Bangkok trip review

Tuesdays tour

A nice relaxing start being picked up by bus at 7am from our hotel. We drove for several hours before we even hit the outskirts of Bangkok itself (its a BIG city). We stopped briefly at the cemetery for fallen soldiers who died during the building of the Burma Railway. We then moved onto a museum and had a quick look at photos and relics from that time. From there it was a quick speedboat trip up the River Kwae to the bridge itself, where we walked across the bridge.

After a quick lunch we stopped briefly to bottle feed a leopard cub and then onto the Tiger Temple.

We first met about 8 Tigers who were all lazing around and we had photos taken . We then walked the tigers down into a canyon area where they would spend the afternoon. The girls had a closer encounter in that they had arranged to go behind the scenes and wash and hand feed some smaller tigers and then they were led into a play area and given toys attached to poles to play with the tigers as you would a normal housecat. The only difference of course is that these guys could really hurt you.

After that we went back to the canyon where the tigers were and had several photos taken with the tigers.

After that it was back into the bus and the long drive home. We got caught in some traffic which added an hour to our tour.

Thursdays Tour.

We were picked up at 4.30am, just the three of us and our tour guide, Newat, and driver. It was a lot quicker trip and straight out for a quick photo at the Bridge over the River Kwai.

When we arrived at the Temple we gave a food offering to the monks and then went into the temple and met a dozen tiger cubs, one was only 4 weeks old and the rest were up to 8months old. We played with the cubs whilst the monks did their morning prayers and then we walked several of the cubs up to the exercise area, where we did the wash and hand feed again. This time we were all in the exercise yard and the tigers were larger than the previous tour. We had them jumping and chasing the toys on the end of the sticks. At one stage a tiger leapt straight at me (Peter) although he was going for the toy, he towered above me and quite frankly I was pretty scared.

We then walked some large tigers down to the canyon where we went into a cage and the tigers were let loose and had a play with their handlers in a pool. Got some great action shots.

After leaving the Tiger Temple we went off to a river where we met some Asian elephants and their handlers and went into the river where the elephants took great delight in dowsing us with water and dunking us off their backs. After a few more photos we then rode them back to the car.

We then had the long drive back into Bangkok, tired but very happy.

Comments re Bangkok – well this is a very busy, big and noisy city. Walking the footpath we felt safe but there were street sellers everywhere cooking food. The traffic was amazing with bikes, tuktuk’s, cars, taxis, buses and trucks all pushing each other around. Forget road rules these guys go anywhere, which also meant you had to be careful if you were crossing the road. Red lights, stop signs and one way lanes mean nothing. If you want to go over there and the lanes are all going the other way, ride on the footpath.

Comments re gear I took – I bought a Canon 600D camera for this trip and I have to say it is amazing. The quality of the photos is top notch and the sports feature which allows you to snap multiple shots like a machine gun gets so many great action shots. Have a look at the elephants in the river to see what I mean.

I took along a Galaxy Tablet to use to update this blog instead of the notebook I used for Africa. Its not as user friendly as the notebook and I couldn’t get photos from the camera onto the notebook to be able to paste them on the web. Great for holding books to read and a few movies to watch but I think I will go back to the notebook for the next trip.

 

Update Bangkok 21 September
Wednesday we shopped at MBK. This place is huge, and I mean HUGE! Over 8 floors of shops. Jess did very well. The electronics floor was a bit overwhelming with noise,flashing lights and people everywhere.
Thursday was our early start for our second tiger tour. To say it was better than tge first tour is an understatement. It was followed with a elephant bathing experience which was so great and not what we were expecting. Basically we went into the river with two elephants who proceded to splash us, and dunk us in the river. It was quite a hot day so it was a lot of fun and really cool. Over 1800 photos between the two tours.
Today Friday, we are going in a tuk tuk to a different shopping centre.
Tomorrow we are up early to head for home.

Update Bangkok 19 September

Well due to a variety of issues I haven’t been able to get to use the internet to add photo’s as I would have liked. A combination of new camera, tablet instead of a notebook and a mobile phone service that isn’t working as planned.

We had a good flight over and arrived to a tropical downpour. Very nice 5 star hotel (Fran demands the best). A dinner on the roof top overlooking Bangkok.

Tuesday we were up early for what ended up being a 12 hour day to see the Tiger Temple. Was it as expected? Well I think our experience was better than expected. So much interaction with the tigers and over 500 photos.

More to come when I get the chance to put up some photos but needless to say that we have all had close encounters with 200kg plus tigers who were not restrained.

Today (wednesday) is shopping day. MBK shopping centre at 8 floors and over 2000 shops and stalls is just across the road so when we have too many parcels we can just walk back to our hotel and unload and then walk back.

More later

 

Update August 2012:

Booked to fly to Bangkok on 17 September, flying Thai International.

18th we do our first Tiger Temple Tour.

19th will be shopping at the MBK centre which has over 2000 shops over 8 floors.

20th is the second Tiger temple Tour, this is a 4.30am pick up from the hotel.

21st is a free day so far so we may take a city tour.

22nd we fly home again.

 

Locking in a 5 day stay in Bangkok in September as part of Frans birthday celebrations.

We will actually be in bangkok for 4 full days. 2 visits to the Tiger Temples have been arranged.

We will be staying at the Siam@Siam Hotel.