Far East Adventure Part 1
The next few days were whirlwind of amazing Thai food in the city’s hawker centres, Thai Massages at Wat Pho (reclining Buddah) as well as dinner at one of the city’s most famous venues. Cabbages & Condoms. Travelling around this city was an amazing feast for the senses where you look to your left and see a tuk-tuk, to your right – an elephant, in the middle of the street**
I was lucky enough to experience the hospitality of several of the city’s amazing hotels such as The Montien and The Landmark & the Century Park Hotel. Which although much changed from when I was there are still timeless in their quality and service.
I was also lucky enough to take part in a cooking class at The Salathip – the award winning riverside Asian restaurant at the Shangri-La Bangkok. But before we could get out cook on, we had to actually shop our ingredients. Heading on the sky-train to Chatuchak Market was quick and easy, and the market was amazing. There was every delicacy you could imagine, and the sheer hustle and bustle created an atmosphere that made my skin tingle. After making sure that we had everything we needed we headed back to the hotel and got started on our menu’s. Yam Som-O to start, Kaeng Kiew Warn Gai for main dish and an amazing Foy Thong for dessert. Would you believe, I still have all my menu and recipe guides as well as my certificate for passing this amazing cooking class. But the day still had plenty to offer visiting the Grand Palace and getting to get that bit closer to Thai life wandering the night market for a bargain and having a drink in the local bars whilst watching life go by. Pat Pong night market has everything you could want for locally produced gifts and the bartering with the stall holders is all part of the fun.
The Grand Palace with its gold adorned temples and the Summer Palace, where if you have seen 'The king & I' you can treat yourself to a walk around the teaching house and rooms of Anna Leonowens.
Being a culture vulture the highlight of my time in Bangkok was the 2-hour cruise down the Chao Phraya that allows you to really delve into the history of Thailand back to the time the country was known as Siam. The trip takes you to Ayutthaya, the ‘golden city’ which holds five centuries of history.
The former capital of the Kingdom of Siam, this ancient city wears the battle scars of long-ago wars. The Burmese invaded and decapitated the buddha statues adorning the city. After multiple invasions they finally raised the city in flames, burning it to the ground.
Take in Bang Pa Palace a popular summer retreat for the Thai kings. Wat Yai Chaimongkol, the ancient monastery built during the reign of King U-Thong. Wat Phra Si Sanphet – the largest temple complex in Ayutthaya here you can marvel at the sheer magnitude of this once great city and Wat Chai Watanaram another striking monastery now abandoned the sheer grandeur can still be seen and felt.
Bangkok stole my heart but there was more to come as we set off for Hua Lamphong Railway Station in the heart of the city to board The Eastern Oriental Express.
I’ll be taking you on an amazing journey through the jungles of Thailand, Malaysia and beyond in part 2.
Claire.x
** you probably won’t get to see an elephant walking around the streets of Bangkok today, the treatment and use of animals in cities like Bangkok has improved massively over the last 20 years, but if you do want to get up close and personal with one of these amazing beasts then Elephant Hills is the place to do it. Thailand’s first luxury tented camp you will be guaranteed a stay to remember and experience the elephants up close and personal whilst making sure they are protected and cared for in the best possible way.
**Photo Disclaimer - these images are over 20 years old and have been taken from a traditional photo album, they may not be of the same digital quality we are used to today - but they are original.