It's Getting Hot in Here

We flew back to Bangkok (1hr) from Chiang Mai and found our hotel, Suk 11, quite easily. It is a nice location a block from the BTS (above ground Metro system) and close to good restaurants and shopping. To get to our room you have to walk down a corrider created to look like a canal with mirrors and wooden walkways. Very Creative!

We had a delicious lunch at a Crepe & Co restaurant near the hotel. Nate had a pizza and chocolate, nut and vanilla ice cream crepe for dessert and Kristy devoured a fondue and for dessert a nutella crepe. Great change from three weeks of Asian fare.

The objective for the day was to get our visas back from the Cambodian Embassy after five and buy tickets to the Muay Thai match. We did with first with no problems although we had to fend off some "creepers", literally people who think they are above lines, order or the system. Then we sat in Lumpini Park and had a cocktail while asking trivia questions to each other about our trip. Nate did end up purchasing ring side or Foreigner tickets, but at $60 USD Kristy was out for the count. We had dinner at the night bazaar and discovered Chang (elephant in Thai) was the favorite Thai beer of the group.

The following day after speaking to all four parents, we sweat nearly 2 kilos at the Chatuchak weekend Market. The market is covered (15,000 stalls) but stalls are packed on top of each other, most spilling into the two foot walkway, which is packed shoulder to shoulder with shoppers. The bargaining is hard here and most did not change the price dramically and the walkaway method didn't work as well here. (Observation either not as desparate or not as persistant.) We bought a few items then took a break for some yummy curry and chicken stir-fry washed down with fresh orange juice! We lasted another hour or so before retreating to our a/c room for a nap. That night we painted the town red by visting the lavish Oriental Hotel (beautiful, tons of flowers and friendly concierge) then went to the state tower (64th floor bar). We were turned away much to the dismay of Nate for his open toed shoes although people with jeans and sneakers were allowed in, you try to make sense of it. After a short "timeout" in the lobby we were walking back to the metro when we passed a shoe store. Not sure if it was spite or a real interest in the view, but we bought $6 black dress shoes and returned to the bar where we bought two overpriced drinks, saw a great view and ran inside right before a storm arrived. The evening was capped with a southwestern dinner (Burger and enchiladas). Brilliant!!

We will be back to Thailand to visit the beach at the end of the month, but have enjoyed the Thai people, culture and their hospitality. If only the weather didn't remind us so much of Corpus in the summer.