We woke at 6.45 and went down for breakfast at 7.15.
The guide arrived as we were having breakfast at 7.30 - he wasn't due till 8.00. He told me to change into something with sleeves and I told him I had a shawl to wear. He wasn't happy but I didn't have anything I could get out of the case. Jon had to put long trousers on and was not happy.
We went back to our room and collected our things and went to meet the guide. I just knew I was not going to like this 'man' as he was very abrupt and not your typical Thai person and his voice!!! All one tone and just like a gay man. It was going to be a long day!
We set off and he started to talk and he talked and he talked about politics in Thailand and about all the kings and apart from the fact he was hard to understand I really didn't want to know the history of Thailand in a few hours!
With the crazy traffic here in Bangkok it took us over an hour to get to the Royal Palace. As we went in I put my shawl on and one of the guards said it was not enough and I had to wear one of the free shirts they hire out. Really silly as there were many Thai women with shawls on like mine and were allowed through.
Jon needed to give Bertie some attention so I went to wait in the queue. The guide did not tell me I needed to pay a 200bht deposit and Jon had all the money with him. The guide only had a 1000bht note and they don't give change so I had to leave that. I was given a shirt to wear and I was very hot.
We waited for Jon to come out of the loo and I explained to the guide what he had just in case we needed another loo.
We went into the palace and he steered us to a corner and then he talked and talked and I have no idea what he said as it was just too hot to listen to all that history, general facts I can cope with but dates and King Rama 1, 2, 3 - 9 was just too much. Jon was dripping and unusually for me, so was I. Eventually we eased him to the door and we were finally able to get a look at the beautiful palace.
There are lots of parts that photos are not allowed and they are strict. We saw one Asian man use his phone and it was snatched out of his hand quick as a flash and he was told to get out! I can't remember all the palace rooms we went into until I check on my photos and the guide book but it was a lot and it was all very beautiful.
From the palace he said we would have an early lunch, it was only 12.00 and we had missed coffee!
He took us down a street near the palace and we went into a very seedy looking place which really didn't smell pleasant! I told him we didn't want spicy as Jon could not eat it and he went ahead and ordered our food. Now I am not opposed to eating in typical Thai bars but we had paid a lot of money to do this tour and I think they could have done better. Jon could hardly eat any and none of it was particularly good. For non spicy food it seemed to have lots of chillies floating around in it. So all in all we left having not eaten much.
He walked us through the street and a market which was very interesting and then down some very suspicious back streets and we came out at one of the river piers and there we waited for our long tail boat. The river was soooo dirty and if you fell in I am sure you would get very sick.
Our boat came and getting on board was very scary as it bounces. The ride was good and we were taken across to the other side of the river and then entered the canals. We saw some lovely places that would have been nice to eat at instead of where we went. Never mind. We also saw some really run down houses that back onto the canals and so much rubbish floating around. Some of the houses, mostly wooden, were falling down but still lived in. We saw young boys swimming in the river and I am sure if thy don't die of infection they will be killed by the engines of the long boats which look like lorry engines with a huge shaft propeller on the end of a long pole in the water! Some of the houses, which are all made from wood, are falling into the water and abandoned. The washing, due to lack of space, is all hung on coat hangers and then onto poles on the balconies. I would be very nervous hanging out my washing as I usually drop some on the floor but if they did that it would be last forever!
After a long journey through the canals we came back out onto the river which is very busy. We then went down to the Royal Barge Museum and I really loved seeing this. The barges are huge and very beautiful. The Royal Family, which everyone loves, has 75 barges and they come out onto the river for a royal procession once a year and it takes four and a half hours for it to pass. Our guide was now very informative and I liked him - just a little!
We bought a bottle of water from a little shop on the river. The owner of the shop had a bird in a cage which was so loud and obviously speaking Thai as they all laughed at him. Shame the cage was so small.
