outside the ground

inside the ground

Pt 4

On rising the next day - I actually made breakfast this time and my friends were already there making plans - they had decided that they were going to the Zoo - this was not for me I thought so I decided to go and hunt some of the bargains I had heard about and get my long suffering wife a pressie I also needed to change some money if I was to go shopping checking my pocket I had 3060 baht 3x1000 and 6x10 and some lose change - the conversation got around to massage and who was going to get famous Thai massage for some reason no one was committal - we arranged to meet later on and I left for my shopping expedition - I ignored to hotel taxis desk and the guys outside the hotel again and hailed a passing tuktuk who took me to my first destination River City shopping (30 bht) it was very nice but no bargains to be had
So I got another tuktuk and headed for MBK (30bht) paid the guy and headed for the complex it was massive looking at the directory it was 7 floors and hundreds of shops - stalls on each floor - I was making my first purchase of some “designer” t shirts which were 100 baht each - I went to pay and only had 30 baht in my pocket - OMG the realisation hit me 30 baht first tuktuk and 30 baht second one - I had given the second guy 3000 baht not 30 - so I had to leave the t shirts and went and got some money changed (one of the best places to change money is MBK but not the banks) - I then got a tuktuk back to River City as I got off the tuktuk I heard a guy shout you give me too much money and there he was running across the road to give me back my money I tipped him 300 baht and got him to take me back to MBK a conversation was struck and he could speak reasonable interest so I asked for places to go and see - he recommended the usual Grand Palace snake farm river cruise etc and reckoned he could organise all for cheaper than we could so he gave me his phone number and his brothers a taxi driver in case we needed them - I liked this guy (gut feeling) so I asked to come back in a couple of hours for me he said he would - and I went shopping - I was seeing things in these shops and stalls at unbelievable prices compared to home - but I had to wait because of the time difference to ring my wife and ask what she wanted so went for something to eat in KFC please do not do it god knows where all the chicken breasts go in Thailand but KFC are not buying them - once I had spoken to my wife I ended up with about 7 pairs of shoes tops jeans etc for her and a couple of mp3 players for my two lads plus t shirts gimmicky lighters and all the usual tourist stuff - once finished I walked outside and there was my tuktuk waiting - I explained that I wanted to get something special for my wife he said can you help me with fuel coupons and I find for you cheap (I know guys but this was my first time) so after stopping at two tailors - one where I got the big blue and maroon flag in the pictures made - then refusing to go into any brothels I asked about a jewellers so he took me to one which was massive and to cut a long story short I ended up buying a 1ct Burmese sapphire and getting it made into a ring which would be delivered to my hotel in 2 days I got it for the equivalent of £221 (on return home was valued at £750) - so he was happy and we had a good chat and stopped for a drink on the way back and a few nibbles - when I arrived back at the hotel I also got measured for a suit in the hotel tailors which cost £42 incredible since the cloth was imported from London of all places

Went up to my room and dumped the shopping and down to the bar vowing to unpack after I had, had a rest - met my friends in the bar and we swapped stories for the day - on hearing about the Thai guy I had met we agreed to ring him and arrange something for the following day - his brother was to pick up the 4 of us and take for a river cruise taking in the sites sounds and smells of BKK the following morning we also booked him to take us the 2nd and last game the day after - so that was almost the end of the day and days 4 and 5 now had a plan - so we went to the travel agent in the hotel who was not around and the tailor came out and asked for one more measurement and said go across the street for a travel agent a lot cheaper - so we did so and arranged a day trip to river kwai etc for the 6th day - we then retired to the bar and restaurant for the rest of the evening and collapsed in bed quite late - I had still not unpacked

