To the Grand Palace Driver, and Don't Spare the Horses
We found that Bangkok 4 weeks into an Asian journey doesn't have quite the same appeal as when it is an exotic stopover. Still we were able to get some essential supplies eg speakers for the ipod, which should come in handy when we reach Kao Lak. Our newish hotel in the shopping district of Pratanum was handily placed to a station on the new overhead railway from the airport. Unfortunately the railway which was supposed to be opened several years ago is still not operational. The hotel staff when asked said it will be opened next month.....hopefully. Others say it is still a way off.
We took the opportunity to visit Wat Pho (with giant reclining Bhudda) and the Grand Palace (with Emerald Bhudda). The day was a hot and sunny one. The ex army officers on tourist control at the Palace were more officious than I remembered from my last visit (20 years ago), but the beauty and colours of the buildings and and statues shining in the bright sun made it a memorable day.
The journey there was memorable too. Our young taxi driver spoke no English and seemed uncertain of the whereabouts of or route to the Grand Palace. This was somewhat surprising given that he was picking us up in the main tourist shopping area and taking us to the main tourist attraction. After studying our map he headed off in the right direction. 15 minutes and several wrong turns later we were lost. He stopped and we showed him on the map where we were. At this point we gave him our map which turned out be something of a mistake. 45 minutes into our journey and we had seen a number of interesting back streets and had crossed onto the wrong side of the river. The humour of the situation was beginning to wear thin and the driving was becoming more erratic as the driver searched for the right streets. Finally we recognised we were near Wat Pho and the journey was mercifully at and end. We gave the driver 80 baht, about half what was on the meter and he seemed disappointed. The taxi ride back took 15 mins and cost 80 Baht. A tale of two taxis- same same, but different.
We took the opportunity to visit Wat Pho (with giant reclining Bhudda) and the Grand Palace (with Emerald Bhudda). The day was a hot and sunny one. The ex army officers on tourist control at the Palace were more officious than I remembered from my last visit (20 years ago), but the beauty and colours of the buildings and and statues shining in the bright sun made it a memorable day.
The journey there was memorable too. Our young taxi driver spoke no English and seemed uncertain of the whereabouts of or route to the Grand Palace. This was somewhat surprising given that he was picking us up in the main tourist shopping area and taking us to the main tourist attraction. After studying our map he headed off in the right direction. 15 minutes and several wrong turns later we were lost. He stopped and we showed him on the map where we were. At this point we gave him our map which turned out be something of a mistake. 45 minutes into our journey and we had seen a number of interesting back streets and had crossed onto the wrong side of the river. The humour of the situation was beginning to wear thin and the driving was becoming more erratic as the driver searched for the right streets. Finally we recognised we were near Wat Pho and the journey was mercifully at and end. We gave the driver 80 baht, about half what was on the meter and he seemed disappointed. The taxi ride back took 15 mins and cost 80 Baht. A tale of two taxis- same same, but different.
posted by Paekak @ 5:02 PM
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