A Weekend in Bangkok

We often like to tour cities and just do normal things like the locals do and Bangkok was no exception. In fact, we were itching to feel a bit of normal life after our adventures in Myanmar but of course we couldn’t go without making some tourist stops along the way. Here is a mishmash of our weekend in Bangkok….

TEMPLES
Visiting temples, your shoulders and knees have to be covered if you want access inside. Knowing we could rent coverings, we opted to do that because Bangkok was sweltering hot and we wanted to wear as little as our modesty would allow, when not in the temples.

This is the Grand Palace where I am sporting a lovely blue shirt and green sarong that complements Armando's khaki pants, all clothing wear courtesy of the Grand Palace. — This is the Grand Palace where I am sporting a lovely blue shirt and green sarong that complements Armando’s khaki pants, all clothing wear courtesy of the Grand Palace.

The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho in Bangkok, Thailand.

SHOPPING
We met a couple from Santa Barbara, California in Myanmar. They were heading to Bangkok for the same weekend as we were. They had planned specifically to be in Bangkok on the weekend, just so they could attend the Chatuchak Weekend Market. They had been there before and highly recommended that we check it out. I can’t find an exact count on the number of vendors at this market but it ranges form 8,000 to 15,000. I somehow managed to convince Armando that we go. I love markets and have been to a good few in my travels but this one is hands down the best one ever! So many unique items and for so cheap! If only Armando wasn’t with me, I would have spent more than the 3 1/2 hours that we were there. A must see!

The market is sectioned into different areas such as clothing, local items, house ware, pets, craft supplies and the list goes on. We learned the hard way that if you find something you like, buy it because you won't be able to find it again in the maze of vendors, even with a map. — The market is sectioned into different areas such as clothing, local items, house ware, pets, craft supplies and the list goes on. We learned the hard way that if you find something you like, buy it because you won’t be able to find it again in the maze of vendors, even with a map.

There is also big city shopping that we don’t usually do but I really enjoyed wandering through Terminal 21 shopping centre. It is themed after an airport with each floor taking you to another area of the world. Was pretty neat for a mall.

Terminal 21 Shopping Centre in Bangkok, Thailand

LIVING LIKE THE LOCALS
We love movies and after a hectic first week of our travels, we just wanted to relax one night and watch a movie. We bought tickets to a VIP theatre where we had our own leather love seat with cushions and all…so nice! And, we also got to experience a bit of Thai culture in the process. Before the movies in Thailand, they play the national anthem with a video of their king projected onto the screen. Everyone stands up in the theatre, sings and then bows at the end showing respect for their royalty.

The movie theatres in Bangkok have way more elaborate Coming Soon movie "posters" such as this Hobbit display with throne and all. — The movie theatres in Bangkok have way more elaborate Coming Soon movie “posters” such as this Hobbit display with throne and all.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
We were lucky enough to be in Bangkok during their Festival of Lights, Loi Krathong. Groups of people were everywhere water was…ponds, rivers, lakes. People float krathongs on the water made of flowers and banana leaves among other things. This tradition represents letting the bad luck go and welcoming a new start. It was unfortunately a windy night and most candles blew out on the krathongs but I still wanted to be a part of it. Unfortunately, it didn’t end up the way I planned it to go, as you read the following slide show (click on it if you need to pause it to read the captions):

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SIGNS THAT MAKE YOU GO “HMM” IN BANGKOK

Apparently people standing on toilets are a problem in Bangkok.

#1 ATTRACTION IN BANGKOK
According to Tripadvisor, The Escape Hunt Experience in Bangkok is the #1 thing to do there. Of course many would argue this but with sweat dripping from our bodies from the heat, it wasn’t hard to convince Armando to give this indoor event a try.

If you know what escape room video/app games are, this is the human version of it. Basically you are locked in a room and have to escape it, figuring out clues, finding items and figuring out puzzles to find the key and escape before time runs out. We narrowly escaped but not without one crucial hint our game master gave us. I loved it, but I was a fan of escape rooms before trying this live version.

THE DARK SIDE OF BANGKOK
You haven’t fully taken in Bangkok unless you’ve experienced its dark side although, it’s next to impossible to avoid. There are streets lined with vendors and as you walk down the streets checking out the souvenirs being sold by one vendor, the very next one is selling sex toys. It’s hard not to see at some point, foreigners with local Thai girls as you walk the streets or sit in a restaurant. It was a bit unsettling.

One of the Red Light Districts in Bangkok, Thailand.

Besides Bangkok’s seedy side and challenging logistics of moving in the city, it definitely had some lovely moments but we were ready to get away from the craziness of it all and head for our last few days of our trip to southern Thailand…the beaches!

Related Articles:
– Touring Inle Lake, Myanmar (westcoastprairiegirl.com)
– Adventures in Yangon, Myanmar  (westcoastprairiegirl.com)
– Exploring Singapore  (westcoastprairiegirl.com)
– Exploring Singapore Food  (westcoastprairiegirl.com)

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ME, MY MEXICAN AND OUR LIFE'S ADVENTURE.