Bangkok 07 Mar 2017

Well, what can I write about today! It's been a day of mainly staying inside air conditioned buildings! Just once in a while, it's nice not to spend the day getting hotter and hotter!

We did go out though and experience the Bangkok Transport System (BTS) by walking to Sathorn Taksin Station and catching the train to National Stadium. Of note is the fact there are no lifts or escalators up to the platform, clearly not an option for those with mobility issues. Tickets can only be bought from machines and these only take coins. Luckily, the information office carries plenty of small change. Our destination cost 37 Baht each.

The BTS has been built since I was last here and consists of overhead rail lines installed over the streets, so the trains wind around between buildings. The National Stadium is the terminus for the line we were on, so it was easy to work out where we were. As we don't read or understand spoken Thai, it's quite difficult to know where you are unless you can glimpse the station name between the crowds of commuters.

Our aim was to visit Mahboonkrong or as it's known locally MBK! This is a seven storey Thai shopping mall. No big name stores here, just lots of small ones selling almost anything you can think of. There is lots of clothing and shoes mixed in with electronics, watches, phones and souvenirs. Furniture can also be bought here and there is a huge local food court here too. Many the items are copies of more expensive brand name articles too.

MBK also has a huge food court, mainly used, it seems, by locals on their lunch break. We joined in and had Tom Yung, a spicy broth with noodles and in my case crab claws. I can tell you that the roasted chilli was quite hot. The food was freshly prepared and cooked and very tasty.

We headed back to the hotel after this and cooled down in the pool again. It was rather busier than yesterday too.

This evening, we headed out in the tiny streets behind the hotel again and chose to eat at Odds Rock Steak, mainly for the location. We had an outside seat on the corner of the street and passing traffic and people provided us with entertainment throughout the meal. The food was a bit bland and perhaps touristy too, but it was pretty cheap at about £12 for two including drinks.

Last night, being Monday, many of the street stalls were closed, or indeed not even there. Tonight, the streets and what passes for pavement were absolutely heaving. Clothes seem to be the main thing on sale, but small food stalls were set up everywhere, I only regret not having some satay as I walked through the melee of people. Maybe tomorrow night we will repeat the experience!