Our first stop of the journey was in Bangkok, where we spent 3 full days in 35 degree heat with 100% humidity (making it feel like 45 degrees). Going from 13 degrees and rain in Vancouver to that was quite the shock, and it felt like we were in a steam room dripping with sweat for the whole time we were there-but not complaining! ;)Bangkok...huge metropolitan city with high end malls to cheap crowded markets, it has the full spectrum and there is something for everybody who visits, and the best of all, food is so good!!! and the street foods are good and cheap!
Living outside of Asia for quite a while, the crowds in the markets were quite overwhelming at first, and I felt like this...people people people people people people people people people people people me people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people people.
Traffic in this city was insane too! when we went on the floating market half day tour, we were probably in the car for 6 hours and actually seeing things for 2 hours.On the first day we had an appointment at Bumrungrad Hospital for innoculations (which are cheaper compared to Canada... $60 vs. $200 in Vancouver!), it blew my mind away to visit a hospital which looked like a 5 star hotel with immaculate lobbies and waiting areas. The bathrooms were really clean and the elevators worked!!!! I have never been to a hospital like that so it was quite the experience and my highlight of Bangkok!! There are apparently a lot of people that travel to this facility for medical treatments from all over the world (it's big business!).
We walked through the various malls, from high end to the cheaper and smaller stores in Siam Square in the sweltering heat. Lots to buy, even if you don't like shopping the clothes and fashion accessories are available everywhere so it makes it easy to shop. Its shopping heaven for those who like shopping, and its affordable (though I didn't buy anything-can't fit anything into my bag). After long days of walking and sightseeing, the Thai foot massages were amazing!
Of course we walked through Chinatown, it is big and lots of small markets down the side streets where Pat bought dim sum while I was being talked to by an old Chinese lady about my camera and its flash in Chinese. I guess she didn't care if I understood or not, and then walked off...
We visited the Grand Palace and Wat Pra Kaew and many more Wats (temples), it was very gold, and the architecture was beautiful. Definitely enjoyed Bangkok, and glad to have had 3 days there. I am looking forward to returning to Thailand very much next year!
If you are interested in seeing more pictures of Bangkok they are here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/natsufujita/BangkokMay201102?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7Z3PLPj6LJ9AE&feat=directlink
