Diary From Thailand

We left for Thailand in just two friends having booked the flight to and from Italy, the first 4 nights in Bangkok and the internal flight to the island of Koh Samui. From the capital to the north and vice versa, we moved by train traveling at night, we did the ticket at the station in Bangkok. To the north we rented an SUV: it is the only way humanly possible to get around. Driving is on the left, but there is no traffic on the roads. We have always stayed in small hotels simple, but clean and affordable and ate at local restaurants rice, vegetables, meat, soups, fish.

Koh Samui(Samui Island)

We did not have any particular problems of organization. We had to pay attention to the luggage in the city 'largest (in Bangkok have been robbed), but overall it's pretty quiet. We used the guide Clup, sometimes not very practical to consult.

DAY 1 We depart from Milan Linate Airport to Zurich where we have a connecting flight to Bangkok with Swissair.

Day 2 We arrive in Bangkok at lunchtime. It 'a city where the modern blends with tradition. Take a taxi meter (just take taxi with this writing) and we do bring to Manora Hotel, 412 Surawong Road, booked from Italy. Let's start for a first approach to the city. We get on a ferry at the pier Oriental Hotel (where I steal his wallet containing a fair amount), and sail up the Chao Pya stop Wat Po, the oldest temple in the city. The complex consists of several buildings and interior also features an impressive statue of the reclining Buddha 45 meters long and 15 high covered with gold leaf. After the visit return to the hotel to rest ... from the trip! Seafood Dinner in a market, a market in which the fish is chosen and cooked at the moment.

Pier Oriental Hotel

Gold Mountain

Day 3 We drive by taxi to the Gold Mountain or Phu Khao Thong, a high hill 78 meters which houses a golden chedi. From here you can see the whole city. We stop at Wat Sakhet, one of the oldest temples, beautifully decorated with paintings with beautiful wooden doors and a statue of the Buddha. We head to the tourist office of CTS Hotel Royal, 2 Rajdamnoen Klang Avenue to book a tour of the main temples of Bangkok since, wanting to make do on our own, no taxi driver, or through a hotel porter, he knows what and where are. We leave after lunch with a van. We arrive at Wat Po (which we have already seen, but that is included in the package) and take the opportunity for a more detailed visit, we drive to Wat Trimitr which houses a statue of Buddha made of solid gold. We finally reach the Wat Benchamabopitr or Marble Temple, built in 1899 with Carrara marble. There are a number of statues of the Buddha. At the end of the tour we go to Lumphini Park, a large green lung that is located between lakes and tall skyscrapers with thai they do picnics. Finally, we stop in the red light district of Pat Pong, the stalls of fake brand items that look real and local lap dance and more, but unfortunately, being twogirls alone, we advise against entering .

Wat Benchamabopitr(Benchamabopitr Temple)

Day 4: Again with the usual agency we leave early to the floating market of Damnoen Saduak, 80 km. From Bangkok.

Floating market of Damnoen Saduak

However, we arrive quite late (but we have no alternative), but we have time to rent a lance with which aggirarci in channels between boats full of all sorts of fruits, vegetables, and small objects floating kitchens where you can buy freshly cooked food. The tour continues to buy the Rose Garden amusement park for tourists traveling "all inclusive", but we already agreed with the agency, we avoid it carefully and let us return to the capital in Chinatown. Here the streets are very narrow tunnels that penetrate a multitude of shops that sell wholesale-warehouse all sorts of chinoiserie, from food to various objects and toys at incredible prices. We feel a bit 'strange: they look at us all and we do not find even a tourist. Stagnant air the smell of garlic, meat, fish and vegetables cooked in many restaurants and stalls. Exhausted, back to the hotel