1994, Far Eastern trip --  BANKOK
 The Amari Boulevard Hotel, Sumkivvit Road, Bankok.

Friday.  We got up early and had breakfast by 8.45 ready for the Tour guide at 9 oclock. We waited until 0920 and he eventually turned up with a driver, in a battered old Toyota.  He was a very interesting man and we drove along good wide  roads to the WAT TRAIMIT, the Temple of the Golden Buddha. From there we went to the Grand Palace, The temple of the Concealed Buddha and eventually to WAT PO the temple of the Reclining Buddha.
 We then went, eventually to a Jewellers , where M bought a pair of malachite earings- very pretty green through.with white veins.  After that we had lunch at a very posh restaurant. At 2.30 we went to the Vinarnmak Palace (the TEAK PALACE)as it closes a 3m. We had to get a move on as we were in the last Guested English Speaking tour.  Out at 3'50 we were blocked in by a large van with the driver asleep at the wheel!. Well, he eventually woke up after a policeman banged on his door and we returned to the hotel at 4.15pm.  We had a cup of tea with thanks to the s/ market and I had a quick 40 winks. At 6.30 I awoke and went into the s/market to buy our breakfast, as we had arranged a klongs river trip starting at 0730,  costing 700 baht and I returned to the Amari for a super evening meal.
Saturday. We were up  at at 6, our own breakfast in our room, bought at the s/market last night. Off in a different Toyota, this time, to River C/P to catch a water bus.  What a sight!. everywhere were long tailed boats , and barges stacked high with Pepsi-Cola cases, but we had a 40 seater - more sedate.  Down river, passing Oriental and Shangri-la hotels, turned off into the klongs where boat people were selling their wares on the floating market, past houses on stilts. I am surprised that the long tailed boats were allowed to move about so quickly. High bow wave and higher stern wave from the propellers. Through many Klongs (narrow canals, just wide enough for the fruit barges) bordered by rude houses on stilts; some built under bridges.  The barrow boys in their boats, loaded with a myriad of coloured fruits. Stopped at large market/shop and M bought an evening bag and a round leather box and I bought a little coin purse. We continued along the klongs until we went into a snake farm. This was a small zoo  ,but with a  snake farm. Handlers showed us cobras and pythons and 'milked' cobra fangs for serum.  This was very interesting though I didn't like the idea of snakes being teased  for our purposes.  There was another interesting little zoo with eagles, kites and crocs and various birds and reptiles and a big black bear. On along the klongs and finally arrived back on the Chaio Praya river again.This is the widest river I have ever seen - like Moon River it must have been a mile across. Not only water buses and small taxis but huge barges, some top heavy with Pepsi Cola cases.  I am still amazed at the speed of the taxis.   We left the flat bottomed boat and travelled back to the hotel.
After we had a rest as we had been up since 6am,, we had a walk out on to the Sumkhivit Road and a breakfast of a pizza (11.15am)e then walked round and had a drink at a local pub before going back to the Amari. I could have bought a tailored Boss suit for only a few pounds, made in 24hrs, but I had no spare packing space in my suitcase.  Nic had telephoned us this morning after we had left and M rang him back at 3pm.  Our next trip out started at 7pm when we were taken to Silom village, a charming old house in true Thai style. We went upstairs,, took our shoes off and were ushered into a large hall, complete with stage and laid out with low tables and cushions. I thought we were supposed to sit on the floor but luckily there was a drop under the table to put your feet.  A Thai dinner of rice, chicken, veggies and fish balls and crab was put before us and at 8.30pm we had 3/4 of an hour of traditional Thai dancing in the classic style,  with a band. There were beautiful young girls and handsome men in their coloured tunics, with their lovely posture. The Thai girls were able to bend their fingers over backwards to touch the back of their wrists1.  The men were very acrobatic. Our taxi collected us at 9.30 and now we were able to put off our guide from other trips now  that we have seen what Bankok can show us at night.
Sunday. I was not surprised to see that M woke with stomach pains after our Thai curry and we did nothing more that day but just sit around all day. I went to the foodstore to get some alum tablets t o try and settle her but she is still poorly at 3.40pm.  I had a Thai curry at the Foodstore, very nice as it was cooked in front of me. I finished my book Diana and dumped it in the Landmark WPB when we went out for a walk.The sun was very hot ou tside but we walked to the hotel to sit by the pool. We thought we would cross the min road, but Sunkhivit Road must be over 100 yards wide with flower painted bridges and six lanes of traffic so we decided to cross by the flowery bridge..Later, as M was feeling no better I decided to walk to Siam Square. Left Amari at  4pm, leisuredly strolled past the British Embassy 4-10 centre stores at 4-20 WTC at 4.30, Omega centre at 4,50 and Siam Square at 5pm.  Caught a Tuk Tuk back to the Amari at 5,15 and had a lovely shower feeling better as it was very hot outside.  Jazz evening at the hotel and M agreed to try and eat something, but she ate very little and we didn't stay very long Glad to say we both ad a good night.