July 20th–Pattaya to Bangkok

This morning we had planned to get up and actually use the resort pool – and then we woke up at 11am. Oops. No time for a swim and completely missed breakfast! Checkout was at 12pm so we cleared the room, dropped off our bags and waited next to the pool before our 1.45pm transfer. That is, until the torrential downpour started – the weather has not been to kind to us in Thailand so far!

We huddled under shelter until our transfer came – off to the Nong Nooch gardens for us. I’m not exactly sure how to describe these gardens. They are basically large gardens full of random animals statues – ants, mammoths, giraffes, flamingos. There is also a petting zoo, aviaries, a fish feeding pond, elephant rides and more.

   

When we got there it was still pouring with rain – we attempted walking around before deciding this was not much fun, enough so to go sit and endure the ‘Thailand Cultural Show’ on offer (inside). Andy and I have seen our fair share of these and girls walking around twirling their hands has very limited entertainment value after you’ve seen it once. There was some staged boxing and sword fighting however – this made the performance a little more bearable. And we were dry.

Afterwards, on to the elephant show – this reminded me of Kelly’s excitement seeing elephants last time we were in Asia (two years ago). Again, Andy and I have both seen this before but still the elephants doing their painting, bowling, bike riding etc. were still very cute and entertaining. Even if there is that niggling feeling that the elephants aren’t enjoying it at all.

   

Before we left we had a little time to wander again (now that the rain had stopped). Perhaps the most notable part of the gardens here are the ‘tame’ tigers tied to chains on rocks that you can pay to have your photo with. They are very popular but I couldn’t help but feel so sorry for them – there was one tiger trying to pace with his chain, getting no more than some criss crossing side to side leg motions. There was a monkey in a similar condition. Sad.

Back to the hostel in time for another Thai dinner and then our two hour transfer to Bangkok. Our hotel here is lovely – a little wooden Thai house in a random back alley. We dumped our bags and headed for a quick stroll down Khao Sahn Road. Last time I was here there was an alcohol ban (day before an election). Certainly not this time – hello big buckets of alcohol everywhere. And lots of Australians, here is where they have all been hiding lately. Our walk down the road was relatively quick (again, feeling a little uncool here)… past the fried scorpions, the market sellers, the street Pad Thai, the massage parlours, the homeless people. This city is exactly as I remember it.

Back to the hostel by 11pm – this holiday has not exactly been drunken and rowdy! But really, I am perfectly content with early nights in air conditioned rooms right now.