It was when I was in the airport shuttle service van that I met M and Da, a Thai couple vacationing home from there studies in China. We chatted on the way to and through the airport, and shared the skytrain into inner city Bangkok. It was with them that I first discovered that many Thai people speak great English! I didn't study the language before going to Thailand, but that was fine. No Thai? No problem! Therefore, we had nice, humorous conversation. As I rode into inner city Thailand, I saw how the infrastructure of the city consisted a wide array of tall buildings. I was hard-pressed to find one normal sized. Upon reaching another city line, we parted ways.
I walked down the stairs on the train station, and began to walk aimlessly up a city street. I had a map in hand for when I wanted to aim for a destination. Things that caught my attention were the many motorbike users on the streets, the street and clothing food vendors lined up throughout, and the smog that ran through the city. I came upon a mall complex named Siam Discovery, which I later discovered was only a section of this huge shopping mall. I walked around for a bit, looking at the various stores, and heading up to the top floor to have lunch. I headed back down and took a metered taxi to an popular tourist area with many temples. I took in the meter price at my stop, which proved to be useful later. I ended up getting persuaded into taking a Tuk-Tuk to explore different temples, drawn in by the cheap price... I really didn't know what I was getting into. Guess that's how tourist get scammed, eh?
After making it back from the Laos trip, I checked into my hostel and went off to explore various places. I visited the Grand Palace, which has been the official residence of the Kings of Thailand since 1782 (although the present king resides in a different palace). It is the most important tourist destination in Bangkok, and was therefore a tourist trap. Still, I enjoyed walking around the palace and viewings it's beautiful structures. The palace also houses the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, a beautiful chapel often incorrectly referred to as a Buddhist temple. It was beautiful inside, with no photos being allowed. I also visited the Buddhist temple Wat Pho. It houses the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, and is known for being the birthplace of the traditional Thai massage. After viewing the temples, I headed back to the Siam area. This is when I realized how big the mall complex really is. I was heading towards the movie theater (shouldn't be a surprise) in Siam Paragon which was a separate building from Siam Discovery. Both buildings held many shops and many floors, and together are called the Siam Center. Walking through Siam Discovery and Siam Paragon I saw many brands that I had never heard of before. I thought, "This must be where rich people shop." I headed up to the Paragon Cineplex and saw just how nice it was. It had many screen options, restaurants, bowling alley next door, and even an IMAX. I ended up seeing two movies that night. ^^
The next morning I headed to the Golden Buddha temple with Merlin, a German that I met during breakfast in the hostel (who is already traveling at 18). I once again saw how the temples try to make their ceilings and walls have beauty that matches the beauty of the main object being displayed. The Golden Buddha itself was great see, especially being solid gold. When we got back to the hostel, we were planning the next leg of our exploration when Sarah, from Canada, asked to tag along. The three of us spent the rest of the day together. We first headed to Jim Thompson's House. Jim Thompson is famous among Thai people because of what he did for the Thai silk industry. His house is so interesting because it is custom built to accommodate Thai and Western tastes. There is also an museum and many artifacts throughout the house. Next, we headed back towards the Siam. We went down to the food court of Siam Paragorn, and saw the impressive food court. I had many great options to choose from! After that, we walked back to the hostel, and that was the end of my day out. I had to get plenty of sleep so I could head out early to Koh Tao island the next morning, where I did my Open Water Scuba Diver course!
The course took place over 3 days with a small group that consisted of my instructor, sven, and cristina, and myself. We started by being filled with diving information through video. Then the next day, we practiced setting up the gear, and practiced different techniques in a swimming pool. Thankfully, I did these techniques well. By the end of the session, I told the assistant instructor that I was ready to see some sharks! We went for two dives later that day. I was doing fine in the first, and then my ears gave me trouble! I was unable to complete the 2nd dive due to pain, but thankfully was able to complete it the following morning. Even though my left ear gave me trouble throughout, I was able to complete the 3rd dive (where we went down 17 meters) and the 4th dive. It's a crazy feeling swimming around in the deep, but a feeling I loved! I saw a variety of fish, and we found these life size statues of a shark and octopus. Unfortunately, another group booked the videographer. Therefore, my group didn't get any video or pictures. I didn't see a real shark, but that is another reason to dive again! During my stay on the island, I walked around exploring and spent a lot of time with my diving group. I got to chill out on the beach and listen to good music by DJs. Overall, I enjoyed my time there!
After getting back from the course, my last few days were filled with Muay Thai fights, searching for souvenirs, eating more Thai food (delicious, but spicy!), and relaxing. Overall, I enjoyed my time in Thailand. ^^
Video Summary:
Wow so many exciting adventures! Totally beats any vacation I've ever been on. lol.
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