Tara Place, Bangkok, Day 3

It would be cruel to wake Helen up early today, so we have a slow morning before getting some dinner and taking advantage of the free tuk tuk that the hotel offers to the Grand Palace. We get dropped off outside a museum and temple complex that we spend some time wandering around. He museum is good, with some very cool samurai gear, and the temple is as amazing as all the temple seem to be.
As we head toward the Grand Palace we begin to feel the heat as the crowd begins to thicken. We are pointed a long way round so after quite a walk we find ourselves stuck in a huge crowd getting very sweaty as we shuffle towards the tiny gates of the palace. Helen goes in first and me Amy push our way through the crowd behind, only to be told Amy's 3 quarter trousers aren't long enough for admittance. I am already through and seek Helen out in the crowd before we turn to head out. We have to wait for the changing of the guard which is actually pretty cool to see, before we find Amy sat outside in the shade. The grand palace looks very cool, but the crowds would have made it unbearable, so we settled for looking at the top of the temples from behind the walls.
Next up we decided to go see the reclining buddha temple, also known as Wat Pho. Our journey required us to cross over a park, but on passing through the gate we realised we had walked into what looked like a huge public ceremony. Rows of chairs were laid out in lines as we walked in and were handed number cards to clip on and leaflets about the cremation service of the former King. We weren't sure what was about to happen, and didn't want to be disrespectful by leaving. After around ten minutes of sittig though, everyone got up, and we realised the chairs were simply a waiting area to walk around an exhibition in honour of the former King. The temple that was part of this was stunning, with it's bright Gold structures gleaming in the afternoon Sun.
We leave the exhibition and sit in a spot of shade for a while, before heading to Wat Pho. It is a lovely complex with lots of great strucutes and Buddha statues that never cease to amaze. It has been a great day, but the crowds and the heat are very tiring, so we take a walk back, stopping off for a lovely chicken baguette and coke on the way.
Its New Years Eve! That means it's time for a celebration. After getting ready and drinking a few beers in the room we head off for a delicious curry. Tom Yam is especially tasty and I will definitely try and replicate it (poorly) when I get home.
We then head to the road parallel to Khao San Road, which seems to be cheaper and less busy. Or so we thought. There seems to be a queue just to walk down the street, and somehow we manage to push our way onto an empty table for a few beers. We are treated to some dodgy magic tricks and manage to force Helen into some drinking games. Midnight rolls round and there are a suprisingly good number of celebrations. The music even ended for a countdown!
To celebrate the new year we head to a reggae bar for a few more drinks. Before we know it it is past 2am and time to go home. We walk back before all losing each other in a 7/11. I end up back in the room as Amy leaves Helen stood holdig a toastie for ten minutes. All's well that ends well though, and we all convene back in the room, very ready for bed. A flight tomorrow doesn't sound great at the moment, but it will be New Years Day, and would be rude to not have a hangover for it. Bangkok on New Years Eve certainly didn't dissapoint, and we sleep well as everyone back home does their countdown.Читать далее