were approached by a tuk tuk driver asking us if we wanted to see a Ping Pong Show, we went with it, that's what you do in Bangkok, right? 500baht (£10) for a tuk tuk to the venue, entrance fee and free drink. Nichols and I were in one tuk tuk, the driver was hilarious, and totes cray cray on the roads! It was exciting fosho. We ended up in this back alley where other tuk tuks were parked up and we waited for the others, who had left before us. We were told to keep our voices down, I also took a photo of Nichols outside a 'THAILAND' door, then got told that photos are not allowed. Something was clearly not right with this situ, but you roll with it, WE'RE IN BANGKOK! 

The only photo I got away with taking outside the PingPong Show venue.

Without going into too much detail about the ping pong show, what you think takes place, does take place, oh...and then some. A picture, balloon popping, banana exiting, candle blowing outing, a never ending ribbon, liquid exchange, ping pong balls flying (at me) and a stingy free drink later and it was the end. Kenickie and I were pretty shafted by the others, we sat in the front row whilst the other three sat behind us. The first night in Bangkok came to a very disturbing end, but totally hilare.

The next day we went completed the tourist things in the city. It was the groups last full day together and that evening would be our last night too. We met up at The Millenium Hilton where we got a boat over to the main pier. We first visited Wat Pho Temple with the famous Big Reclining Buddah. Oh my Buddah it was huge. The temples within Wat Pho were very impressive, and dripping in wealth. Go out into the streets and poverty is everywhere though. Is it any wonder the people of Thailand and the government are at odds? The thing about Thailand temples I have found is that all the information about them is in Thai, doesn't appear to allow for the vast majority of English/English speakers to learn about what each Buddah represents. We left Wat Pho and we got a taxi to the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market. It's said to be the worlds largest market. It's not what I had thought at all. I was thinking there would be a lot of tatt but actually some of the units were really very good, great clothing, I was natch tempted to indulge but of course I packed 28kgs of luggage, I think I could do without anymore. Great juices, food and other items were available. We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around and taking in the atmosphere. Nichols and I remained when the other left and we indulged in a spot of having our feet massaged, kinda painful, I can't lie but felt reinvigorated afterwards. We parted so we could get ready for our last night together. 

King Rama I ashes are buried within this Buddah. King Rama I is Thailand's first King.

I have no idea what this means.

Interesting gargoyle type statues.

Huge temples within Wat Pho's grounds.

Us boys keeping it real outside another temple.

Chatuchak Weekend Market. Must see in Bangkok.

We wanted a nice meal to end our KTK trip together. We met up, back at The Hilton, Nichols had to leave a bit earlier as he had an earlier flight so the gang had decided where we would have dinner. The tuk tuk's we spoke to had no idea where the restaurant was so we asked them to take us to a nice restaurant with good food. Off we went. We spent about 25 minutes in the tuk tuk which costed us 100baht per tuk which is very cheap, probably should have rung some kind of alarm bell. We had a tuk tuk crash en route too, made us laugh a bit. Unfortunately where they took us was so far away it meant less time with Nichols at the restaurant. The place we ended up was called SOMBOONDEE - Seafood Market. Inside it looks a bit like a cafeteria, it didn't look particularly great. Still we had very little time to waste so we cracked on with ordering. Caz and I ordered a bottle of white wine and we all ordered a few starters to share. Kenickie got to pick his seabass that he ordered, alive. I had a tiger prawn dish in sesame sauce. The food was quite nice actually. The KTK surprised with me an awesome postcard with a message for me for my onward travels, the postcard was from Koh Tao, and I was genuinely surprised and touched by the gesture!! Kenickie got me a phone case 'If I had a British accent I'd never shut up' hahaha it was fitting, thanks DD! 😉

LOVE THIS.

We had our final group photo taken and said goodbye to Nichols, it was said, the bloke is genuinely one of the nicest and funniest people a person can meet! Nichols left, and then there was four... 

We got our bill, which is pretty big, we couldn't get over or at least wrap our heads round the size of it. It basically came to £70 each. The wine itself was £40 for the bottle, and Caz didn't even like it. It turns out that when we ordered our starters they made enough for 5 to share instead of just their usual serving, in doing so they upped the price of them. In terms of the mains the price was agreed prior as it was worked out with the weight of the fish. The wine was a surprise as it was certainly not a £40 bottle of white, I'm obvs a bit of a wino these days, thanks to Tras and Roly, so I know a £40 bottle when I taste one, this was nothing better than a house. We grinned we bared it and we moved on.

The remaining four of us went to DOME Bar which is located at LEBUA HOTEL. You'll know this as the Hangover pt 2 Bar. It featured prominently in the movie. It was stunning. Cocktails were about £15 a pop which is reasonable given the location and certainly no more than you would pay in London. I had the best Long Island Iced Tea of my entire life here. It was stunning. We enjoyed the views and each other's company at one side of the bar, then moved over to the most iconic part which was incredible. The big dome and the wide and long steps leading to the glass barriers to take in the view of Bangkok at night. Bangkok looked great from 60 something floors up. After a few cocktails we bided each other a good night. 

Iconic Dome.

Ange, Nicky, and Caz.

Kenickie & I.

Amazing views - the best way to see Bangkok.

I got a taxi from the hotel to my hostel, this was the first and only time I got in a metered taxi in Bangkok, and the 5 mile journey cost 67baht (£1.20) - that's when I realised they take tourists as proper mugs in Bangkok.

We said our goodbyes in the foyer of the Lebua Hotel. It was sad. I felt very sad when I got in the taxi. I had made some incredible friendships with these guys, and it has elevated Caz & I's friendship. I've known Caz for years now and although we don't see each other regularly I've always known she is great company, and a lot of laughs so I had no doubts that our time together would be anything but great. I've made a true friend in Ange, Nicky, and Rich on this trip too. As a group it's a funny match, we were all brought together thanks to Keely & Ross' wedding and we leave having a bond with each other. Not once in my time with any of them did I get annoyed or frustrated or miserable. I genuinely enjoyed their company so much. I've natch remained in contact with them since we parted, which is now approaching a month later. I actually factually still miss the KTK. 

OBVS, a reunion is on the cards.

The KTK's final photograph of the trip.