The contrast between the idylic island image that Kho Samui tries to maintain and Bangkok's cosmopolitan mega-city nature already became apparent when comparing both airports:
Whereas Kho Samui's airport felt intimate, more like an upmarket golf club-house with lots of open space and natural materials, Bangkok's airport was huge, surprisingly modern and efficient - with lots of glass and steel (NB: And, I don't even think Singapore offers this service: a long row of baggage carts was neatly lined up at the baggage caroussel to assist arriving passengers...)
We arrived in Bangkok on Sunday afternoon and were initially spared the full onslaught of its famous traffic (jams). Once we had checked into our hotel, we made the most of the somewhat limited traffic (and exhaust fumes!!!) and undertook a tuk-tuk ride. These tuk-tuks are driven by a small motorbike and have an open area in the back for up to 4 passengers - a good way to get around the city (providing the traffic moves, of course).
The next morning we were greeted by the following view from our hotel window and were then ready to properly visit Bangkok's many attraction.
First up was the Grand Palace - probably the city's number 1 attraction. This area, which was built from 1872 onwards, includes many famous temples, spires, Buddha statues and old paintings. It's all very colourful and beautiful - with the beauty really being in the details.
After spending a lot of time in the Grand Palace we took undertook another tuk-tuk tour. We quickly learned the "name of the game" of these tuk-tuk tours or even taxi drives in Bangkok. You can get them very, very cheap, but there is often a little catch: The make rather frequent stops at some random jewellery shop, tailor shop or general Thai tourism shop. The driver gets rewarded by petrol vouchers (for shlepping tourists there). As long as you are able to resist the sales offensive in these places, they leave you pretty much in peace. Having two charming little kids probably helps... And after a free drink or so we were usually on our way again 10 minutes later.
Next we saw a much less visited temple called Wat Saket, which again was incredible with all its golden Buddhas and detailed ornaments (but this time minus the thousands of other visitors that we saw at the Grand Palace). It was here that we met a very charming and well-spoken Thai man, who we got to talk to. He revealed that his father's company is the company sponsoring the renovation of this temple and so he took it upon him to show us around. Rather modestly he said that we might have heard about his father's company: It is Red Bull, the recipe to which his father came up with about 30 years ago!
Following a quick fruit snack "on the go"...
... we then took to the water. Or better, we undertook a boat-tour on a high-speed long-tail boat through the klongs, the waterways that go through much of Bangkok and provide an alternative infrastructure to the often blocked roads.
Today we saw another famous Bangkok attraction - the giant Reclining Buddha of Wat Pho. This massive buddha is about 45 meters long and 15 meters tall and is, ...well, reclining:
We followed this with a bit of shopping in one of the many shopping-"temples" and thus seeing another, modern side of Bangkok:
Now, while I am sitting at Starbucks and writing this, we are getting ready for our return flight to London, which is later tonight, with our departure being past midnight.
All going well, we should be back in London tomorrow morning...
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