In September 2006 I went back to Bangkok with my friends Derek and Maryse. This was for the second time that year, and the fourth time in all… 2004- 2006 Four visits!......If I was ever inclined to ask myself why, I know the answer! I am not a world traveller, and it is not the country itself that I find so very appealing, but it is the Thai people that I have been so impressed by……and of course the shopping!!!
I went over there the first time three years ago full of apprehension, not trusting anyone or anything, and feeling very vulnerable. It was a massive learning curve…..I knew that I wasn’t going to do much travelling around because of back pain aggrevated by twenty minutes of walking, so I just planned on keeping things simple. However, I saw enough and experienced enough to make me keep going back, and I cannot wait for the next time.
The people cannot be compared to any I have ever met before. They were coming up to me in the street and talking to me every day…..obviously, and sadly, impressed by the fact that I was so very English looking. "You from England?" was always the first question and then they went into raptures about what a wonderful place it is to live!! I started to tell them that I thought the West had lost the plot and that THEY had the secret of happiness……they just seem to radiate contentment, satisfied with what they have, and making the best of everything that I could have been guilty of noticing a lack of.
Of course I am going to generalise, and of course I can only speak of my personal experiences, but after four visits in a variety of different situations, I think I have pretty fairly tested things out
Shopping in BigC and all the other shopping arcades was amazing….prices at rock bottom level and quality really good. The markets are brilliant, and have everything you could ask for there….bartering is a requirement….you offer them a third of the asking price and end up paying about half…all good fun!! Walking away is a good thing to do to test whether or not they are going to drop any more….if they let you go, they have come down as much as they are going to!!
The Rose Park with the crocodiles and elephants is a lovely experience….a really good day out, and there are many of those, available for booking from any hotel or travel agent, as anywhere in the world.
The food is fabulous and so cheap. The food on the stalls in the street is really interesting….the fresh fruit cut up in bags is worth picking up to have in your hotel. I used to go out early in the mornings and watch the stalls being put up and the fruit being sliced and bagged up,,,,,,,,,,,a lovely touch, and very cheap.
Jewellery shops, beauty parlours and health/massage outlets are in abundance and are incredibly reasonable. I overdid it and had a massage every night for three nights…….and was subsequently ill on the fourth day!! Too much of a good thing!!
Hotels are in total abundance, and I stayed in 2 star, 3 star, and then was treated to a 5 star trip earlier this year by a good friend too….all really good…..but as always, experiences in this case will vary .
People were surprised that I stayed in Bangkok so long, but I never tired of the place. The poverty in some areas bothered me at first, but then you start to see things differently, and you see past all that and appreciate what is available.
There are masses of reports to read on the Internet of all the kinds of things that are available, according to different tastes, and we will all find our own level at some stage…whatever you are looking for it will be there!! This site will also no doubt help many who have questions they need answering about Bangkok.
I was telling one Thai girl that I had met that I was sad to be coming home the next day, and she said something I will never forget…."Don’t be sad….when you get home and close your door, just remember that we are only on the other side"…..just typing that makes me want to cry! Thank goodness people like that are on the other side, knowing them has enriched my life. I look forward to my next trip!
Enjoy any visits that you make!!
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