Knowing we would only have 2 1/2 weeks left in Asia before flying to India, we decided to go back to a quicker travel mode again to try and see some key sights we had on the list. First up was Bangkok. We arrived in Bangkok on Thursday evening, checked in to our lovely guesthouse close to the temple and palace and went for a night stroll. The first suprising and positive thing we noticed was, that Bangkok was not as hot and humid as we remember Malaysia. Second it seemed to us more chilled and clean than Kuala Lumpur.
So on our way to the palace, all our senses were focused on our new environment. The whole area around the palace and the distances between the main streets were much bigger than we expected. With empty complaining stomachs, we decided it was time for dinner. We had a recommendation for one of the best and authentic Pad Thai restaurants in town. As we had underestimated the size of central Bangkok in the beginning, we took one of Bangkoks famous tourist transport options: a Tuktuk. It was great fun and we were driven to that food place within 10 minutes. When we got there, it was clear which place it was. The crowds were queuing all over the side walk. Luckily the queue was going quite quickly and we got a table within 15 minutes. We went for 2 classical options and were really happy with our choice. It tasted really good and we learned how to season Thai food with all the different seasoning options standing on the table. The mix of sweet, sour and spicy can be really interesting.
The next day was reserved for a little day trip. We had chosen an authentic floating market 2,5 hours south of Bangkok. Compared with the main floating market close to Bangkok, the one in Amphawa we went to, is still visited mostly by locals and Thais from Bangkok as a weekend day trip escape. The place offers amazing seafood dishes, which are cooked and sold directly from the small boats. It is surrounded by small stalls which offers all kinds of local fresh and cooked food. To get there was a little adventure as well. A taxi brought us to the Southern Bus station, from there we took a mini bus for 1,5 hours to a small town close to Amphawa, from which we took an unbelievable old local bus to the market. The bus was going so slowly and noisy that I expected the machine would soon break down. But it did not and we made it there in the end.
As we had left early it was still not so busy when we arrived. So we decided to join one of the many boat trips offering a 5 temple tour in the area. For only 50 Baht per person (1,25 EUR) we got a 2 hours boat ride, which brought us past local houses and temples along the riverbank. The highlight for sure was the last temple which was obviously the oldest one. The temple was actually neither tall nor big, but completely overgrown with a massive climbing fig. It gave us a small glimpse of what might await us in Cambodia. It was still intact from the inside and local monks and people still use it for prayers and ceremonies. So we showed our respect as well.
After the boat tour we came back to a packed market with people sitting on the stairs to the river enjoying the boat food.
On Saturday we went to the biggest market in Bangkok, the Chachuchak market. It is only open during the weekend and offers almost everything around household, clothes and food. As far as we knew, it was supposed to be close to the MoChit bus station from where we had to take the bus in the morning to Cambodia. As we had learned during our travels that it is absolutely recommendable to check out your bus station from were you leave the day before, we decided to go there first to pick up our tickets. Easier said then done. When we got off at MoChit tram station, we found out that walking from there to the bus station is actually not an option. Yeah Bangkok is not a village! Second we struggled to find the right bus, as there are no bus signs in Bangkok that tell yiu the route or direction. So you have to ask your way around. When we finally jumped on the bus, it turned out it was the right bus number, but going in the opposite direction. Getting out of a running bus is not easy, but possible :). Finally we got on the right bus and made it to the bus station 30 minutes later. Luckily our way back to Chachuchak market was much smoother.
We enjoyed walking through all different sections even though we maybe only saw half of the market. It is sooo massive, you would probably need a whole day to see all of it properly. Natalie bought some stuff and we could train our negotiating skills. For me all the little different food stalls were so much fun to try out. My favourite were two old ladies frying fish cake balls in a big old wok. The evening was reserved to meet my friend Moritz. We were colleagues for a couple of years in Munich. He left Munich about 3 years ago to travel through Asia by motorcycle. After his travel he started living in Bangkok and has done so the last 2 years.
In a few days he will leave to go and travel again as well. We shared some great thai food together (he said we had to try fried chicken knees which I really liked) and had a couple of cold LEO beers. There was a lot to talk about. We both wish him great further travels. It was soo good the meet him. And then our first days in Bangkok were already over and we left to Cambodia in the morning. We will be back though before we leave to India. There is so much more to see in Bangkok.