Thursday: Ryan’s no longer legless with ills so we upped our game and sampled street food for breakfast. I know, we know, yes we’ve been warned but we played it street smart and just gazed over the grills of more diverse foods. On the menu baby green mango with a sugar and chilli sauce (more savory) pomegranate and grilled banana.

Anyone know what these fruits are? There’s no google for pictures.

We had no real definite plan for today, we did some washing and idled along with a very loose ideas of the sites we wanted to see… This resulted in us walking over 22000 steps and having an amazing day. We counted.

Post street food, all feeling fly we took a taxi, after being blown off by greedy tuk tuks, from the train and like most he was a very chatty driver except we didn’t understand a thing and he turned off were we thought we were going… Hmm. The mans a magician though, took off in 3rd and changed to second and didn’t stall once. Then to make us more comfortable he put English Ballard’s on, ha. Taxi advice, always have your gps running.
Wat 1: Wat Saket
The golden mountain was our destination. Curiosity got us and we wandered into some beautiful incredibly ornate Buddhist temples before mounting our climb.

We then began the ascent with a much needed stop to ring the bells mid way.

The top bought 360 degree views of the city and another Buddha.

Our locals must try noodle soup with funky shrimp.

Walking was faster than a taxi so with a little map confusion we strolled past the swing.

Then on our buy time till sunset for the Wat Arun walk, some locals suggested we take a long boat through the Venice of Bangkok (my words not there’s) of local homes and temples. They piled us into a tuk tuk for 20bht, a far cry from the 200 we were told for a similar distance earlier, and we were off.

It was only 1000 baht for the 1 hour with stops through the waterways, well worth it as aside from the beautiful temples this was the highlight of our day. Something not very touristy where you get a true glimpse of local culture. The waterways were a Mix of water logged ruins, lopsided homes, modern designs to accident temples. Always smile and talk to locals.

We had a stop off at the local market and
Wat 2: Wat Kunjan
At the recommendation of the locals. Extreme hacky sack, a very tricky ice cream man and the only Buddha with this certain facial expression. More food.

Images, phrases and shrines for the King are everywhere. Took us awhile to realise that the reason why everyone wore yellow wasn’t because it’s a sunshine inducing gender neutral colour, it’s in support of the King. Apparently the Prince isn’t in the public favour and the King is getting on in the years… Awkward future monarchy problems.

Wat 3: Wat Arun
So we visited the Temple of Dawn at sunset, tricky. Another stunner, less mirrors more thigh burning. The steps are chin grazingly vertical but worth it for the sunset.

Extra dextra touristy dinner at Khao San Road- for all the bells and whistles.

Friday: A continued day of temples or Wat “insert name here”. Cultural, history explosion on the senses. It’s a wonder they can handle it after the chilli and pollution hit they take every 5 steps.
Wat 4: Wat Pho
The Reclining Buddha. Witnessed the ritual of sticking gold leaf on statues making them look like they flicker.
The statue is huge!

Laura no longer feels so alone in the world… What size shoe do you take?

Wat 5: Wat Phra Kaew
Grand palace and Emerald Buddha. We thought yesterday was incredibly opulent.. We were wrong.
Ryan however was required to put on pants at this one. What’s sarong with a man in a sarong?

Every square inch of building (and there were plenty of buildings) is covered in rich mosaic of colours and mirrors and 200000 square meters of it. Absolutely breath taking.

The guest mansion for visitors to the king, it’s guarded and gated and sits in the middle of the temples and palace.

The care they put into the upkeep of these buildings is amazing, we couldn’t help but think that if the tragedies of an earthquake occurred here these places would be restored to their former glory straight away but in Chch the cathedral and many other structures remain in ruin.

We’d had enough of our fellow tourist kind by then, before we stepped back on the boat up the river to the last stop for a mosey around a new part. Luck struck again and we stumbled on Bangkok Jazz night, it was free and next to the Phra Sumen Fortress. Definitely getting a full cultural experience these last few days, seeing areas that many tourists would just miss.

Strolling the area before hitting the jazz fest at sundown we stumbled on the real Thai rocky, a kid of 9 (assumption) with a solid 8 pack. I remember those days. Also, managed a snap of those horrid river lizards and a magnificent cable stay (baybay) bridge. Compared to the other structures in this area that’s quite an engineering master piece.

We then reclined on the grass listening to smooth jazz, holidays are hard work- I’ll tell you that for free.

If you’re ever in Bangkok we recommend staying in or at least visiting this area, North by Phra Sumen Pier Rattanakosin Island. Nice but not too touristy, cultural even if the Jazz night wasn’t on, good range of bars and restaurants and even a bit of history. Our whims have really paid off another Stella find in BKK!

Local street “food court” for dinner, we found real deal noodle soup- incredible. Don’t know it’s name we pointed at a photo and said no meat. Laura and I are still feeling 100% by the way.

We’ve taken some amazing photos these past few days on assorted cameras thanks to pro photographer Burke and they’ll appear on various social media in the future.
I’ll leave this ridiculously long post, congratulations for making it here, with Laura posing next to the women’s toilet image.