Bangkok floating markets

Visiting one of Bangkok's floating markets is definitely a must while touring the city.    There are several to choose from, some right in the city, just off the main river and often include in a city tour.   

I went to the Bang Nam Pheung floating market in Bangkok.  It's in a loop of the Chao Phraya river nickname 'the green lung of Bangkok', a small untouched area still covered with vegetation. It's not really a 'typical' floating market as many of the stalls are actually on land and you can get out and walk around.  It's still worth a visit if it's all you have time for and there are some very interesting foods to sample.  

The one I enjoyed more was the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market about an hour’s car ride outside the city.  I arranged this with the concierge at the hotel I was staying at as it's a very popular floating market for tourists after it was featured in a James Bond chase scene.   

As we waiting for the boat to come and pick us up, just as you would at a bus stop I was fascinated by the shape and style of these boats, quite different to anything I'd seen before.  

Once on the boat we took off so fast, flying down the canals heading towards the congested market.  To be honest I think I enjoyed the speed of this boat more than the actual market.  Passing temples and houses on stilts, waving to the little children.   

The market itself is a lively tangle multiple canals selling many things from rattan balls to fresh fruit, to a restaurant selling all types of food.  An assault on the senses, the colours of the stalls and products, the smells of the various food being cooked.   Vendors passing on their boats frying pork, or selling beer and coconut water.   It's quite a fascinating place to go and I had never been anywhere like it before.  

I stopped by a lady making fresh pad Thai in her boat.  The best part was watching her cook it fresh for me, right there on a boat, while I sat in mine.  She ran out of eggs so another lady threw one over for her - what a different way of life they have.   Of course, it was the best Pad Thai I have ever tasted.   

Another truly amazing experience that I would recommend if you are in Bangkok. 

Angkor Wat - Siem Reap, what a contrast!

Angkor, in the north of Cambodia is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia   It stretches over 400 km2 and contains amazing remains from the Khmer Empire from 9^th – 15^th century and is a UNESCO site. 

For several centuries Angkor was the centre of the Khmer Kingdom, it is filled with impressive monuments and ruins.  There are over 50 Buddhist and Hindu temples in this area and which attract millions of visitors each year. 

It is worth getting up early to watch the sun rise over the largest and most famous, Angkor Wat, but you won’t be alone.   

In complete contrast, is the city of Siem Reap, the nearest place to stay to visit these temples.  It was not at all what I had expected.  as it hosts millions of tourists a year it has become quite the nightlife centre also.    Pub street, as it says is full of just that and pretty crazy every night.   The nightlife scene comprises of lively bars, cocktail lounges, pubs, international restaurants and nightclubs that stay open until 4 am daily. 

If that isn’t for you there are countless massage spas and you can even have fish clean your feet while having a beer.   It’s quite the entertainment area and very inexpensive to stay.    I had dinner with an appetizer, main and beer for US$4 and an hour massage for US$10.   Definitely worth a visit. 

Deep fried Tarantula anyone????

Breaking the long journey at the side of the road to grab some snacks is a little different in Cambodia!

I have a major fear of spiders of any size, and deep fried or not they are still a source of nightmares.   

What is even more scary than this pile of tarantula’s nicely garnished is that in the white bucket underneath them are 100's of real ones.  Of course, I didn't realise that or I wouldn't have been close enough to take this picture.   

Apparently, they are a great snack and our tour guides wife craved them when she was pregnant and would call him up asking him to pick some up on his way home. 

A couple of the group tried them - they had imagined them to be hairy still, but their weren’t, and disappointingly they didn't spit them out but just swallowed them as if it was nothing unusual.

There were an assortment of other fried bugs, cockroaches, lava, crickets etc for purchase.   I stuck with a nice fresh mango instead!

1 Night in Bangkok...

If you don't know the 80's song - listen to it. 

Wat Arun, Bangkok

As the song says, Bangkok is a city full of temples and massage parlors - seriously,  I've never been to a city with so many massage parlors.  Between you and me,  I became slightly addicted to the to the massages.  Well what can you do when it's only $10 for an hour?? 

A full body massage,  but usually the Thai type which I never became fully acustomed to,   or the much more relaxing foot and leg massage.  On a couple of days I ended up with an hour body massage in the morning,  and ended the the day with a foot/leg massage.  Yes, a little excessive, but why not?   

There is nothing like an hour foot and leg massage right before bed.  It doesn't matter what time you are heading to bed,  the massage parlors will be open.  After a day walking around temples, followed by an evening partying or observing the partiers on the Khoa San road its the perfect ending.

The Khoa San road is a crazy crazy place.  During the day it's full of elephant pant stores,  t-shirts stores and other tourist paraphenalia,  but as the sun dips behind the buildings the music starts and the bars, pubs and clubs start trying to entice you it.   You can barely walk down the street by 10pm as it is so full of tourists and the music goes all night - so try not to stay in a hotel on the Khoa San Road as you won't get much sleep,  there are plenty to choose from within walking distance.   

