Back in Bangkok

So we are back in Bangkok and Back at Buri, in room 5 which is two single beds. What a difference a room makes. This experience is not as lovely as the first. We had called to reserve our room 13, and the language barrier, considering we were talking about the 13th of December, needless to say, we took what they would give us. Yesterday we went to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew – otherwise known as the temple of the Emerald Buddah. It is worth a look definately, even if you are slightly wat-ed out, like I am at the moment. We visited the weapons museam and the emerald buddah museaum which are included and on-site. The Emerald Buddah museaum was fun, as we got to see the other 3 costumes for the other 3 seasons.

After this, we went to the nearby market for some green mango with chilli and sugar powder, some pineapple and a fried rice and a fried noodle, which set us back about $3.50. We then browsed through the Amulet Market which is a makeshit market along the sidewalks, where people sell amulets supposedly blessed by various monks. The amulet collecters are serious, and there are books and magazines and catelogues they peruse while they browse. We took a quick ferry across the Chayo Praya River to Wat Arun, or “Temple if the Dawn.” This temple was just beautiful. We strolled past a local school in Thornburi and watched a very competitive soccer game, that had a live announcer and a few drummers providing loud beats. It was super high energy, we took a video. Afterwards, we ferry'd back across the river, and took a taxi to fetch Mikae's suit. It turned out beautifully, and we are rather happy with the result. I picked out a pretty snazzy tie to go with the ensemble, its white silk with a textured finish. We took the same cab to the Hupalong train station to pick up our tickets to Chaing Mai. We leave Sunday night at 7:35, and arrive in Chiang Mai the next morning. We have a 2nd class sleeper, top and bottom bunk. Tickets are 1620 baht or $49 for a 14 hour ride.

After all of this, we went to MBK and went to the 51/2 floor coupon food court to nosh with the Thais. I had cold spring rolls – apparaently shirmp only but made with suspiciously pork looking filling, vegetarian curry and a banana shake for about $3. Mikae had two gyros which was closer to $6. I love that food court. Be warned, when you get to the first food emporium, on the 5th floor, It is pimp and uses cards, don't be fooled, go up one more floor to get to the coupons. That place is the goods. We then came back here, exhausted, and I watched a Harry Potter movie on my laptop until I fell asleep.