I know I’ve said it before but once again it seemed that short haul flights can be more tiring than long haul, flying half way round the world. Our flight from Phuket to Bangkok was just over 1 hour. But door to door it took around 7 hours. So, another day spent travelling.
Sunday in Bangkok is really the only day of the week when the traffic is bearable as many Thais stay at home either just to relax, do a bit of DIY or gardening
or anything that doesn’t require them to climb into their cars. So, as an alternative to the more cultural of activities, we headed to Sea Life,
a huge aquarium in the basement of the impressive Siam Paragon shopping mall that houses hundreds and hundreds of different species of marine life.
Some of these are so small you could hardly see them and some so big as to be a bit scary!
On the other hand, there were a few that seemed quite friendly and inquisitive – the penguins in particular.
After quite an educational visit to this place, it felt right to head to the Chao Phraya river for some refreshment. We got only a bit lost on the way but our intrepid tour guide, Andy, eventually found a suitable hostelry (via an underground car park)
which, somewhat bizarrely, allowed you to bring in your own wine for a modest ‘cockage’ charge.
Equally bizarrely, this same establishment appeared to be prohibited from selling alcohol at all
despite being advertised as a great craft beer pub!
We took a water taxi back to a pier close to our hotel
and disembarked by a splendid old colonial building which I think was part of the original Oriental hotel but now is clearly in need of some TLC.
Just down the road , I was amused to see this
on the wall of the ‘Assumption College’. So maybe it doesn’t!
And did we really pass a Muslim dress shop as we neared our residence?
Off to make a plan for tomorrow.
Phileas
thelasthurrahsite 