Following a great night of sleep we finally got our act together and headed back to the Chatuchak Weekend Market by mid-morning. We picked up some deep fried pork (25 baht, about .80) and then I found those chicken toasts again. This was followed by a fruit shake containing about 6 fruits and ice for 35 baht (1.10) that was oh so yummy. For the next hour or two we wandered through the market picking up little things here and there, shorts, pants, shirts, kitchen things, souvineers. By about 1:30 we had decided we had enough and headed toward the exit. On our way to the gate we decided to stop at a little stall where they were giving foot massages for 200baht (6.50) for a half hour. So for the next half hour we were transported to heaven. On our way out of the market we picked up some more fruit shakes and headed to the skyway station where we bought all day passes for 120baht (4.00) each and took the skytrain all the way to the end.
There was a small mall at the end station. Bev went to go get a leg waxing and Fraser and I went across the street to a little outdoor area and had a beer. When we collected Bev we went back there to munch on some of the food being served. We bought portions of pork on a stick, dim sum, fish cakes done up in banana leaves. Each portion which gave us each one or two goodies costs all of 25 baht each! So we had a great snack. We then hopped back on the skytrain so we could go to the cross over of the other line and take that to the end. It ended at the river. It was getting dark by now so we headed back to the hotel taking the skytrain to the closest station to the hotel then grabbed a tuk-tuk to the hotel.
After making arrangements for the free city tour tomorrow offered through RCI we rested up about a half hour before heading off to taste a little bit of Bangkok's notorious night life, Soi Patong. After getting off the the skytrain the streets were alive with yet another street market. We very slowly made our ways through the crowds until we got to Patong 2 (there are actually 3 Potong streets). As we walked up the street bar hawkers were trying to temp us with cards that showed off what the girls could do starting with ping-pong balls. We kept forging through. At the top of the street we turned and then went down Patong 1 which was closed to vehicular traffic as there were three rows of stalls set up. Want bootleg DVDs or fake designer watches? This is the place along with the standard girly sex shows.So down then back up again we went then headed over to a cafe just across the street from Soi Patong to have some refreshments.
We were getting a bit peckish but there didn't seem to be any food stalls around. I checked in the book and it mentioned something on Soi 10 but didn't make it clear whether the food stalls were there in the daytime or the evening. Well, again we wound our way through the crowded streets but Bangkok street signs don't really make a lot of sense and after a couple of blocks the sidewalk places petered out a bit. We were trying to decide whether to carry on or not when we came to another cross street. Looking down there seemed to be some outdoor restaurants so we made our way there. Seemed to be set up in a parking lot and there were only Thais' around, no farangs. One of the waiter sort of spoke english. There was a display of fish and chicken on ice. So we just pointed to the squid, the mussels and the chicken. He said, squid in garlic, chicken curry and steamed mussels? Sure, why not.
So we sat down and they brought over some water for Bev and I and a beer for Fraser. What came was an absolute feast. The food tasted fantastic. After we finished scarfing all the food (more than enough for three of us) we decided on one more thing so I went over to the counter. I pointed out the shrimp to the waiter and he said something that I didn't understand and said sure. Well, we got lovely sauted shrimp with vegetables. Again really yummy and the shrimp were so tender. So our whole meal came to about 6.00 each. After leaving there we walked back to the main road and then went to one of the massage places we had passed so we could get an hour foot massage. A whole hour along with a quick neck, spine and shoulder massage cost 300baht (10.00). We were jelly by then and it was past the time that the skytrain ran so we just took a taxi back since the taxis are cheap enough.
Eating and massages, I could get use to this very easily!
Posted by chezbasson at January 7, 2007 09:33 PM