We arrived in Bangkok to be confronted by a Westernised society, a shock after travelling through rural Cambodia.  It was like London meets Asia.  There was KFC, McDonalds, Tesco, 7 Eleven, big shopping malls with escalators and, to Summer’s delight, an H & M!   So, having dipped into “normality” for a few hours with the benefit of lush air conditioning we headed for the boat taxi to experience a more Asian side to Bangkok. 
Within minutes of walking we had sweated off our tan in the intense heat. We reached the canal and found we were on the wrong side to catch the boat but the right side to enjoy a small,  makeshift cafe so we tucked into a Pad thai and chicken fried rice. The waitress cooked on a camping gas stove with just one ring so the food came out one at a time. While we waited we watched the boat taxis come and go and a game of football in the yard behind us.    

To get on the boat taxi we had to climb up onto the side and then jump in holding ropes and grabbing the roof. Not easy but for 20p each and Summer for free it was worth it.  

We got to the Golden Monument late afternoon and the gold dome glistened in the sun. It took 10 minutes of climbing steps to get to the top,  hitting a few enormous Buddhist gongs and ringing some old bronze bells on the way up. From the top we had stunning views across Bangkok and a sunset over the river. 

 Summer wrote down some thoughts on a prayer flag and we lit some candles and incense. It was beautifully peaceful and serene and we all enjoyed the time out of the Bangkok madness.

The next day Fin, Summer and I set off for a boat tour.  Unfortunately, the boat operators saw us coming and we got stung! We paid over the odds for a ride that should have been an hour but the boat took a shorter route and we finished after 40 mins. We were supposed to be dropped off at the royal palace for the next part of our sight seeing but ended up much further down the river away from the tourist hum drum. The floating market which was the selling point for me turned out to be 3 lazy men sat in boats in the shade!   You live and learn!

However, we did see people’s homes on stilts and the poverty behind Bangkok city life. Some of the homes were made of rotten wood and were collapsing into the river. Others had their kitchen outside on the veranda. In some places our nostrils were challenged by the rank smell of stagnant water. Men were sat in their boats mending fishing nets and local Thai were drinking in the waterside cafes hidden from the tourists. An enormous monitor lizard sunbathing on the river bank looked up at us and then went back to sleep.  

The boat tour was very different to the KFC or Tesco we had seen the previous day.  Perhaps more the real Thailand that we are growing to love.

Kate