Back on our boat, I am getting the hang of boarding now, we crossed the river to a huge river cruise ship. Our guide told us they serve lunch to tourists on it but they are mostly Chinese and very noisy, I don't think he has much time for Chinese tourists and I do understand why! However, we had to disembark from our boat via this big boat with the help of some very nice young Thai men!
We walked through the boat to get out onto the landing pier and I really wish we had taken our chance with the noisy Chinese as it all looked very nice!
Our car was waiting for us and it was a relief to get into the cool car and be given cold towels to refresh ourselves.
We were due to visit some factory shops, silk, jade, silver etc. but we have seen all of them so I told him, and I feel bad I can't remember his name, that we would go back to the hotel.
I was glad we did as the traffic was just as bad going back but we had plenty of time. The motorway on the opposite side was closed as a very important person was coming through from the airport. We saw the motorcade and it turned out to be one of the royal family. I don't think Brits would be impressed if the M25 was closed to let one of our royal family through!
We had also seen a couple of cars with escorts through the city. The guide said they would be minsters 'tying to get to the office on time'! I have never seen so many cars and they encourage ONE to a car only and give big incentives to buying new cars. Seems like I must have taken some of what the guide told us on board !
It was lovely to get back to the cool hotel and our room was lovely and chilly! Jon was hungry so we went down for a cup of tea which was really nice (I have had problems with tea on this trip) Jon had a sandwich and I had a nice piece of cake which I really did not need and I am going to have to do something about the extra pound when we get back.
We both had showers and finished packing and went to checkout and get the shuttle to the airport - 5 minutes!
Check in was quick and we went to spend our last 500bht as we won't be back for a while.
We waited in the lounge and it was good to have Internet to catch up.
Our flight was called and we went to the gate but there was no plane there! We were taken by bus to the plane and had to walk up steps - a long time since we did that. I think the airport was busy and they had no free gates when our plane came in!
The flight was good and very smooth. The food was good and I finished my dinner with a coffee and a Gran Mariner and then finished watching the film Waitress which was OK.
I then settled down to sleep but didn't manage to sleep as well as the London leg but I did get a good few hours.
WEATHER
Hot and sunny 35 degrees
Wednesday
Woke up with hot towels being handed out which are always welcome. We then had a lovely breakfast with some beautifully cut fruit, croissants, yogurt and then some ham and I now feel stuffed!
Just preparing for landing and then the drive home. Not so exciting this time as we know we only have a few weeks left in NZ.
We had a lovely approach and landing and it was so clear, shame I didn't have my camera and I couldn't turn my iPad on.
We landed at 11.05 and were out and driving away from the airport by 11.30. It as a lovely day but cold.
We stopped for lunch and I had a toasted sandwich which was horrible and I didn't eat it.
We stopped at the supermarket on the way back to buy some dinner.
Once home to a cold house we unpacked and I put some washing on.
NZ is going through a particularly cold snap at the moment with lots of snow on the Desert Road which is unusual for this time of year.
The house next door had been rented and they trashed the place but that was before we moved in and so the house has been empty. I am not sure if it is going to be rented again or sold but they have been doing a lot of work on it. They have also cut down all the threes and shrubs down our side which opens it up a lot by my washing line which is now in the sun for the first time. It's not really a problem as we get more of a view from 'the garage door at the back'/ However, if the new people have a dog it might be an issue as there is not much of a fence, only a mesh one we put up. Fingers crossed there is no dog!
We went to collect Totty and she was fine and they had given her a bath as promised and didn't charge us which was just as well as it cost $500 for her to stay there. I think we are their best customers but Totty was happy though a little thinner (no treats) so she looks well.
Back home we put the hear pump on - luxury to have it and is the first one we have had in any of our houses. I miss the fire but at least this is instant heat. We also put the gas fire on so hopefully we will be warmer in this house.
I cooked dinner and we caught up with some Coronation Street though we might just as well forget all about it as we will be so far behind when we get back to UK.
WEATHER
Sunny and clear 12 degrees
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