Day 3 in Bangkok and it’s Sunday morning and after quite a hectic day yesterday we decided to have a leisure day together – we made it just in time to breakfast which was healthy fruit (fresh papaya, mango, water melon and pineapple). Along with the fruit I had some fried rice – yes we are in Asia and I adapt myself quite easily while Gerry stuck to his omelet on toast and yogurt and fruit.
Finally by 12 noon we were out of the hotel and walking on Thanon Silom towards Lumphini Park – the green lungs of downtown Bangkok. This public park is a green zone where office people, tourists and Bangkok residents come to jog and enjoy other outdoor activities. I was reminded of Central Park in New York where it is also surrounded by skyscrapers.
Lumphini Park has a lot of flora and fauna and a large lake where people can do all sorts of outdoor activities – elderly people practise Tai Chi while young people are to be found peddling or canoeing on the artificial lake. We strolled round one section of the park taking in many breaks in the shade (yes, yes, I know it’s crazy to walk in the heat – today being sunny and 34C) and watched people doing their own thing! We also spotted quite a few leguaan or rather monitor lizards – a species some of the world’s biggest lizards growing up to 2 meters and weighing some 50 kilos! These monitor lizards can also swim!
Monitor lizards basking in the sun or swimming; orchids grown in trees and luscious green palm trees all to be found in Lumphini Park.
Sailing on the artificial lake
After some time we were ready to go exploring elsewhere in Bangkok. We had decided to go to the the highest building in Bangkok – according to my research it would be the Baiyoke Observation Deck on the 77th floor with the revolving View Point on the 84th floor. Once out of the park, we saw a Tuk-Tuk parked and thought ourselves lucky that there was no queue, however the driver was nowhere around! At the same time, another Tuk-Tuk drove along and stopped for us. We gave him the directions where we wanted to go and agreed on the price of 300Baht for both of us. On the way we got chatting and he assured us that the number one Observatory Tower was no longer the Baiyoke Observation Deck but rather the Mahanakhon Skywalk Observatory. We took his word and changed route – actually my friend Pintuwan had already told me to visit this attraction which is situated just opposite her condominium.
It seemed we had our Tuk-Tuk driver accompanying us for the rest of the day as we decided to take a longboat trip on the river and canal starting off a pier in China Town. Anyway, Tuk-Tuk driver was a very charming Thai young man and we were pleased to give him our tourist business today!
We left our Tuk-Tuk driver outside this iconic building and went indoors to buy our tickets. We were politely asked if we were over 60 years and when we said yes, we were told that we would get discounted senior citizens admission tickets for half the price! Aren’t we glad that we have grey hair! Most Thai people are very respectful towards older people and actually it’s quite charming to be called grandma and grandfather!!!
Anyway within 30 seconds we were whisked up to the tallest Observatory Deck and Skywalk – one of the world’s largest glass trays at the height of 310 meters.
It was all so very impressive and the breathtaking views are carved into our memories. After going round the observatory deck and taking quite a few pictures – selfies included- we took the elevator up further to the Skywalk. We were give cloth covers for our shoes so that the glass would not be damaged and then mustered up all the courage in the world to get onto the glass tray. Actually I had a bit of a problem and the assistant was really sweet when I turned round to go away. She asked me if she could hold my hand so that we could walk together and I agreed to that and only held her hand for two paces. Wow what an experience! Seeing skyscrapers underneath my feet! But I preferred to look ahead into the horizon……..
And this is Gerry also on top of Bangkok
We were both glad that we took up our Tuk-Tuk driver’s suggestion and we’re also happy that when we got outside, he was waiting for us with a really big smile on his face – he was proud that this grandma and grandpa did actually go on the Skywalk!
Well our last sightseeing activity was to go down to the Pier in China Town where obviously our Tuk-Tuk driver had his connections and join a longboat excursion along the river and main canal.
On this trip we could see quite a big contrast between the prosperous downtown and the wooden houses built on poles on the canal. But we were glad that we did this trip as between the shanty type of houses, there were also shining gold temples and lastly the King’s palace with its shimmering rooftops. On the way, we stopped along a smaller boat manned by a vendor selling Thai souvenirs. An English couple bought several elephants while I did buy 2 small wooden Buddha statues. By the time we arrived back at the pier it was already gone five o’clock and our Tuk-Tuk driver was waiting for us!
Various scenes on our longboat trip
On our way back to the hotel, we had a final stop – but I’ll write about it tomorrow as our Tuk-Tuk driver will be picking us up from our hotel tomorrow afternoon- it’s bed time here!
