Vietnam 2024 – Trip Report 18

Wednesday 2 October – Thursday 3 October – Bangkok

Wednesday 2 October (continued)

The attempt at sleep, to deal with what was a pretty tiring and draining morning, as usual, was mostly unsuccessful, and not much more than an hour after we left, our Vietjet flight comes to an end, when we’re back on the ground at Suvarnabhumi Airport, just before 12.40pm.

Ten minute taxi around looking for our gate, and then finally off the plane after all the usual de-planing issues.

Into the terminal, and the walk, to where I’m not really sure, begins.  A quick toilet stop; fortunately feeling a little better now; and then we make our way downstairs, still tending to generally just follow the masses.  A train is found, which then takes us to somewhere else, which confirms very quickly that this place is huge, as I sort of expected.

It also proves that they are incredibly good at building and supplying stuff that is amazingly efficient, and stuff that people where I’m from, can only dream about.

Here it all is, but if we were to build it, our politicians would want to reinvent the wheel, and then fail miserably at it in the process.

We reach immigration, and it’s all rather painless, once you work out which hand first, as well as your thumbs.

The desire to please is high, as it always is when these people are encountered.

Baggage claim by 1.15pm, but bags don’t begin appearing for another 15 minutes, with ours a considerable way down the pecking order.

Finally reunited, a sim card is organised on the way out.  349 THB for five days, paid with local currency we have had for some five years, since it was given to us by an auntie for Christmas, just before that Covid thing.

Yes, Thailand was going to be ‘done’ long before the last three Vietnam trips.

Transaction complete; passport was also required; in no more than three minutes, our exiting continues.

Down an escalator, a sweet couple in front of us move to one side to let us pass.  I don’t really want to, as we’re not really in a hurry, but seeing as they’ve made the effort, I kind of feel obligated.

I reluctantly overtake, and in the process, almost knock both of them off with the two bags I’m struggling with.

I’m so embarrassed, and so apologetic.  There’s nothing like making a good impression right from the start…..

Currency exchange places are found, with the rate for Australian dollars being 20.4 to 1AUD.

I probably should have done a bit more, or even just a bit, of airport exchange research here, but with xe.com quoting around 22.5, it seems pretty close.

200AUD is converted, again, passport required, and we become the proud owners of 4 080 THB.

Our walk continues, and we eventually find the train station.

I’d been mulling over in my head the various options of getting to our hotel, with the train being the preferred one.  But with us staying near Saphan Taksin station, it’s actually three trains, and not just one.

The decision is finally made, and yep, we’re doing the train.

If nothing else, it might be a bit of an adventure, and as they say, sometimes it’s more about the journey, anyway.

Not surprisingly, it’s automated ticketing, and also not surprising, we find it a little confusing.

We sit back and watch a few others do it, and then pluck up the courage to confront it ourselves.

Two tickets for 90 THB, a couple of plastic tokens spat out, as well as a few coins as change from our inserted notes.

Hmmm, coins.  Did I know about Thailand having coins?

Maybe I’d just forgotten?

I don’t know, but now I have something else to consider and learn.

Yep, I should have worked a little harder on that researching…..

Short walk to the train itself, as it pulls up, and unlike from where we’re from, a team jump on to make sure it’s clean and safe, before allowing people to board.

Onto the train, and on our way at 2.00pm, and it’s not long until some of the Bangkok countryside comes into view.

It’s interesting, but perhaps more interesting due to the fact that I’m ‘looking’ at a new country.

Looking back towards Suvarnabhumi Airport, from the train.

Several stations are stopped at, and the more open areas of Bangkok give way to a bustling city.

Yep, it’s big and busy, and we’re only looking at a very small part of it.

We reach the end of the line, which is Phaya Thai, at 2.30pm, alighting from the train, and taking a chance by following the majority.

Past a currency exchange place, with an advertised quote of 21.7 THB to 1 AUD.

Should have waited…..

To the next station, another automated ticket machine, and more coins are collected from our purchased tickets, at a price of 48 THB each.

