Bangkok - Long haul flights who invented them!

Yep we took a photo
 of the food...
but it was amazing 

Long haul flights- who invented them! Rach and Luke seemed to take it in their stride; every time I was taking one the kids to the loo, Rach was asleep!! Poor kids both sick on the Sydney-Bangkok flight, not fun, not much sleep but we are here, in Bangkok for the next few days (we may need them all to recover). Arriving in the middle of the night has meant we didn’t completely see the chaotic, hot and over flowing streets- we were too busy holding kids heads in the hope they didn’t spew in the transfer van. (Important note always book a transfer in Bangkok, the lines for taxi’s and transfer bookings were 100’s of people long NOT fun with kids at 2 in the morning. We had luckily booked ours with HOT so all good). Hotel amazing, rooms incredible, The Sheraton. We up graded into this Hotel because the one we booked had been full, a little more expensive but I was over the booking process and just booked it. Undoubtedly the most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed in. I did feel a little rough rocking up in my plane clothes, yep the ones I've been in for 14 hours plus with a wet patch on my leg were Jackson had thrown up. My face, skin felt like it had been sucked dry, a great look. Now time for some sleep…

MBK Mall, Kids at 
top of second excelsior 

Day one: a slow start- had breakfast at the hotel, buffet style, expensive but couldn't be any better. 100’s of options. Wish we had pushed the budget and booked breakfast for every morning because we were soon to discover the Sheraton was amazing and right next to the river (beautiful view of Chao Phraya) but next to nothing else. We did discover on the last morning a French bakery around the corner, bugger it! Day one, only two goals; get Scott measured for a suit and relax by the pool. MBK is a mall, eight floors, 2000 shops. It’s air conditioned and needs to be, people everywhere. Some shops are as small as bathrooms others the size you’d expect at Riccarton. We found a tailor and crossed our fingers he wasn't going to rip us off! We ended up ordering 2 suits, 2 extra pants and 2 shirts and of course 2 free ties. $600 hummm I did leave wondering if we had suckers written across our foreheads, Scott was to return the next day for a fitting. That afternoon we hit the pool. Brilliant.

Day two; Everyone, especially Jackson was keen to see the floating markets, stilt houses and to have a long tail boat ride, I found a tour that included all, I skim read the details and away we went, early start and we quickly found out why. The detail I didn’t fully take in was the very long bus trip during rush hour traffic. We were heading 100kms outside Bangkok to Damnoen Saduak floating markets. Our kids were the only kids on tour and everyone else just went back to sleep for the journey! So between people watching, spotting coconut and banana trees, playing eye spy and the number plate game we made it to our first stop, a tourist spot with craft, orchid gardens/nursery, stalls and a coconut cooking display. It was unexpectedly interesting and the coconut that had been reduced tasted like fudge. Next stop, drop off point for the long tail boat ride. Kids were worried, so was I and I’m sure Scott was.

 
It was a little more intrepid than we were expecting, lots of noise, people and thai yelling instructions at each other. We were next, Jackson and I paired up (I was thinking if it all turned to shit, at least he could help himself and I could help him the best I could- this was right on the edge of things I was happy to do with the kids, between no car seats and now no life jackets the grey hairs were sprouting) Scott grabbed Millie who at this stage had passionately changed her mind, which wasn’t an option.

Jackson not keen to hold snake.

So the boat literally rocks up and pauses for a second, you jump in while it moves around, holding cameras, backpack and Jax. We were first, Scott and Millie second we all made it and then we were off! The thing with these boats the faster you go the more stable they are, which is why they only pause to pick you up then the go like crazy. The waterways are very narrow and congested with sharp turns; the driver’s skill was incredible. Scott screamed banshee style every time the driver revved up the motor, we had two others in our boat and they dealt with it very well considering. We all loved it! The video will be amazing. Next stop the market, colourful, brilliant, hot, sticky, bargains and we/I needed to be there for a few more hours.

On the way back we stopped at a different craft market mostly wooden carving, truly amazing skill. Long bus ride back to hotel. Then we hit the pool.

Day three, Millie desperately wanted to see the Grand Palace, which everyone had told us was a must see. We decided to make our own way there via the incredibly complex water taxi system. We took the local boat which was cheaper and great for people watching, many people were very interested in the kids, smiling and looking at them for long periods. The river views were extraordinary and ranged from immaculate buildings, to shacks.

The kids were in awe of everything ”Venice of the East”. Our stop, chaotic, it had been turned into a market that you had to walk through. We could see the Palace so off we walked, on arrival we needed to change, long pants, tops and enclosed shoes.

 
The Palace, surrounding buildings and monuments are massive and dazzling. The temple of the Emerald Buddha was the highlight, its carved from a single block of green stone. Jackson was also a highlight for some young asian tourists, they asked to be photographed with him; he declined.  The craftsmanship on every wall was incredible. The heat and number of people started to overwhelm the kids so we cut the trip short, what we did see was spectacular. Boat ride then pool.

We spent the next day by the pool and collected Scott’s suits in the evening. Everything perfect, brilliant service as well.

Next day was a quiet one, I had big plans for the evening. Siam Niramit Show, replica Thai village tour and authentic Thai dinner. We all got dressed up, Scott in his new suit and joined the rest of the tour for our 30min transfer to the show. One and a half hours later we finally got there! The traffic had been crazy. We were too late for the village and had to rush to get tea, the kids were starving. Turns out the food was memorable for the wrong reasons, bad Thai takeaway with the odd Indian dish. Nothing suited the kids, they ended up eating plain rice and fruit. An expensive lesson. The show however was amazing, 700 years of Thai history, 150 performers, state of the art special effects. Beautiful. Jackson was on the edge of his seat the whole time, Millie firing 100 questions a minute.
 

Our last day in Bangkok, we went to Chatuchak weekend market. Massive 35 acres with over 8,000 stalls. It was impossible to find your way around, there was a system but we didn’t work it out.

What are you doing to us Mum!!

Hot and chaotic, there were bargains to be had but the heat and the size of the place, did Scott and the kids in. We managed to get Jackson Italy and Barcelona football kits for about $20! and some other bits. Taxi home then pool, packing, bed for a few hours before we jump on our flights to our new home Doha via Dubai.

Bangkok was incredible, I would definitely return, so much to see, brilliant service and the most wonderful people.  Hugs Treenz x