After catching some sleep we’d actually managed to wake at 8am, no jet lag here, don’t be jealous we’re superhuman. We woke up to this view, 25 floor wowwee.

On the advice of Laura’s friend Garn all 3 of us set off to catch the BTS Sky Train to Saim Square. Garn attended high school in NZ on exchange for a year (met Laura), attended Uni in England and now lives back with her family in Bangkok, she’s an asset and a half. We wandered past street food stalls as the locals went about their days, not a tourist in sight- just the way we like it. There’s something much more beautiful about a city through a locals perspective.
Ryan the champion made it the station before he succumbed to the woes of travellers belly that had be knocking at his door for the past couple of days- poor man.
The BTS is incredible, so easy to use and quick, though Laura and I couldn’t get past some of the pronunciation.
On Nut: On Noou
Nana: NaaaaNaaa (not your Grandma).
Asok: Aso ( sounds like asshole).
We’re very mature.
Siam Square is a shopping Mecca and to our glee Christmas decorations everywhere!!! For two girls hung up on the fact our countries of choice for a holiday don’t actively celebrate Christmas this was like Christmas came early in excitement stakes. So much Christmas. We strolled into Siam paragon, oh hello my friends D&G, Louie V, Burbs and so on. Overwhelmingly clean and chic for two girls just looking for a spot of breakfast. Then we found it, the gourmet market, like Moore Wilson’s on steroids!

They also have a fully fledged Antarctic world/Kelly tarltons, we posed with large sea life figures but those were reserved for good quality camera film.

It’s Christmas time.

The rest of the time was spent wandering the streets without a map and taking in all the sights and culture. One thing that really stood out was the divide rich areas to pour and didn’t appear to have a middle class.
We strolled along the rivers edge, smiled at the locals, got disorientated and found our way. This was the best way to see the city and no photo can describe the fear we experienced everytime we saw the long ferry hoon down the narrow river or odd smells, shouts, cats running across your path at every turn or the Tetris the locals use to park their cars. Always park with your handbrake off.

There signage is on point though I beg to differ.

We hunted for a map and found these delights and a 20minute queue. Only locals so they must be a brilliant (french??) delicacy. They didn’t come in our dietary requirements and we didn’t care. 2 please! The 5 second rule is international right?

We returned home to meet Garn who took Laura and I out for dinner (still no Ryan). Garn can drive which is a feat in itself for the drivers here are crazy, but her driver collected us and after a reasonable drive to the New Bangkok we found ourselves seated at a Thai fusion restaurant, Greyhound, for our first proper meal. This featured the best phad Thai ever (obviously), a traditional thai meal (delicious), a fried something soup (amazing), little rice paper rolls (tricky) and Thai tea (the bestest drink since water).

Garn knows all the goods and our dessert stomach was engaged for this master piece. Dairy free too- win, win! Laura was pretty excited about it.

Garn is lovely and her equally lovely mum came to drop us home. We stopped at her house on the way and it was in a lush gated community, such a contrast the the shacks earlier in the day. Garn will be joining us again this weekend as she can bater like a local (because she is) and will be an asset come market day.

I imagine this trip, like most of my others will be, lived through food on a culinary adventure. Sounds delicious to me!
Today a nothing planned day turned out to be incredible. So watch this space!