From So Nang we decided to take the mini van to get to Phuket, we did not know what to expect there, we only were sure that it is one of the most touristic places in Thailand. Before I was not really interested in getting there but it was on the route we wanted to take.
The trip was not as simple as expected, we got picked up last our hostel with a crowded mini van not having enough space for all the people inside, would be a horror trip, when there won't be any change. We did not drive that far in the bus and got to some kind of a meeting place, at the meeting place we had to wait for the next mini van, where we got more space. And again the drive was not that far, bringing us to another meeting place, this time more like a bus station. There we got to wait for felt like hours to get on our mini van. No that was not the last one, we were in a very old one and only drove a short while to get on another one. We were already thinking that it would be like that for the rest of the way, but after that change to a newer one we got to Phuket.
We did arrive in Phuket town, so no beach around and first we wanted to take a look around. Yes before doing that we went to a hostel to find a place for the night.
Not far from the hostel we found a nice temple in the typical way. It was great seeing one again after being only at the beach and the ocean.
Further down the street we found a very special restaurant, it more looked like a tree house in a jungle and had realm good decorations and for sure it was very expensive.
Later that day at the hostel we spent a lot of time with the other guests and realised that one guy there had the same idea to go to Myanmar after Thailand. So we came up with the idea to get there together, for doing that we had to leave the next day and go to Bangkok to get a visa. At the end we did not stay long in Phuket and also not in the touristic areas at the coast. Not sure if we missed something important. But we can get there again.The next afternoon and night we spent on a bus and arrived in the early morning in Bangkok. During the ride we did not have a good sunset but the sunrise over Bangkok was nice enough.
Very tired we arrived at the bus station and got immediately surrounded by hundreds of taxi drivers telling us that they will make us the best prices. For sure. We decided to take the public bus to get to the area of town were we wanted to stay, only for three percent of the amount the taxis wanted to get for bringing us. So before noon we arrived in Khao San road.
Close to the area was a demonstration, you usually get warned that it might be dangerous, but this one was very peaceful and the people were still friendly smiling at us.
On the walking street we also ran into a German camera team interviewing tourists passing by, they also interview us. Well not Bernd, when he saw the camera he his behind some shops to be sure that they won't film him, something must have made him afraid or very cautious about being filmed.
I got told that they'll show the interview next morning in TV and when it came I heard from friends that they did not take what I said, only the stuff the others said. We were walking around in a bigger group since we left Phuket with the over night bus.
At night we heard that there was some fighting between the demonstrators and the police, but not to much and again we did not get into any trouble. Next morning we went to the Malaysian embassy to apply for our visa and took the boat on the river to head back to our guesthouse.
On the way we decided to visit Wat Arunratchawararam, a Wat I visited on my first trip to Bangkok with my friends and wanted to show it to Bernd.
Also we got the the grand palace, around there were many speakers and signs telling tourists that there palace is not closing during the day and they should not belief in the things some people tell them about the times. In the past there were no signs like that, but we had a good warning and when one of those guys, who was wearing a suit and looking very professional was telling us that the palace is closed and we could get on a different tour. This time no one was around, so maybe there is no real need of the warnings anymore.
This evening we went to the night market in Patpong, the place where you also can see some ping pong shows. Bernd first thought that they would only play ping pong there, after explaining him what is really going on in this shows he was interested in seeing one of those shows, when we arrived there we met some other travelers again we met on the bus to Bangkok and they told us that they have been at one of the shows and as I expected got ripped off. Also typical for that shows. That made Bernd change his mind of seeing the show and more willing to walk around at the market. There we got to see that Xmas is really getting closer.
Getting back to our hostel was not as easy as usual, the taxi only brought us close to the Democracy monument and did not want or try to get closer because there was a very big demonstration. So we got to walk through that area. Bernd was hiding behind my back and praying that nothing would happen to us.
We did it through there without any problems, also through a very dark alley, it's never as dangerous as it is told about such places.
Back in our area we went with some other guys we met on the street to a very nice bar/local/guesthouse. It seemed that everywhere were friendly travelers around with whom you could have a lot of fun. For sure the next time we gonna be in Bangkok we would stay in the Flapping duck, I know it's covert advertising, but with this place I do not mind.
The next day we did not do so much, we only went to the embassy to get our passports back and enjoyed a good massage. Well and for sure spent a lot of time with many many friendly travelers. And also we spent some time of thinking how to get to Myanmar, first we were thinking of taking a flight but we changed our mind and decided to take a train to Chiang Mai and get across the border in the north.
This day was also kings birthday, so there was a big celebration in town and at night we could see the lampeons flying away.
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