Day 14 – Thursday 3rd November 2005

Our first full day in Bangkok and we’re going shopping, shopping, shopping! But wait, there is something wrong with the whole Breakfast situation – Mr Hym0rs has missed it altogether, claiming he is just tired, although I suspect that the Changs have had an effect once again, either that, or he is off for another massage on the sly.

We get a taxi to the MBK mall, as it was one that we all remembered from last year. Trouble is, at the moment, we have no map, so we are relying on our fantastic (!) local knowledge to get around. Hym0rs appeared for the taxi journey and after the driver tried to get us to a jeweller, we arrived at MBK and got into shopping mode (Burnsie and Curtis), toilet visiting mode (Hym0rs) and bag-carrying mode (me). Surprisingly it was Hym0rs with the first purchase. Burn bought loads, I got a polo shirt for about 7 quid, big spender me. Also purchased some stuff for my mum, on request, so that’s all that done.

Left the MBK and eventually found a place in the next mall that sold maps, so we were rocking. Siam Square holds the ace Siam Discovery Centre and we passed through this designer place whilst heading for Central World Plaza, beside the World Trade Centre. More bags for me to carry and more bargains for Burnsie.

Busy, busy, busy!

That’s Burn’s kinda price! 199Baht = £2.78.

We had the longest and most boring taxi ride back in rush hour. We were in the taxi for 31 minutes and it cost us about £1.50 but most of the time it was spent moving around 2 mph then stopping for 5 mins until the lights changed or a lane we needed to be in became free. Frustrating.

I was knacked, so I slept for more than an hour when we got back to the heaven that is the Sofitel. I wasn’t feeling the best, I’m not sure if it is the Chang or that really bad Chinese that I had last night!

Anyway, off out to PatPong market to see what we could see, at 8pm. Campbell has spotted on the map that Soi 4 (Lane 4) off of Silom Road (just passed PatPong) was a place that ‘the trnedies met up’ so we went down there. Just as we thought it might rain we made a dive for a place called The Balcony. Sat down, ordered drinks, then food, although it was a struggle (turned out that my Spag Ball wasn’t good at all), then we realised after a careful surveillance that we were actually in a Gay Bar. All the clientele, all the waiters, everyone, cept us. Hym0rs wasn’t feeling comfortable, although I’m not sure that putting his arm around me for a photo was the right thing to do. Cheapest meal and drinks ever though - £2.75 each!

Kev: “Hym0rs, this is a Gay Bar, so do you want to take your hand back mate?”

Mike: “Yer huvin’ a laff? Nice night to wear ma pink T-Shirt then!”

We left there and headed back to Silom Road, down PatPong 2 and up PatPong 1, Hym0rs was getting into trouble for videoing the go-go girls and there weren’t many photo opportunities to be honest.

PatPong Market.


Didn't go in here!

No purchases either, so it was off to find somewhere to have a drink – 222 Silom Road, a nice Bar/Restaurant/Hotel that we have been in before, so we went there, just passed the Hotel. A water for me though. Was tempted to get some food, but left that to the Hym0rs and his Ice Cream Sundae.

And there it is!

Back to the hotel, where Burn decided that it was a good idea to try and plan how to get all of the new purchases into the cases. It’s going to be a struggle!