The French were very noisy at 3:30 this morning, trust me when I say the French to not whisper quietly. Then this morning I was serenaded by a Portuguese bloke singing in the shower! Lol I knew he was Portuguese as I heard him sing/say obrigado. Alas, it was not the drop deed gorgeous Jose Mourinho!
But apart from all that I feel totally refreshed and ready to go again. Quiet start to this morning as the next three mornings will be early starts. So I'm just sitting here eating my eggs with the sunshine coming through the roof slats, planning my day. In typical Karen style I have planned the last first! So tonight I shall eat at Jenny's again. It's the most wonderful food ever. I love sitting outside watching people and hopefully again there will be someone to chat too. Then I will head to the Khaosan Road! For you that don't know, this is backpackers paradise. It's full of bars, clubs, restaurants, street food and night markets. It's go, go, go. To be perfectly honest it's not what I'm looking for but when in Rome lol. It will be an experience to tell my grandchildren lol when they come to me and say grandma I'm going travelling to Thailand! I will say oh your grandma did that aged 29 (53 lol)! She had a blast along the Khaosan Road chatting to the Australian blokes and Ladyboys. The young think the fun is theirs! Why should it be. I can categorically state here and now there will be no Saga holidays for this free spirit! However, I do think that finding someone special in my life to share and experience this adventure with is virtually impossible; especially in Stoke lol where people live in one area and rarely travel. However, as always I live in hope but will just get on with it myself, living here in the moment until the person who shall adore me appears lol. Remember, he's going to be foreign lol lol.
So today it's the Grand Palace then to another temple I have seen called Wat Benchamabophit this temple chose me, so we shall see. The German chap I was speaking too last night was speaking, in English to a guy from Uruguay this morning. The German bloke has now left. The hostel/guest house was the best idea ever, such diversity I can't tell you all how much I just love it. Right. Let's get other shoes on, bag packed, buy some water and I think I shall attempt the bus today lol now that has to be an experience. Catch you later!
Ok in phone whilst eating, once again, the most delicious food ever cooked.
Started off the day in a ride in a tuk tuk. If any of you don't know what this is I have enclosed a picture - they are not for the faint hearted. Negotiated price, I am getting good at that and off to the Grand Palace, my hair was soon dry, they really do not mess around - weaving in and out of the traffic lol such fun.
So arrived at the Grand Palace and was it busy! I think half of south East Asia were there clicking away. - Canon, Nikon, Samsung each member of the family, including thr chikdren. I hadn't even paid my ticket when a family asked me to take their photo, on four different cameras. So I ended up taking a photo of them too. 
The Palace was so beautiful but so very busy. I said prayers at the Green Bhudda there, it was so beautiful, even amongst the madness you could still find some peace. I also dedicated an offering to two people, you know who you are and why. It was so lovely just sitting outside listening to the wind chimes moving in the breeze. In time I was able to cut out all the other noise and find some peace.
Next stop was to the Palace and the throne room. With no disrespect to anyone all I wanted to do was pretend I was Deborah Carr and waltz around the room singing Shall We Dance lol lol. It was a truly magnificent room etc etc etc ;)
Then the funniest quite of he trip so far I overheard an American couple ask about the Thai King and Queen whose photos are everywhere. They worship their King and Queen. Anyway the American said oh yes the English Kings have no privacy either!!!!!! Has something happened whilst I have been away? I must admit I am usually a news hound but I can honestly say I have not checked news on line! Unlike my bloody DBS which I have been checking every day! Anyone from HMP reading I'm coming back to get you I want ribbon on my keys - oh and Andy you are no on soggy post box patrol lol x
Then I visited the Queen's collection of textiles. Ann you would gave loved this, the were just so beautiful. The silks and the colours. It really was an interesting place and Queen Sirikit has a foundation to help women they teach embroidery and weaving,nthen the women can work and their chikdren can be educated. It's called the SUPPORT foundation. There was a documentary being shown with women who have bee supported talking about their experiences. It was very moving. There was one woman there who had been infected with HIV, the first and only woman in that province at that time, very sad. Women in some countries, maybe all countries, have it so difficult. Anyway, I purchased a few bits in the shop to support the foundation.
Decided then to eat as I was, for some reason incredibly hungry. Find a lovely little place in a market lol. I watched the woman cook my lunch, she was showing me how. I'm sure if I were to cook it it would be nothing like it lol. Then went to get a taxi to next temple, the temple that had chosen me remember, and that's when the day changed lol.
Walking through all the market stalls it was so busy but found a taxi. Explained to the driver where I wanted to go he says no no no not good temple too many monks - yeah like no way Sherlock! Monks no like women. Well I know for some monks if they touch or a woman brushes past them they have to fast and wash for so many days. The taxi driver was laughing and laughing. I thought oh well onwards and up wards. Carried on walking and an older Thai guy says to me hello, I'm from Thai police please watch your bag here (I was anyway) and flashes me his ID warrant, what is it with me! Sonhensays were you from Manchester? I like football lol. So I told him about the temple and he suggested another one that I could walk too. So off I walked and walked and wakes and walked - no temple. But I did see a sign for a place called the Green Earth Foundation. What is this I hear you shout! Well I'm sure that was the name of the foundation Stan, remember Stan folks the very rich guy last year in HK, was setting up in HK and it would make sense as it was full of the Chinese community around there - spooky.
