Day Fourteen-Seventeen: Bangkok

This is the part of my dream vacation I have been waiting for. I've heard from other travellers I know who have been to Thailand that the islands are great, but being in the busy city is like nothing else. Once again, since this is my dream vacation, I am choosing to stay at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. While on my island trips, I chose to reside along the beach and in hotels that were as luxurious, Bangkok is an inner city, and a major metropolitan city, so luxury is what I am looking for!

The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is rated the number one hotel in Bangkok, and has one of the most beautiful spas in the world. This hotel is also conveniently located in the heart of the city which will make getting around and visiting tourist locations much easier.

From the hotel, there are a wide variety of tours offered. Since I have about three whole days to explore the city, I am planning on taking full advantage of these tours. The first one I plan to take part in is the Floating Market Tour - specifically, the Damnoen Saduak floating market. I've always been interested in the floating markets from seeing them in movies and TV shows, and to be able to experience one first hand would be amazing. The markets are like living museums - boats are filled to the brim with fresh fruits and vegetables. I will be sure to bring my camera on this adventure to capture the true culture of what life was like in Bangkok before consumerism took control.

I also would be interested in taking a dinner cruise tour. The boats take the passengers out on the river around the city at night which allows people to see the the dazzling lights. I think that this would be a different way to have dinner while in Bangkok - as opposed to a sit down meal at a restaurant.


I believe that I am somewhat used to the big city - I grew up in the heart of Toronto. But looking deeper into my stay in Bangkok, I think that a city with 11 million people will be somewhat overwhelming - and I welcome it. I am looking forward to what a truly busy city is like, with mass amounts of people congesting the streets at all times. Public transit will be something to get accustomed to, and knowing my sense of direction, I will be sure to get us lost. This being said, I think that having a tour guide with us to show us the most important things within our three day stay will be a beneficial aspect to our trip.

I am also hoping to fit in a show or two during my stay. I am very interested in musical theatre and would enjoy a night out in Bangkok seeing some of the local talent. I think that ending my trip in Bangkok is a smart idea. After doing all the travelling from island to island, scuba diving, rock climbing, and relaxing on the beaches, being in the big city to take in a different aspect of Thai culture will be a different and informative way to round off an incredible adventure. Although my stay is only three days long, I am hoping to make the most out of it. I understand that I will be sleeping minimally and be on my feet all day, but I think that is the price to pay for a vacation of a lifetime.

We will be catching and evening flight back to Toronto from Bangkok airport. From our hotel, we will call a taxi service which is able to bring us there. On the long ride back to Canada, I will use the time to reflect on the trip.

http://www.bangkok.com/orientalbangkok/tours.htm

http://wikitravel.org/en/Bangkok