Hahahahaha - Bangkok!! Get!? No? Oh well, here we were at last, the end of the road for the Intrepid travellers - a long way from where we began in Beijing, China and with several cast members having switched up - but the hardcore remained.
We danced along in the bus all the way from Cambodia to the border - the Government deliberately keeping the road less travel friendly so people don't pop in and out from Thailand to Angkor Wat? hmmm.
We walked across the border, separate from Kakada who was taking precautions about Thai prejudice against a Cambodian guide. Made it ok, phew, having to pay whatever they asked for the VISA....i think a 20 dollar Visa cost 25?! We made it - phew.
After lunch - not me, still recovering :O( - we got on our very nice minibuses - looked like something from the A-team - driving on the left now (as is the correct side) all the way to MASSIVE Bangkok. This place dwarfed everything we had seen for many weeks - motorways, skyscrapers, traffic...whoa! But you still knew you were in Asia and the atmosphere was still layed back.
The farewell dinner (i ate a bowl of plain rice - yay!) was a sad/happy afaiir, we all said a little to say goodbye and then some partygoers hit the famous Khao San road, i retired in my fragile condition back to the nice hotel we had for more recuperation - poor me, eh?! No problem, i was soon to get back to my old self ready for the rest of Thailand.
In the meantime Sharan and i would move slightly away from the centre to a new hotel the next day but nearly every night we returned to the Khao San road - it's simply the place to be.
So we explored both sides of the city....the new - Siam Paragon shopping centre including Ferrari showroom - sweet...and the old....Little India/Chinatown.
We were joined by friends from home, Anisha and Al who we took to the streets with and bumped in to an elephant being walked down the road! - we went for some great grub - seafood nearby the hotel, curry near Khao San road. We were joined by newer friends from our old tour group, Karin and Gunnar, who had just come from the North of the country and Laos via another trip - and last but not least, that fantastic German, Isa! :O)
Bangkok was fun to explore, on foot, tuk tuk or by cab....ensure they apply the meter!!! We visited the river front, the Grand Palace, the largest reclining Buddha, markets with all sorts of animals on sale, the park with turtles in the lake. No pingpong shows on the itinerary, but we got used to the offer which always came after 'Tuk tuk?' like it was nothing ;OP
My highlights would be the Siam Paragon food court - about 60 different restaurants from McD's to 5 star cuisine - and the Khao San road at night - buzzing night market and one stall with Kings Of leon - Sex on Fire on loop!
We were joined on our 6th day in Bangkok by Al's friend Lisa, all the way from South Africa....and it was Me, Sharan, Anisha, Al and Lisa who would continue on for the next 2 weeks to explore and relax in Thailand....next stop, the island of Kho Phi Phi.