We have two platforms to choose from, and an incredibly friendly young security guard directs us to Platform 1, when the question is asked.

Over to it, and after a wait of no more than two minutes, our next train arrives.

Google Maps is followed as we go, and after reaching the second station, which is Siam, we hop off.

Walk across the platform, straight onto the train already sitting there, and we’re immediately on the move again.

A few more stations, Google still being followed, and we reach Saphan Taksin, our target station, at 3.00pm, exactly one hour after our train journey began.

I’m absolutely blown away by Bangkok’s train system, but it also embarrasses me when I think about what we have at home.  There’s no comparison, and it’s highly unlikely that any of the powers that be would ever be able to come up with something so efficient themselves, for Melbourne.

We don’t even have a train line to the airport.

Yep, we’re years behind.

Off the train, and down to the ground, with a rough idea of where we need to go.

Past a number of tuk tuk drivers, who give up quickly when we decline their offers.

The occasional look at Google Maps, and then into our street.

I like what I’ve seen, and I like what I’m now seeing, after spending a fair bit of time researching areas, instead of, clearly, currency and currency exchange.

Up a little further, and on the left, we reach our ‘home’ for the next couple of days, the Pas Cher Hotel de Bangkok, at 3.15pm.

Inside, check in done, 500 Baht deposit handed over to encourage the safe return of our electronic door cards, and then upstairs for a quick unpack.

3.30pm, so 7.5 hours door to door, with little more than an hour in the actual air.

Yep, one of those ‘quick’ short flights, I read so much about on Trip Advisor…..

Back outside, and into our street.  I liked it before, and I like it even more, now.

It has a rustic feel.  A bit old.  A bit rundown.  But it has charm, and it feels real.

Down to the corner with the main road, a bit of the charm is lost, but we do find a guy doing little spring roll things on the footpath.

Thai street food, and four are ordered for a total of 60 Baht.

I fumble with notes; I really should have studied them before we got here; and we head off to look for somewhere to eat them.

Into a 7/11 for a cold soft drink (19 Baht), partly because we need it, but also partly to get an idea of the prices of various things.

Hmmm, there are time restrictions on when you can buy alcohol here, and right now, in the middle of the afternoon, you can’t.

Outside, and up a side street, our spring roll snacks are enjoyed while standing next to a pile of rubbish bins.

That’s alright, they came in handy for the bag and left over dipping sauce.

We find what looks to be a street food market, along with various restaurants opposite, and then we make our way back towards Saphan Taksin station, and then on to the river and Sathorn Pier.

Sathorn Pier.

Wide river, lots of boats, plenty of concrete, a number of people offering to sell you something, and overall, not really that much to look at.

I’m sure some locals use it, but I suspect it mainly exists for people like us.

And with that being the case, we will use it tomorrow, seeing as that was the rough plan way back when this little Bangkok thing was booked.

Back to our area; much nicer; and being after 4.00pm, I need a beer.

Down our street, this time with Lisa, the option of the Italian restaurant is swiftly dismissed, and then around to the left at the end of the street.

Can’t see a lot of options, until we find a couple of women doing some sort of food at the next T-intersection.

Food isn’t my priority at the moment, so beer is asked for.

No problem, and we’re quickly seated.

Our first beer on Thai soil is a Leo beer (100 Baht), and it’s good to finally just sit, even though we’ve already done a lot of that today, and take some time to think about where we are.

Lisa decides that she would like a small snack, so a plate of BBQ chicken (150 Baht) is ordered.

It’s good, but as usual, it’s rarely about the food, and more about just taking in the sights, while also trying to get a bit of an understanding of things here.

Lisa asks our girl about the Thai word for ‘thank you’, and when I hear her say the words, well, it’s like she’s speaking a foreign language.

Yeah, sorry about that…..

But that’s not the worst of it, with that being when I hear, what I believe to be, the mention of male and female versions.

Noises cease to exist, as my ears become deaf, and my eyes glaze over.

Colour may also have drained from my face, as my mind takes me back to the first couple of years of high school, when one of my subjects was learning German.

