Day 9:
Today we awoke to a pleasant breakfast in our new residence Imm Fusion. We were a bit late on our arising, no surprise, so we missed some of the more filling food, but had some fruit, pastries, teas, and coffees.
Immediately after, we booked our first Thai massage of the trip. We had a one hour couples massage to set us right. We were lead to the back of the hotel next to the pool to a private room where each of us oohed and aahed for the next hour. Two Thai women twisted and turned our sore bodies putting us at great ease and ready for the busy Bangkok streets. For the record, Thai massage puts ALL others to rest. And the cost...$25 total for the both of us. NEXT!!!
Reenergized, we headed over to the Air Train and bought our first train ticket in Thailand. Our hotel was located on the last stop of the Sukhumvit line (On Nut). We headed towards the 'center' of the city (there is no real center), to explore Siam Square (pronounced seeam). Immediately upon leaving the subway, we were approached with our first scam. A lady offered to take us to a place with great sales because of the queen's birthday. Being taken on my previous trip, I was a bit wary, but Sue quickly caught on and we dispensed of her.
We wound our way through the outdoor/indoor network of small boutique shops and found a great little spot for lunch. We ordered a ton of food that was purely delicious and a couple Thai Iced teas for about $11 total.
Following our meal we headed over to the mall across the street where Sue got a long overdue pedicure and I wandered around for some window shopping and regarding the current Thai fashions.
We met back and headed to the hotel for a late afternoon reflexology session where an old friend from my previous trip, Thana, showed up with his 15 year old daughter, Joanne. They were extremely gracious and happy to see us. After we got our rears out of the chairs, Joanne and Thana took us to a local Thai restaurant where we had more outstanding food and some Singha beer and fresh fruit juices (watermelon and langon).
We quickly found out that Joanne was studying in an international school, but were surprised to hear she had never been to America because her accent was similar to a Valley Girl from California. Her impeccable English was a sure throw off and we hope she gets to visit as she researches colleges in the United States.
Following dinner, Thana took us on a guided chauffeured tour of Bangkok at night. It was a wonder to the senses as the streets were decorated with lights for the Queen's birthday that had just passed. We saw many of the important sites beautifully lit in the Bangkok evening and eventually made our way to Kao San Road; a tourist haven for the many farangs (foreigners).
Sue purchased a leather money belt for about $35 (normally over $100 in the US). We ate some mango and sticky rice from a street vendor and I happened to notice some samurai swords in the rear of one of the stalls, more investigating when we return later.
We were dropped off back at the lovely Imm Hotel with more plans in the future with Thana and Joanne (a river dinner on the Cha Praya River, a visit to the floating market, dinner and drinks at the Bayoke Tower (the tallest building in Bangkok), and a morning at the famous Chatachuk flea market).
Thai phrase of the day:
Kap Khun Ka/Khap: Thank you...Ka is said if you are a female speaking, Khap is said if you are a male speaking.
Today we awoke to a pleasant breakfast in our new residence Imm Fusion. We were a bit late on our arising, no surprise, so we missed some of the more filling food, but had some fruit, pastries, teas, and coffees.
Immediately after, we booked our first Thai massage of the trip. We had a one hour couples massage to set us right. We were lead to the back of the hotel next to the pool to a private room where each of us oohed and aahed for the next hour. Two Thai women twisted and turned our sore bodies putting us at great ease and ready for the busy Bangkok streets. For the record, Thai massage puts ALL others to rest. And the cost...$25 total for the both of us. NEXT!!!
Reenergized, we headed over to the Air Train and bought our first train ticket in Thailand. Our hotel was located on the last stop of the Sukhumvit line (On Nut). We headed towards the 'center' of the city (there is no real center), to explore Siam Square (pronounced seeam). Immediately upon leaving the subway, we were approached with our first scam. A lady offered to take us to a place with great sales because of the queen's birthday. Being taken on my previous trip, I was a bit wary, but Sue quickly caught on and we dispensed of her.
We wound our way through the outdoor/indoor network of small boutique shops and found a great little spot for lunch. We ordered a ton of food that was purely delicious and a couple Thai Iced teas for about $11 total.
Following our meal we headed over to the mall across the street where Sue got a long overdue pedicure and I wandered around for some window shopping and regarding the current Thai fashions.
We met back and headed to the hotel for a late afternoon reflexology session where an old friend from my previous trip, Thana, showed up with his 15 year old daughter, Joanne. They were extremely gracious and happy to see us. After we got our rears out of the chairs, Joanne and Thana took us to a local Thai restaurant where we had more outstanding food and some Singha beer and fresh fruit juices (watermelon and langon).
We quickly found out that Joanne was studying in an international school, but were surprised to hear she had never been to America because her accent was similar to a Valley Girl from California. Her impeccable English was a sure throw off and we hope she gets to visit as she researches colleges in the United States.
Following dinner, Thana took us on a guided chauffeured tour of Bangkok at night. It was a wonder to the senses as the streets were decorated with lights for the Queen's birthday that had just passed. We saw many of the important sites beautifully lit in the Bangkok evening and eventually made our way to Kao San Road; a tourist haven for the many farangs (foreigners).
Sue purchased a leather money belt for about $35 (normally over $100 in the US). We ate some mango and sticky rice from a street vendor and I happened to notice some samurai swords in the rear of one of the stalls, more investigating when we return later.
We were dropped off back at the lovely Imm Hotel with more plans in the future with Thana and Joanne (a river dinner on the Cha Praya River, a visit to the floating market, dinner and drinks at the Bayoke Tower (the tallest building in Bangkok), and a morning at the famous Chatachuk flea market).
Thai phrase of the day:
Kap Khun Ka/Khap: Thank you...Ka is said if you are a female speaking, Khap is said if you are a male speaking.
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