us eating in the hotel

4/4

We were duly met after breakfast (which I missed yet again) by our driver the brother of the honest tuktuk driver - he took us direst to river city where he arranged a private boat for the tour of BKK by river / tributaries - this tour cost half the price of organised ones and only the four of us on the boat - I was really beginning to like these guys - we saw all the sites from the boat and stopped at the grand palace for about an hour - then again at snake farm (I now know that they earn from stopping but it still does not take away from what these guys did for me) stopping to refuel was an experience - just like pulling up at a garage but on water and a hell of a lot faster - we went passed lots of sites up all sorts of tributaries and were assailed by the best salesmen / women on a boat you could ever meet (all I am now sure in the pay of the boatmen / taxi driver) but nevertheless I really enjoyed it and it was still cheaper than booking elsewhere - we stopped again at the snake farm an unbelievable show which I am sure is not as dangerous as they make out and the obligatory photo was taken on the way in with tacky plates for sale with said photo on the way out which of course we bought (first time remember) we went to various temples the grandest of which was of course the grand temple (no pun intended) in the snake farm we not only saw the snake show but also monkeys / photos with snakes monkeys etc (cheesy first time stuff) and a couple of tiger cubs (I now know this to be wrong as far as I am concerned) along with feed the elephant (again wrong) (but it was the first time ) we ate BBQ cockroaches (taste like hot pork scratchings) mini squid on a cocktail stick etc - I was beginning to get into the Thai way albeit in a very very small way and I liked it - when we arrived back at River City we were met by our driver again who was a mind of info - my friends love lobster ( not for me ) so asked for a place to get a great one at a reasonable price - I know a place (now I would be surprised had he not) - But I must say these guys had plenty of opportunity to rip us off and did not - so at this point day 7 was agreed he would pick us up and take us on last min shopping then take us to said seafood place for a meal and we invited both him and his brother to partake at our expense along with the rest of the families (they declined that bit to their credit ) after which we were due to fly home and we arranged for him to take us to the airport - we had, had a great day viewing the sites and just as we got out asked where he would eat nearby we got directions only 100 metres from the hotel which we would never had found where the Thais eat - when we pulled up he made a remark about the flyover opposite our hotel about kids living underneath (5 of them - we asked why - because it is cheaper from the mafia was the reply - since I have learned the charging system to keep people down and the railway is the cheapest but a few die each day ) so me and my friends said we would try to get these kids out for a decent meal over the next few days - I also learnt that directly across the road was one of the best hand made shoe / boot makers in Thailand - so on leaving our “friend” for the day I mooched in there and rang my wife at the same time - found a style she described - then to decide what a size 5 uk was in Thai - I need not have worried the patron produced a young Thai size 5 for me to check the size and the making of the boots began - we then went around the corner to eat with the Thais in the place recommended earlier “brilliant” we ended up going there a few times over the next few days it was a brilliant day capped by the fact we had found some honest decent Thais who wanted to make our trip memorable (I might add that these guys are now my friends and whenever in BKK I ring them before anyone and they look after me as I do them ) - we then retired to the hotel and a few more beers flowed before hitting the sack I was by this time convinced that Thailand was for me (albeit naively) (as we all know it can be a minefield) - I went to bed yet again unpacked …………………..day 4 was over and I did not want this particular adventure to end …… to be continued

eating in the Thai place



in the temple with a monk



just one of the views from the boat

with said monkey



the snake farm

please tell me am I wasting my time here ? because I am not getting much response - maybe the wrong forum ? WTFIGO

No Phil,
You're not wasting your time. I'm really enjoying your stories, I must be because it's 2.30am in Sydney and I have to get up at 7.15am LOL I think that many people read the forum but don't bother to comment, which is a shame because you are then left to wonder if it's really worth the effort.
Keep them coming but maybe start a new post which each one so everyone will know it is a new posting and not the one they have already read. It's great to see the photos and put a face to the name.
Michelle

I'm not really a guest but not sure what's happened to my login.

Keep them coming Phil, they're a great read but I agree with the last post - do each one as a new post.

Do you have the address or directions to the last eaterie? We try to go where the locals go but a recommendation makes me feel a bit better!