Thailand

Well, if ever a 3-day weekend away could feel like a weeklong refreshing holiday - then this weekend was it.

Bangkok was GREAT! As planned Tim and I headed off to Bangkok on Friday to make the most of the 3 day HKSAR National Weekend. On arrival at the airport we caught the country train from Don Muang into Bangkok spending the hour-long trip absorbing the 'interesting' outskirts of the city, playing with the infectiously happy children and trying not to fall out of the open train doors.

What we thought would be a short walk to our hotel was a little bit longer given i was so absorbed in the little milk tarts with corn i had bought from a little old lady, we completely missed the hotel (still don't how we did it given it's a 4 start hotel in a 1 star neighborhood - that kind of thing stands out!). We eventually found our way back to the hotel to the laughs of the tuk tuk drivers who had seen us walk past 15 minute earlier.

The hotel upgraded our cheap standard room to a suite room which was bigger than our apartment in HK (my 2 favorite words are free & upgrade so I was thrilled!!!) and so was the beginning of a great weekend! We spent our time wandering around Siam Square, shopping at Chatuchak markets and exploring the seedy streets of Patpong. I must say I am completely shopped out but given it's a Monday and once again I have nothing to do at school (the students have 1/2 days and they are all involved in end of year fun days etc) I feel like I’ve just come back from a week on the beach. The sun was great and I got my much needed dose of vitamin D, the food was magnificent - Pad Thai just isn't Pad Thai if it's not from a questionable road side stall and coke just isn't coke if it's not served in a plastic bag with a straw, and the people were HAPPY - something I miss so much here in HK, people rarely smile at you or say 'thank you' here but the Thai people with their happy smiles and joyous laughing was a really nice touch to our weekend.

One of the very happy Thai people we met.

This is like volleyball but using only their feet, it's amazing to watch.

Tim makes sure he's well hydrated before entering the mayhem of Chatuchak Markets.