One Night in Bangkok...

02/20/20

Well...actually it's two nights...

The timing today is perfect! We arrive at the hotel in Bangkok just a little while before Matthias and Heike and can warmly welcome them. After a welcome drink by the pool, we set off into the night. The first stop is the massage parlor. And here, the selection proves to be difficult and tricky. A revealing view of the dark side of tourism is offered. Sexual services are offered without being asked and above all unwanted... or rather almost forced upon us. It seems difficult for some ladies to understand that there are men who simply want a massage...sad and annoying at the same time!

Afterwards, we continue to the Patpong Night Market to see what kind of fakes are available that no one needs. Compared to previous years, it's surprisingly less crowded. But is that only because Chinese tourists are absent? Luckily, we don't catch the shopping fever and can go to dinner without any worries. Based on the recommendation of my dear colleague Angie, we go to G's Bangkok. In addition to a surprisingly traditional German menu, they also serve wonderful Thai food, with entertainment provided by the owner Guido. Afterwards, we have another drink at the Balcony Bar. And now it's time to go to bed. After all, Heike and Matthias have just come off a long-haul flight, and tomorrow morning we'll be starting our sightseeing tour bright and early.

7:45 am... a time that's almost ungodly for breakfast... at least while on vacation. But the tour guide has been booked for 8:30 am. We set off with a small delay of 15 minutes. Our tour guide Jane takes us on a canal boat ride first. It's not so easy getting into the longtail boat... the pier is swaying, and so is the boat... and we're just trying not to fall into the water. Seeing Bangkok from the water is exciting... but not just the view! Every time we make a turn, we instinctively lean in the opposite direction, fearing that we might capsize... but the skipper has everything under control. Jane occasionally emerges from behind her parasol to explain a thing or two, only to disappear completely under the umbrella again. We see luxury hotels, ordinary houses, incredibly humble accommodations... the seemingly everyday life in the city. Temples and the Royal Palace are the highlights of the day, but we're also fascinated by the flower market and Chinatown. Since Jane didn't give us any breaks except for the lunch break, we're properly exhausted by 4:30 pm and return to the hotel. After all, we still have plans for tonight. Heike's birthday is tomorrow, so we definitely have to celebrate in style!

For dinner, we go to Ban Chiang, our absolute favorite restaurant in Bangkok - and it has been for over 10 years now! Of course, as an appetizer - as always - we have the Minced Chicken with Kale Leaves. Then we go to the Sirocco Bar, one of the city's most famous rooftop bars. However, greed for profit has taken hold here, and with €30 for a gin and tonic, we feel that it's just too much... but we still have two drinks anyway... The view is truly unique and the atmosphere is very refined. However, I have never seen the bar so empty before! We manage to stretch the second round of drinks so that we can toast to Heike's birthday at midnight. But we prefer to have the nightcap at the hotel bar. And tomorrow morning we're off to Koh Chang, our last stop.