Thailand

Here we are in Bangkok! We landed early in the morning (thanks also to Thai Airways for the excellent service), around 06.00, physically already falling apart due to: 1) a scorching heat that will accompany us throughout the trip 2) the time difference that doesn't help, but enthusiastic and curious about this new place to explore. In Bangkok we stayed in a very decent high-level hostel (8 USD /night), we had a nice little room for two with a shared bathroom, very clean and in a super convenient area, near Patpong. Patpong is a district of central Bangkok that comes alive enormously towards sunset because the night market is set up; the area fills with tourists and vendors, the streets are crammed with stalls selling clothes, bags, local craftwork, spices and street food (eating a banana fritter is an otherworldly experience, highly recommended).

You can buy all sorts at very good prices, which is why for the East it's a good rule to bring an empty suitcase to fill up as you go! On the afternoon of the first day, we went to visit Wat Pho (the temple with the reclining Buddha), also in central Bangkok; the temple is very beautiful, striking both for its architecture and, of course, for the 46-metre statue... it's a depiction of Buddha reclining on one side, all gilded and with the soles of the feet clearly visible and completely decorated.

The gem of this temple is the very ancient massage school inside the complex, how could we not take advantage?! Anyone who volunteers for the treatment can enjoy a Thai massage at no cost (or a few Baht as a voluntary offering) given by the school's students; maybe do this experience when you're not too tired, we were so exhausted by the time difference that we fell asleep, so I only remember the start and the end of the massage when the girl woke me... Visiting Bangkok on your own is very easy since the city is well served both by public transport and by taxis. A parenthesis on the subject of taxis: in my opinion it isn't the ideal means of getting around since there's a lot of traffic on the roads and who knows whether they'll take you to the right place, so I'd advise using it if the skytrain and boat don't reach where you need to go.

Also, you see quite a few taxis with the words I LOVE FARANG on the window: the FARANG are US (that is, foreign tourists), so this writing gives you the reassurance of having a taxi driver who speaks or half-speaks English, because remember the alternative is the local language.. Thai.... The other means of public transport are the very convenient SKYTRAIN (the elevated metro), the tuk-tuks (a sort of rickshaw with driver) or the ferry. In fact Bangkok is divided in two by the river CHAO PRAYA, and its river is plied by traditional boats (long tail boats) and scheduled ferries that shuttle from one point of the river to another to connect the various districts. The ferries often have a plastic protection to shelter passengers from water splashes, because the Chao Phraya isn't exactly the cleanest...

Next stop, the unmissable Royal Palace, inside which there is also the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.! You can access the site if you have your legs covered at least to the knee, otherwise at the entrance they can lend you a shirt and a long skirt down to your feet to put on over your own clothes. The complex is quite big and dotted with gilded domes and various buildings, including the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Tourists mix with practising Buddhists; but despite the presence of the tourist, who always seems out of place, the air steeped in incense makes the atmosphere charged with suggestions! If you still feel like temples I suggest visiting Wat Saket and Wat Arun in Bangkok, otherwise you can pass the time in other ways, for example at Lumpini Stadium Muay Thai boxing matches are often organised, you can watch a traditional dance show, or what I particularly recommend is dining on board the Manhora, a traditional boat that sails on the river at sunset; you can hire a long tail boat to visit the Thonburi Floating Market in the northern part of Bangkok (Bangkok Noi).

They organise excursions to the floating market outside the city, Damnoen Saduak, and the Rose Garden, or a tour of the Chinese and Indian quarter or the shopping malls of Bangkok (sweatshirt at hand, air conditioning turned up absurdly high). We really liked the Royal Barges Museum, it's a shed on the Chao Phraya where the most beautiful traditional and royal boats are kept; if you have time I recommend a little visit.

The last stop of our stay in Bangkok was the trip out to Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Siam. We took the train from Bangkok along with all the Thai commuters heading to Ayutthaya. The ancient part of the former capital boasts many temples. To visit it, once you've crossed the river by ferry, "hire for 2-3 hours a tuk-tuk with its driver (300 BAHT) who will also serve as an English-speaking guide if needed. The Temples of Ayutthaya differ from one another in cult and architecture, and differ too from those seen in Bangkok, so the trip won't be boring! Another way to visit it is to book an excursion with the Mekala (the sister of the Manhora); it leaves Bangkok towards sunset including dinner and an overnight stay on board, arriving in Ayutthaya the following morning. The visit to the temples is usually included, as is the transfer back by private bus.

Post-Bangkok, a one-hour flight away, our next stop was Phuket for a bit of sea and relaxation. The Patpong area feels very much like Riccione; if you're looking for a well-kept, well-equipped and very pleasant area, choose Kata Beach. You can hire a scooter to get around (driving is on the left) or take a tuk-tuk or a local bus. The excursions to do are certainly Phi Phi Island and the very touristy Maya Beach (where they filmed the movie The Beach) and Phang Nga with Bond Island (where they filmed one of the James Bond films)

I'll end by saying Sawadee to everyone.