Dodging tanks in Bangkok

Unbeknown to all of us trying to get some sleep in the back, the driver must have been in a real hurry to get to Bangkok. Maybe he knew something we didn't. But the upturn of all of this, was that rather than arrive in Bangkok at the relatively unreasonable hour of 7am, we got there at 4 instead. Hoping against hope that we would just be left to sleep while the bus parked up till 7, I was forcibly ejected, with the small consolation that I managed to hang on to the blanket we'd been given at the start. Any thoughts of just finding a quiet corner to continue my kipping till daylight were soon banished by the sight of rats the size of small dogs scurrying around my feet, not to mention the festering stink that seems as much a part of Bangkok as ladyboys and cheap t-shirts.

Temple across the water

So my mind was made up to find somewhere to crash for the next few hours and the following night, while I sorted out what my next move was going to be. This would also give me a chance to have a quick look around the city. Luckily I came across a Guesthouse that had a wardrobe free, and this was to be my room for the next 36 hours. If I contorted myself in a particular manner I could touch all 4 walls at once (though, admittedly, I would be unlikely to sleep in such a position.)

Giant reclining Buddha

So I spent the next day wandering around the local markets, going to Chinatown, visiting a temple that housed the largest reclining buddha in Thailand, and catching up on email. The buddha is in only one part of a massive temple complex, and there were loads of weird and wonderful statues dotted around, with some other interesting-looking buildings with lots of spires. The buddha itself was indeed very long. Apparently the 'recline' was the position adopted when the buddha was on its' way to Nirvana. It does look pretty comfortable.

Camp statue outside giant buddha temple

In the evening I booked a flight for the next day to Krabi, and caught Man U losing at home to Arsenal. Had a sweet and restful sleep. 24 Hours later, whilst I was wondering around Krabi, the tanks rolled in and the first coup in 17 years quietly took place.

Dodging tanks in Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand