Family Affairs » Bangkok

LOST IN TRANSLATION

Family Affairs — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:17:00 +0000

I have brought my cheap wares home from Bangkok for the children – a fake Chanel watch for my daughter that has already broken, a few pairs of Calvin Klein underpants that cost less than £2.00 each and a number of DVD’s. We have just started watching “Wolverine” to check out the quality….not bad….it is at least in English, but the sub-titles leave a little to be desired:-

“Take her down” was a request to the pilot of a plane – “clump donkey a spinning wheel” was the translation.

Close.

BANGKOK – RANDOM SHOTS

Family Affairs — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:56:00 +0000

Check out the sign:-

Tuk-tuk the widely used form of urban transport where you have to just let your total fear of hideous death be overridden by the exhilaration of the ride:-

BANGKOK BOUTIQUE HOTEL

Family Affairs — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:42:00 +0000

I am having such an amazing time. You really can pack a lot into only four days if you want to. Yesterday I met up with a friend who lives here and he took me to places I wouldn’t otherwise have known about – we went along the river on a boat, went to a food market, wandered down the Koh San Road and sat having a beer and simply absorbing the atmosphere.

Last night after my friend had finished her business meeting a group of us went out for dinner. Having somebody who lives locally recommend places makes such a difference and we went to a completely idyllic venue with stunning views across the banks of the Chaopraya River. It was a small boutique hotel called Arun Residence – completely hidden away and after climbing up several flights of stairs we emerged to find ourselves in an open air lounge bar which had this view:-

Wat Arun – better known as The Temple of the Dawn:-

We had a delicious Thai meal in their restaurant – again semi open air and consequently you could watch all the boats on the river. Just gorgeous. Then we went to the Grand Hyatt for drinks and then had a rather pathetic and drunken attempt at dancing in their nightclub.

We’re flying back tonight. I haven’t seen the Flower Market yet, or had a drink on the balcony at The Oriental Hotel OR bought nearly enough – so better get on with it.

I can’t believe it’s time to leave already.

BANGKOK – FACES

Family Affairs — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:33:00 +0000

BANGKOK – VIEWS FROM THE RIVER

Family Affairs — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:31:00 +0000

BANGKOK BUDDHIST MONK

Family Affairs — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:27:00 +0000

WE’VE ARRIVED IN BANGKOK!

Family Affairs — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 06:30:00 +0000

We’ve arrived and it’s hot and humid. We have discovered that the weather pattern at the moment is bright sunshine from about 8am to 2pm and then it generally pisses with rain for the rest of the day. So we will be adjusting our plans accordingly. The flight was relatively painless even if my legs were about to explode owing to overtight leggings – oh well, at least being the equivalent of elastic stockings I have hopefully avoided a DVT.

The last time I was in Bangkok was almost exactly 20 years ago – for my honeymoon! I’m not sure I remember much about it to be honest, so it will be interesting to see if memories come suddenly flooding back when we get out and about.

The hotel is lovely and what luxury to suddenly have my own clean and tidy room with nobody else’s mess to contend with. I left my house in London kicking things into cupboards at the last minute. My son had come back with two mates very late the night before and totally trashed the sitting room – not intentionally – just by simply being there.

So I have gone from having to deal with this sort of mess (check out the new hiding place for alcopops):-

To finding flower petals in the sink of my luxury bathroom:-

We’re going straight off out for dinner – think best just to pretend that jet lag doesn’t exist.