I never understood why a television was female, or a table was male, or whatever it was, and it left such a memory, that I shudder whenever I hear anything along those lines.

It’s the same in Vietnam, with the whole greeting term, depending on male, female, slightly older, much older, younger, thing.

My brain is so scarred by those German days, it is now unable to even consider such things, and sits alongside algebra, in the, for me, ‘unlearnable category’.

Lisa perseveres; I return to my beer.

Beers and chicken done, bill fixed up, which included 20 Baht for the small bucket of ice, and we make our way back to the Pas Cher.

Lisa heads up, while I go looking for a take away beer place, finding an old lady running a small shop from the front of her house.

195 Baht for three of the larger 620ml variety, and then back to the room for a shower.

Back out to find dinner, which results in walking our street.  The Italian place is once again rejected, and while we find a couple of possibilities, nothing really stands out.

But that’s only until we find a guy out the front of his place, working up a sweat, despite only wearing an apron and a pair of shorts, while running a burner.

There’s a few sitting inside, with two looking like locals, so showing interest, we’re quickly, and warmly, welcomed in.

We settle on a green curry, along with a couple of Chang beers, and the food is absolutely beautiful!

Yep, slightly unusually, this food has grabbed me, but again, not unusually, it’s all about where we are.

First night in Bangkok, sitting in the cook’s, and his wife’s, front room, enjoying our first real meal in the most authentically local of settings.

I love it.

Our guy doing his thing.

The end result.

The non-looking local guy is actually from Japan, but visits here regularly, including to this very restaurant.

We end up talking to him for ages, and he’s a seriously lovely and friendly guy.

A third beer is shared, and with dinner done, the bill of 530 Baht is fixed up, with a much appreciative thank you, and perhaps the mumbling of a thank you in Thai, from Lisa.

A desire to find a, supposedly nearby, money exchange place, results in a walk down to the modern shopping centre, opposite the start of our street.

Western and all sterile looking, it holds absolutely no appeal, but it does contain one thing, that, as luck would have it, is very fortuitous.

It’s a public toilet, as while walking around looking for what appears to be the non-existent currency exchange place, I become aware that things are not as they should be.

The toilet is utilised, and yep, not pretty, and slightly concerning.

Back outside, and a look around, results in not too many options found for a beer or two, with the only real possibility in close proximity, being that Italian restaurant.

Oh well, we’re not eating.

Another Chang beer each, but Lisa’s hit a wall, with the early start and a new country, being a little too much.

She heads off, with me following a few minutes later, once the remaining beer is dealt with.

Back to the Pas Cher, and yep, Lisa has crashed.

Onto the bed for a few notes, along with one more beer, and the usual contemplation.

It’s been a long day, as moving days tend to be, but proof that if it’s an international moving day, then yeah, that usually isn’t going to get done quickly.

And our few hours of Bangkok?

Well, the very little bits we’ve seen, which is not a great deal more than our street, I love it.

Yeah, there’s obviously modern stuff, but I just love the character, for the most part, of where we are.

Yep, I’m happy with what we’ve chosen.

Thursday 3 October

Up at 8.30am.  Two sleeps left, and only one of those in a bed.

Out a bit after 9.00am, and it’s all rather grey and gloomy looking, with steady drizzle falling.

I need a coffee, but again, due to lack of research, I don’t know what they do here.

We find a little hole in the wall type café place down the road, and there is an iced coffee version (24 Baht).

It’s not a cà phê sữa đá, but it’s actually not too bad.

With it still drizzling, we take advantage of the very few seats they have inside, to sit it out.

Coffees done, and with the rain having eased, we head out for a walk, to hopefully, find somewhere to change some money.

Down to the main road that the shopping centre is on, and then turn right.  It’s like a different city, compared to our road, looking modern-ish, but also a little tired and rundown.

I don’t dislike it, but I don’t really love it either, and with its sort of cosmopolitan type feel, it actually reminds me of some inner Northern suburbs of Melbourne.

