Bangkok is hot!... and interesting too

We traveled to Thailand (and a quick day in Singapore) at the end of March/beginning of April, but I am just getting around to blogging about our trip. It’s been a busy couple of months visiting family in Chicago and Seattle for graduation, anniversary and wedding celebrations. It is difficult to believe that we returned from this trip nearly two months ago. It was amazing, so it will be fun to relive it as I share some of the details. 

We arrived in Bangkok around 11:30pm on March 26^th. The Bangkok airport was crowded and busy that time of night with many restaurants open, so we were able to get some food before taking a cab to our hotel in the Sathorn/Silom area. Even though our cab driver still had to stop and ask directions before finding our hotel, I recommend taking printed directions and a map to show the cab driver.

We spent two full days in Bangkok. This was the perfect amount of time since we spent the first half of the first day sleeping.Our initial impression of Bangkok was that it was hot and smelly. It was incredibly hot and humid. We were unaware the Earth got that hot. I later learned that Bangkok is considered the hottest city in the world, especially during the months of March to May, which made me feel better as I felt like I was being a whimp, but I think being in the hottest city in the world at the hottest time of the year qualified us to complain a little. We never got used to it, but once we understood what we were dealing with it was easier to mentally prepare each time we stepped outside. 

We did enjoy wandering around and taking in the sights of all of the food carts/stalls on the streets, but the smell on some of those streets and in the open markets was overwhelmingly gross. Even if the scorpions on sticks had looked appetizing (there was actually a wide variety of food on the street), I don’t think I could have braved eating in the sporadic stench.We did enjoy all of the food we ate in Bangkok, mostly in restaurants with air-conditioning. The food was more expensive inside than on the street but the chance to sit down in the air conditioning was worth it. We also enjoyed some foot massages in the area near our hotel for about $6 (Unfortunately I was not as good on this trip about writing down what everything cost, so the prices for certain things are estimates). 

We had some great green curry at this restaurant near our hotel.

A street in the Sathorn/Silom area of Bangkok

On our second day we took the water bus, Chao Phraya Express Boat, to the area near the Grand Palace. The boat ride was nice. We enjoyed seeing Bangkok from the river and the slight breeze on the open air boat provided a little relief from the heat, but not much. I had worn a long skirt so I could go in the temples feeling like I was dressed appropriately, but that turned out to be a mistake. I felt like I was suffocating all day. 

Chao Phraya Express Boat

Bangkok from the river

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) from the river

We wandered past the Grand Palace before eventually taking a refreshingly air conditioned cab to the Wat Pho temple. It was our first time in a Buddhist temple, and we were fascinated. The Reclining Buddha is impressive, and the rest of Wat Pho and the grounds are beautiful as well. The temple staff was actually pretty relaxed about clothing restrictions there. Andy was fine in his cargo shorts, and although I did feel good that I was dressed modestly, I am not sure if I needed my ankle length skirt there. In hindsight, I would have worn something slightly shorter and borrowed the long wrap given at the door if necessary. 

 A park outside of the Grand Palace.

The Grand Palace from across the street and over the wall. It was amazing, even from this distance.

Wat Pho Temple. The official name is Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan.

The entrance fee for Wat Pho is 100 Baht (about $3.25). They were giving away water bottles with the entrance ticket, which is probably to prevent people from straight passing out from the heat. It was appreciated.

The Reclining Buddha's feet are 5 metres long.

The Reclining Buddha is the "highlight" of the Wat Pho Temple. It is stunning and very interesting.

Stone guardian statues stand at all of the temple entrances and they're all different.

After leaving Wat Pho, we bought some delicious (ice cold) orange juice from a street cart and jumped in another cab to Khao San Road. We needed lunch and had heard that this was an interesting area. It is a backpacking area with cheap guest houses, etc. Khao San Road is extremely touristy, but it was worth the time to wander up the street. We had lunch at an open air restaurant on the next street over. There were almost no indoor restaurants in this area, thus no A/C. The place we found had some well-placed fans. We enjoyed the atmosphere there along with some pretty good Pad Thai and beer. 

Khao San Road