Chilling out in Bangkok.

[drron]

On our last African Safari at Makanyane our guide was photographing the back sides of the animals for a book. Well this must be the biggest elephant backside.

 

[drron]

And the last of the Erawan museum.








Now a very strange thing happened to me here. I had just turned around after taking the photo above when the 2 young Chinese women behind me started giggling. Next thing I knew they were beside me taking selfies with me in the middle. I have no idea why.





















And so I left. You do so by going through 2 shops and a cafe. seemed overpriced. I do not recommend this place. A tourist trap. The same company runs tours to here and the Ancient Village at the mouth of the Chao praya river. It is a theme park type display not a genuine ancient village.

 

[drron]

Off to my next stop. Wat Tri Samakkhi. First I had to go under one of the Highways. They put the space to good use.


Past a soccer club. ground covered by a net.


Then my third dog encounter though not any danger this time. A large house with high walls but elaborate gates. must have been nearly 40 dogs jumping at the gate and barking at me. Then into a much more downmarket area


The shop just across from the temple entrance.


And the food delivery fellow had just left the temple.


And in I go.




And my last dog interaction. The little fellow in the distance started barking and running to me joined by quite a few larger mean looking dogs. The fellow lying down awoke, came over and sniffed me and laid down again. But 2 dogs with greyskin and no hair/fur arrived and stood either side of me. Soon joined by 3 others looking exactly the same. The other dogs then dispersed and I didn't se them again. The original 2 grey dogs followed me around and as I was leaving joined by the others again. TKWIW.
So back to the temple.

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

The last of the Temple and the walk back to the Station.




Next to the temple is a car assembly plant.


It happens to be the plant where Mercedes are built and assembled. Pre Covid Thailand had the 10th largest vehicle production in the world. It is the biggest supplier of vehicles to the Australian market.
Local petrol pump.


The main road going back.


But google maps once again got me back on a walway alongside of a Klong. But not a nice one.


But there were boys fishing in it.
And the rubbish alongside Sukhumvit road near the BTS station.


Then back to the hotel. my biggest walk at nearly 19000 steps.

 

[drron]

the next 2 days were New Year's eve and day. New years Eve we just went up to EmQuartier for a late lunch at Nara. Again the complimentary starter with Mrsdrron having the Pomelo salad and I had a spicy pork in rhizome and holy basil soup.






Yes I had nearly finished it before I remembered to take a photo. No alcohol as it was before 5pm but i had a nice Chilean Carmenere with an appropriate name.

That night we watched the Sydney fireworks on CNN. It was only 8pm in Bangkok. A nice civilised time. Went to bed but awoken at midnight by loud fireworks. We couldn't see them though.
New Years Day was a total chill out. Did discover after breakfast that at the back of the hotel they had a large function room with a nice garden outside. Obviously held their NYE function there.

 

[drron]

Thursday and probably my last long walk for this visit. I caught the BTS to the second last stop, Sau Luat. Two Wats and a crocodile farm. The train and Sukhumvit road run alongside a Klong.


The high rise buildings are starting to appear hear. officially we are outside of Bangkok.






Then a main road.




Before google maps sent me down minor roads that Farangs don't normally go.



Note the water dispensers. Some houses also had a few washers outside suggesting many around here don't have access to water ans possibly electricity. In front of that house they are drying chillis and fish.


The roads.


I experienced some wonderful Thai friendliness. I passed a house that doubled as a restaurant. Obviously owned by the grandparents with their daughter and adult granddaughter who spoke reasonable English. Asked what I was doing here, did I live nearby or know any one living here. So I said I was off to the nearby Wat and Crocodile farm. As it turned out Google Maps certainly sent me on the shortest route and I knew when to turn. But the grandfather spoke to his daughter and she hopped on her motor scooter and took off. She waited at every turn I had to make. Lovely.
.The last turn was another walkway beside a klong. Not much at first but improved.






That is the daughter ahead of me going to the last tun I had to make.
I soon saw the Wat.


One of the houses along the waterway.

 

[drron]

Next to the Wat was an empty lot with an empty lot. On it was a sign saying no dumping of rubbish and saying heavy fines for anyone doing so.


However it was obviously ignored.




One of the buildings was being renovated. It obviously needed it.


Across the road the entrance now,

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

It turns out that the Wat was the major offender in dumping rubbish.




But they had a different extra business than the usual car parking - cattle.










The last of Wat Thong Kong.

 

[I love to travel]

Would be interested to know your thoughts on the self catering aspect of staying in an apartment in Bangkok. With hotel prices being sky high these days, especially for club rooms if you do not have status, it might be option I consider going forward.

 

[drron]

Then it was a shortish walk straight down the road to Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo. Said to be the biggest crocodile farm in the world. But one of those places that have different entry fees for Thais and Farangs. 80 baht for thais, 300 baht for us.


I first went to the crocodiles. Not 5 star accommodation.
















Some funny business going on.




The incubators.




Then a large pool.


Close to feeding time.

 

[drron]

Would be interested to know your thoughts on the self catering aspect of staying in an apartment in Bangkok. With hotel prices being sky high these days, especially for club rooms if you do not have status, it might be option I consider going forward.

This is the 5th time we have stayed for a month over Christmas. We spend Christmas with our family in odd number years and they spend their Christmas with our DIL's family on even number years. The first 4 times were at the Marriott Mayfair Exrc Apartments near Lumphini park. They were in an old building but were genuine apartments. However that closed just over a year ago. Marriott have opened 5 new Exec Apartments. This one was in Soi 24 and the best situated property of the 5 which of course made it dearer. Doubt we would stay there again but IHG have a Staybridge apartments across the road with slightly bigger newer apartments. As well each night counts as a qualifying night stay whereas with Marriott it is only every third night. As well Staybridge give a much better rate when you stay over a week.

I have searched for proper serviced apartments but those close to transport are usually expensive.
We still liked this stay and cheaper than properties with lounges. A decent breakfast every day was included and the food in their restaurant was pretty good. There was a supermarket across the road where you could buy wine fruit and snacks and their sushi was fine. They also had a shuttle to the BTS station.

 

[markis10]

Do Staybridge still do social hour

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday

I enjoyed it at Yas Island a few years back

 

[drron]

Yes they do but only MTW so another reason we will probably stay there.
And as well as the Pool they have a Japanese onsen.

 

[drron]

They sell crocodile food. 3 not so large pieces of chicken or beef in a small bucket for 50 baht. A fellow had bought a bucket so some movement but it seemed they weren't greatly interested.


though this fellow gave him something to aim at.




A very large fellow was a late arrival.




They did have a smaller pond where you were given a long piece of bamboo and you could tie the meat to a rope and try to get the crocodiles to jump. 3 young fellows were doing this with absolutely no success.


Then to the elephant theatre. A show had finished about 15 minutes before and I had absolutly no desire to wait for the next show.






Obviously an area where you could have elephant rides.


And a train for the big and little kids.


A fish pond. Yes of course you could buy fish food.