Bangkok: Temple crawl and Spa tourism

The events described in this post took place on or about July 1st, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand.  For those of you viewing this through Facebook 'Notes', the original post is available on www.henrickatlarge.blogspot.com. It will enable you access to photo galleries and other multi-media material which don't transfer into 'Notes'
I must say, after enduring a long, hot, and mind-numbingly boring early Summer in Oman, I was completely ready for a Tapeten-wechsel (German for a change of scenery). After arriving in Bangkok, I quickly found my hotel room, put my things away, and made it out in the streets for a preview of what this strange city was like. I made no delay in finding what was to be my 'guide' for the next two and a half days in Bangkok. His name was Thomp (I don't know why it has a 'P' in it either), and he was a Thai in his early twenties who drove a Tuk-Tuk. If you've never been on one of those, it's kind of like a scooter-powered rickshaw. They weave in-and-out of traffic (due to there fast 'pick-up' and sub-automobile size), and one has the feeling of being one step away from the emergency room at all times. Though the ability to see your sorroundings as well as taking in the scenery while motoring around a new city is well worth the risk.

I spent the first evening letting Thomp guide me around some of the local 'sites'. Much of these consisted of 'girlie bars'. For the uninitiated, these are places where forieners go, buy over-priced drinks, and then you pick a beautiful Thai from a line-up that appears in front of you. After you make your selection (and you have to choose one, you can't get away from that), you are forced to engage in banal conversation with this girl. I was very nonplussed by these of these types of places. Thomp couldn't understand that though, most probably because the majority of male visitors (esp. those traveling alone), have some kind of a 'sexual-tourism' itinerary. After I made us leave the first three places he brought me to, I think he got the idea... I wasn't there for that. I retired early, and had a nice long shower in my hotel room. The room I was in was quite lovely, with an excellent view... I spent a while just looking out the lights of Bangkok before drifting away into a pleasant slumber.

The next day I was up early, and out of the 'house'. I only had two days in Bangkok, and there was a lot to see. I had some breakfast and headed out(Here's a tip for travelers: don't take Hotel taxis!!! Walk a few blocks and get a lift on the main drag). This first day the 'to-do' list was immense. I had already scheduled something for the next day (a tour), so today was all me, so-to-speak. I won't go on with the details of my tourism regime, but I will say that I visited many of the 'must-see' sites of Bangkok including, Wat Pho, Wat Mahathat, and a few other temples whose names escape me at the moment. For those of you who have done the 'temple crawl', you know what I mean.  You just wander around in and out of these things while you are in the 'Temple District'  The photos are in the web-album linked above. I hope you enjoy the pictures!

At the end of the day, I retired to my hotel for some dinner and a brief nap.  Upon awakening refreshed, I set out once again.  This time to enjoy one of the real attractions of Thailand... the Thai Massage.  Thai Massages are excellent, and for those of you who have not yet had the pleasure, I sincerely recommend treating yourself to this type of pampering.  It's not like any massage I've had so far.  Basically, it's like someone doing Yoga to you,  stretching you this-way-and-that.  It's a real treat, and the way you feel afterward... :).  Following the spa, I boogied back to my room and got some shut-eye.  I had a very early morning... tomorrow, Ayutthaya!!!