Bangkok is really a city of extremes,   but I absolutely loved it and can't wait to go back.

If you don't know the 80's song here is the link,  you're in for a treat... the intro is the longest ever,  stick with it - it's so worth it !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgc_LRjlbTU 

One of my many leg/foor massages

Bar on the Khao San Road

Lets take the night train to Bangkok - it will be a fun experence!

Lets take the night train to Bangkok - sounds like a song title doesn't it, sounds like it could be fun, bar car, restaurant car, yes,  lets do this, it will be a fun experience - OMG!

We had the option of taking a bus that would arrive in Bangkok by 9pm,   or take the night train.      For a reason that I'm not entirely sure of anymore, the majority of us decided on the night train,  maybe to save on the cost of a hotel for the night.   That in itself is crazy as hotels are very cheap in Bangkok.    I think it may have been the idea of a bar car and a restaurant car - visions of the Orient Express came to mind,  the countryside rushing by as we enjoy some food and a a drink with our friends,  our last meal together as a group. 

So off we went to the station arriving in plenty of time for the 10 pm train.    While we waited for our train,  another train came by, we could see the dining car,  the bunks looked nice, yes we thought,   this looks lovely - good decision.

But when our train arrived it wasn't quite a nice as the one before,  in fact it looked decidedly dodgy.    We piled on to find skinny corridors, with green curtains pulled across for the passengers already sleeping on the train.    We all got a little giggly at the situation as we assessed our bunks and where we were going to put the backpacks and cases.  During the process, someone put a pack on the Guards hat which must have been sitting on one of the luggage wracks,    so he immediately took a dislike to us.  Who could blame him,  the noise we made must have woken everyone. 

Another thing I'm not quite sure of is why I chose the upper bunk.   The cost difference was 720 for the lower bunk or 660 Thai Bhat for the upper bunk.   It sounds a lot,  but in reality it was only a couple of bucks, a very silly choice as it was hell getting up there and I hit my head on the roof each time in the cramped little area.

After we got over the initial shock of the bunks we set off to find the dining/bar car.     We went one way and came to a dead end,  so we turned around and went the other way.   Deadend!    Turns out there was no dining/bar car on this train at all.   It was so dissapointing,  there was nothing to do but to try and sleep behind the little green curtain with the lights on all night. 

Meanwhile our friends had been served a refreshing drink as then entered their bus to Bangkok,  and by 9 pm were checking in to their lovely hotel room to enjoy a night in a comfy bed.

Wrong decision,  but it was definitely an experience I won't forget!

Elephant pants to Fur Coats

There couldn't be more of a contrast between my last trip to SE Asia and the one I am about to take Russia.

In Thailand we slept on the floor in a large dorm type room with 7 wonderful women, a long way from the outside bathroom,  with no AC,  only cold water and the temperature around 35 (95) degrees, with mulitple roosters that would start crowing at around midnight and go all night.   An amazing experience becuase we were living in a Thai village with our own elephant, so 'normal Western comforts'  were something we could do without - albeit with a few complaints here and there as we struggled to get our aching backs upright in the morning.     

This time I am staying at the Four Season Hotel in St. Peterburg - a 19th century Russian Royal palace, taking the high speed Train in stark contrast to the overnight train to Bangkok (another story all together),  to the Four Seasons Hotel in the heart of Moscow - close to Red Square and the Kremlin.   It will be very cold,  I will have a beautiful room, a comfry bed with an ensuite bathroom all to myself.   What a contrast!

I'm leaving all my many pairs of elephant pants behind that I bought in the markets of Bangkok and switiching to 'business casual' plus a little black dress to attend the Russian Ballet.   

This trip is to discover more about Russia and what it has to offer the foreign tourist. 

I'm so excited. 

Kate
The Little Travel Consultant

Pics from the S.E.Asia trip


(yes,  of course that's fake fur!!)  

The secret world of Airport Lounges

During my last trip to SE Asia I had a 6 hour layover in Hong Kong and thought I would explore the world of Aiport Lounges.  

I was given a Priorty Pass a few years back with my credit card and had always planned to use it but had never got around to it...until last week.  Wow ... it's a whole other secret world behind the counter as you enter the comfort of  Leather captains charis,  fresh coffee in a proper mug and a very relaxing atmosphere away from the hussle and bustle of people wandering around with too much hand luggage.  

I really had no idea about what to expect,  I just thought it was a lounge like any  departure lounge in the airport,  but I was so wrong.  

These lounges are avaiable to everyone even the budget traveller.  No more wandering around crouded airport terminals looking for somewhere to sit and kill some time.   

Check out your credit card options and see if it includes airport lounge access.     
If not, a day pass for one of these lounges vary in price between $45 - 85,  but includes unlimited food and drink usually, so with the prices in the airport restaurants more expensive than outside it may be worth paying for access for a little luxury.  You can pre-order your pass on some of the travel website. 

Check out  LoungeBuddy and you’ll see your airport lounge options. It even gives you info on amenities, reviews and photos allowing you to find the perfect lounge for you.