First we checked into our hotel...a five-star hotel that Dennis had hookups with. :) The staff were so friendly!
We went to a nearby outdoor food market and had street food! Everything was delicious and very cheap--all a dollar or even cheaper!
We took the skytrain to Siam (central district) to walk around and explore the area. Except, we ended up losing Derrick in Thailand!
Luckily we lost him for two hours and not eternally. HAHAHA it was funny how he got lost because Tiff had told him to go in the wrong direction and ended up going somewhere else herself. The reason why I found it so funny was because we were looking through McDonald's to find him, thinking he might be at that huge Zara store, or suggesting to show a picture of him from Tiff's camera but ended up having only one very dark Asian family photo to show people. And Derrick was actually hanging around McD's for a while until he got our text. LMAO. He is so predictable.
Our first tuk-tuk experience. Tuk-tuks are basically a type of taxi that resemble golf carts and motor-powered. I'm guessing they call them tuk-tuk because of the sounds they make. Anyway, they're super fun to ride in because there's limited space, no seatbelts, and you're right up against other vehicles so you are pretty screwed if you get involved in an accident. Hahahhaa. Nevertheless they are useful in navigating through Bangkok's horrible traffic and they're great for sight-seeing!
We went to Sriracha Tiger Zoo to see and play with animals! This thing is so cute .__.
Took pictures with an orangutan! We also took photos feeding a tiger cub, held a snake, and rode an elephant!
YOWWWZA it looks mad =|
Now for Pattaya! We went to the beach and rented beach chairs to hang out. Food is brought to your chair as you order and lots of hawkers come by to ask you if you want food, massage, etc.
I went jet-skiing for the first time! I hesitated quite a bit when I saw the opportunity to since I can't swim, but eventually I just went for it. Hell, I'm in Thailand. I couldn't have made a better decision! Jet-skiing was SO FUN!!! We paid 500 baht a person, which is equivalent to around 15USD. I don't think I could ever get the same rate in America.
Setting off floating lanterns by the shore. It's a Chinese custom (I think) to make a wish on these lanterns and set them off into the sky. Seeing several of these float off at dusk was so magical.
The next morning, we headed out to the floating market! You basically rent your own boat and head down a river where there are SHOPS along the sides. If you ever wanted to see something closer or buy something, just ask the driver to park the boat along the shop and you barter with the shop owner. Everything happens so quickly!
Thai woman selling food from her boat
We went to the grand palace afterwards. This place is BEAUTIFUL. Everything was so ornately designed, even down to the intricate patterns of every pole, wall, and ceiling. I don't think I have ever seen anything like this. Everything about the architecture and materials used (lots of gold) was grandeur and breath-taking.
A nearby street full of gay bars and clubs
After relaxing by the pool at our hotel for a few hours, we all headed out for a piece of Bangkok nightlife! Where else but to Khao San Road?? :)
And how else to get there other than with tuk-tuks?? We had a total of 14 people, utilizing 3 tuk-tuks and 1 cab to get there. Eventually we ended up in a tuk-tuk race! I think this was one of my biggest highlights in Bangkok. Our driver went around 45mph, which isn't all THAT fast for cars, but in a tuk-tuk....holy CRAP I felt like I was going to DIE that night. It was so exhilarating! Our drivers got so competitive that they were revving their motors at the red lights and cutting other cars to get in front. Our tuk-tuk ended up winning the race! That made my night, hahaha.
Boys and their beer. HUBBA HUBBA look at that tank! But we ended up having mai tai served in a bucket. Thai people are not dainty with their liquor.
Khao San road is so ghetto, it's amazing! In the sense that there are signs that explicitly say "STRONG LIQUOR-- We do not check ID cards," people selling fake IDs on the street, and lots of street vendors selling snacks (err...scorpions/larvae/crickets for one certain vendor) and clothes until late. We all got in for free at a club and danced for a good while! Randomly met a trannie and took a pic :P
Our cab ride back to the hotel was not as nice though. The cab driver tried to trick us and took us to the palace unnecessarily (>:[) and we knew because we were there earlier. He tried to play it off by bumping up the American music and pretending not to understand us. The fare ended up being 100+ baht when it was only supposed to be 70 baht at most. Tiff and Alfred ended up trying to run away into the hotel (LMAO wth) while I ended up calling a hotel personnel to help me out. I argued with the driver and won against him. :P Paid him his 70 baht and probably ruined his night (I don't care), but I can't believe I did that to take off the equivalent of one US dollar from the total fare. HAHAHAHA. It was fun though. SUCKA!
Really didn't want to leave Thailand, but sadly, all good things come to an end. I definitely look forward to coming back someday! It's definitely one of my favorite countries in Asia after this trip. Thailand was everything I expected and more!
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