I went to he pier nearby and asked a guy there lol what the temple was across the river like. He wanted to send me to Wat Arum again lol. He said not very open he suggested the Golden Bhudda I. China Town sooooooooo I walk ages and ages and find a woman taxi driver I liked that. Negotiated a price and trust me I'm brutal now and we are off ......... So I thought. The traffic was horrendous. The woman is telling me in very poor English how her business failed now she has high blood pressure, no wonder driving around Bangkok everyday I could feel mine rising lol. Then she said oh I like your Queen lol as if I should know her lol but she didn't like her Queen she called her a black cloud lol. So we talked politics as you do stuck in a taxi for an hour lol. The traffic was because of the political protests that have been going on and guess what the road was closed. Sigh ......... Over an hour later! The Golden Buddha! No pictures of that yet as phone backing up and wi fi is taking ages. It was a beautiful temple and I was pleased I had made the effort - however. I then realised I was right the other side of Bangkok miles from the cosy guest house and the traffic made a London rush hour look like a Sunday afternoon. So in my infinite wisdom - don't ask- I thought oh I will get the tube. Off I go to the tube station, everything in Thai, strange that don't you think. No school children to practise their English with so I decided that the tube thing didn't go my way. There's a surprise I hear you cry. Back out and if you could see how you have to cross the roads in Bangkok you would die! I'm weaving inbetween tuk tuks, lorries, buses, mopeds and cars lol. Then right into a protest lol! I thought it was a street lo arty lol. They looked really happy, blowing whistles and food on the go lol then I realised lol.
Oh week no damage done. By now I am exhausted I had walked miles. If I haven't lost weight I will scream. I'm eating the freshest healthiest food ever and walking miles! So I then decided it's no good getting a taxi I will be in it for hours I will get the river taxi mmmmmmmm. So off I go in search of a pier. 45 mins yes 45 mins later I find one and a boat, in rush hour. So there I am on a boat which is busy like the underground in London in rush hour, hanging on for grim death lol. So I thought I was being clever didn't I as on the map there is a pier near the bridge near me - simples. Well it was until the boat then decides to go across the river to the other side, not the side I needed to be on. By then I could have cried with frustration!!!!!! I decided to get off at correct stop, wrong side of river. Now you think that would be simple - no. There were loads of army guys on the boat as they are keeping an eye on my new friends the protestors, with big rucksacks on their backs and then there are two monks and me. Now you may not know this but for some monks if they touch or brush past a woman they have to fast, pray and goodness knows what I mean I don't have lepracy but I may of week have lol. I'm trying to squeeze through the Thai army whilst not touching a monk the monks look fortified I mean why get on a bloody boat in rush hour doh you are asking for it. Got off ferry with good karma lol and didn't have a clue, again where I was. So decided to get a taxi, can I find a taxi of course I can't. Off I go walking again and find some child driving a car and we are off as he puts the address I google maps FFS!!!! Needless to say we arrive at the wrong address in the end I am giving him instructions lol. I was exhausted but quick shower and off to bit the town mmmmmm. But first dinner at Jenny's restaurant. The lovely guy remembered me how cool is that and asked if I wanted the same, so I did and it was such gorgeous food, made with love. I was joined by two rather lovely French young men too. It took me back go my school exchange in France lol but that's a story for a others day.
So off to the khosan Road where apparently it all happens mmmmm. Needless to say I hated it. I had a quick drink bought a new rack sack bag thing and liked it so much bought another lol. If one more person stuck a scorpion in a stick in front of me one more time I would have screamed. Why do I want to eat a scorpion? How many slimming world sins in a scorpion I wonder lol. Three were bugs, worms, cockroaches all wonderful delights to try. Saw some right dodgy things too however it was interesting being a white woman on her own. I was treated completely different to the guys. No one tried to pull me into a bar or thrust a menu in my face or even sell me a woman, yes I saw that happen, I don't think there is anything down that road you cannot buy :(
But all they said to me was madam lol they know their place Stuey lol lol! But I must say I felt safer there than I ever do in the UK but it's not for me it's too false no commercialised. So made my way home around 11:15. Thai tuk tuk drives trying to chat me up lol hey madam you ride with me - no ta would rather kill myself ta lol. It's stance culture isn't it. European guys come here for sex! They can get whatever they want cheap, no questions asked. It makes me feel uncomfortable for many reasons. Thai people are predominately poor and for years women have been selling sex. Oh well I will ponder on that.
So that's why there was no blog last night. Lol so many of you have messaged saying where is it - not oh are you ok lol. I was knackered lol I mean anyone would think I was on holiday not just here to entertain you. I can't load all the pictures yet but will attach them to their own page when they have uploaded.
This last picture is of the offering I made for you who I have spoken too xx
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