A week in Bangkok …
Posted by asuasu69 on Aug 8, 2012 in Thailand, Vaccinations | 10 commentsOk well it was 9 days to be exact. Although we hadn’t made any other plans other than booking the first few nights, we had thought after our first lot of needles we would head somewhere out of Bangkok. Alas it was not to be. I was feeling so ill from ‘flu that I couldn’t even entertain the thought of packing up and moving on so soon. So we stayed. Our guesthouse called U Place was in in Banglamphu area of Bangkok, 
not too far from ‘Khao San Road’ area but thankfully not amongst it . We were just off a main road so it was quite peaceful in what can be described as a crazy busy city. We had an ‘A’ type room which was the larger ‘two roomed’ apartment.
After our first day at the Thai Travel clinic needles, we were in need of some pampering and I really needed some relief from my all over aches and pains brought on by the ‘flu and the flight. Shewa Spa offered something for everyone. 
Whilst David and I booked in for our hour massages the girls were being being treated to pedicures and painted toenails.
Thai massage is gentle yet powerful working on pressure points rather than pure manipulation like western massage. Done on a mat on the ground it allows for movements and procedures using the practioners body weight. Some great twisting resulted in some clicking and crunching and almost instant relief. Then I headed back downstairs where I joined the girls for a pedicure 
before we stopped for a late lunch/early dinner.
The next few days were spent chilling in our apartment and usually at least one walk around the neighbourhood in search of food, usually a fried rice and vegetables meal, with some chicken pad thai noodles or similar. 
Most meals in that part of the city were in little cafes averaging $2 – $3 a plate so we usually spent around $10 – $12 a meal for all of us.
One afternoon we took the taxi ferry ploughing the Chao Phraya River 
and stayed on until the last stop and after a walk through a park got back on and headed back again! For 15baht per ride (children half fare) the total ride down and back came in at $3. Most tuk tuk ride seem to start around the 60 baht to the most we’ve paid for taxi or longer tuk tuk ride of 100baht or a little over $3 per trip.
A tuk tuk ride around many of the Buddha temples in our area covered the Big Gold Buddha, the lucky Buddha where we lit incence for good luck and to the 
Marble temple where we sat and listened to the Monks chanting inside. Although it is a very busy city there is also plenty of greenery – nice large shade trees, manicured hedges and ornimental shrubery and areas of respite and worship. It had been over 10 years since David and I visited Bangkok and I don’t think much has really changed… it is still how I remember it.
A visit to the Siam Museum was a great indoor (and airconditioned!) activity. There were many interactive screens and things the girls could touch and play with, like the ‘bartering’ game where they traded goods with other merchants from neighbouring trading countries. 
The Museum was a great introduction to the diverse ethnic origins that make up Thailand and a great place to while away a few hours. We included a trip to the Siam Paragon, a large shopping centre where we enjoyed a rather extravagant mexican lunch before riding the escalators up to the toy section of the department store where Immi and David spent a good while sitting and doing lego at a table while Phoebe and I checked out all the other toys.
A start on some school work began in our second week and usually meant around two to three hours of numeracy and literacy which will be the main stay of the school work done each day – unless some other great learning experience comes along. Like the day we left Bangkok by 3rd class train (the only option) for our land border crossing into somewhere new for all of us…Cambodia.
Hi Sal and Dave, you guys are an inspiration! Looking forward to hearing all your tales and adventures. Clare, Tom, Caitlyn, Paige and Ethan.
Hey Clare – great to hear from you and have you following our journey! Sally x
Wow, you have been busy and sounds like mostly fun and very interesting of course, love to think of you out there in the big wide world, keep it up, be safe and happy so glad you got it happening so we can travel with you,
Linda
Hi Linda, glad to have you along – man we would have a field day choosing what restaurant to dine at here (Siem Reap) the diversity of cuisine available is amazing – Japanese, Norwegian not to mention to yummy Khmer food – Amok is a traditional Khmer dish of fish or chicken with coconut milk, egg and yjor leaves and local spices served with steamed rice – YUM O!
Well hello there my Dear Friends.
We have been thinking about you every day and your blog has been worth the wait! The time you have put into this Sally is a great achievement in itself. We can’t wait to keep up with your adventures. By the way, it’s nice to see you do the “girlie stuff” with the girls . 🙂 xoxo
Hi Deb, thought you might the idea of the ‘girlie stuff’ but I think they know it will be few and far between as their Mum is not really a ‘girlie girl’ is she?! DIPS xxoo
Hi guys! Looks like you’re having an absolutely fabulous time already. Love, love, LOVE your site… you are so talented, Sal!
Kath and I have had trouble downloading your site at school – keeps getting blocked – but we’re looking into that. In the meantime I can check your site from home and give progress reports to the kids.
We miss you and think of you often as we trace your journey around the world.
Happy trails!
Lea (Mrs Arnold) 🙂
Hi Mrs Arnold and Mrs Tannian,
thanks for the kudos! Phoebe is asking every week when the kids will write something so she was very happy to read your message. Phoebe and Immi went to a school yesterday – only it was in a little village about 20km outside Siem Reap that we had to get to by tuk tuk then tractor and cart as the road was so bad. We will post some pictures on the blog soon.
Hello there lovely people,
Great to hear your stories and see some pictures. Leo talks about Immi every day, and I think misses her very deeply….bless him. Will show them both this later on. By the way the blog is the talk of the town, the Grade 3 teachers are both very impressed!!! Well done Sal, that unit on creating a website was well worth it, fatastic work love. Anyway, love and miss you all heaps….the Gupwells xoxoxoxoxo
Hi Gupwells,
Hey Leo we had some tacos the other night and talked about how you would have loved them! We are doing lots of bike riding with Phoebe and Immi sitting on the back little luggage racks – they want their own bikes but we haven’t found any the right size yet… Immi hopes you are feeling all better now. We miss you guys too … DIPS