We walk it, then turn off to the right, coming across a hospital, and then a more modern looking city beyond the overhead expressway.

Stop to Google currency exchange, and before I get a chance, Lisa points one out a bit further up.

She can be handy.  Sometimes…..

We head over, the board says 21.6 THB to 1 AUD, but as I go to ask, I realise I don’t have my passport.

“Need passport?”, I ask.

“Yes”, is the answer.

I apologise, and go to walk off.

But it seems the lack of a passport is now not that important, when he says it’s okay.

I ask the question, and responds with how much?

I show him $300, and the quote is now 22.01, which seems to compare quite favourably with xe.com at 22.7

As he begins organising our 6 603 THB, Lisa realises she has a copy of our passports on her phone.

He seems a little happier at that discovery.

Money handed over, different money received, along with a lolly each.

He was a nice guy, and it was a fun little exchange, which may or may not be a pun.

Currency job done, we head back from where we came, finding our main-ish road again.

With the awareness of stomach issues, again, I leave Lisa to organise her own breakfast, while I make my way back to spend quality time in the bathroom.

Back outside, Lisa eventually found, we make our way down to the river and Sathorn Pier.

An attempt is made to buy an all day ticket, which we’d heard about yesterday, and is apparently 150 Baht, but we’re told they’re ‘all gone’.

While that sounds confusing, the whole set up down here feels the same way.

I have no idea how all this works.

We settle on two tickets (40 Baht each) to take us to Wat Arun, and then sit where we’re told, and wait.

The river is mildly interesting, while the people watching is more annoying and frustrating, than anything.

It’s a mystery to me how some people survive each day.

More sitting, more waiting, more putting up with what I’m seeing, and with that general feeling of unwellness, it’s really starting to conspire to impact my day.

An overwhelming feeling of annoyance in sitting here, waiting to do this touristy stuff with all these other tourists, washes over me, to the point that I could just walk away.

I don’t, but it takes a lot of effort not to.

Eventually it’s our turn, and we’re hustled on to our boat.

Out onto the river, and a different perspective of the city is seen.  It’s, sort of interesting, with a mix of old traditional looking stuff, along with a shopping centre I probably can’t afford to even walk into.

Not that there’s any desire.

A few stops are made, and then Google tells we’re likely to end up on the other side of the river, seeing as that is where Wat Arun is.

In the interests of simplicity, just in case there’s an issue getting back, an adjustment is made to remain on our side, and see some stuff there.

After all, a temple is a temple, isn’t it, and I really, like really, don’t care which one I see.

We get off at Rajini Pier, with no real idea of what our plan is, and as we make it to the main road, we have a guy approach us.

He begins talking, and I see red flags everywhere, but he has this mannerism about him that makes me want to listen, as he really seems to be genuinely trying to help us.

We’re told the laying down Buddha is closed for lunch, so to see the Lucky Buddha first.  There’s also the Big Buddha, and then there’s the mention of some sort of export display, followed by the laying down one last.

He tells us a tuk tuk will be 40 Baht, that the driver will wait each time, and that we should pay no more.

The red flags are ignored, partly because we’re not in Vietnam anymore, but mainly because I trust him.  Or at least want to.

He motions to a nearby driver, and yes, he agrees to the things on the very roughly drawn map that our guy has given us.

We head off, and it’s nice to have the wind in our faces, as our tuk tuk navigates the busy roads.

But gee, what a user unfriendly device this thing is, as to see anything, you almost have to lay down.

Our time is then spent either in an awkward position, or merely just looking at the wheels of other vehicles.

We reach our first stop, and a shiny gold Buddha is eventually found, inside, and in amongst, traditional looking Thai buildings.

It’s interesting.

Around the corner, we move on from the sitting Buddha, to now finding a very tall standing Buddha.

Yep, bit more impressive.

A local guy, standing at the entrance, then strikes up a conversation with us.  His English is very good, and when he realises we’re from Australia, he asks where.

Turns out he spent a number years studying at a Melbourne university, and that signals the start of a very long and detailed chat about anything and everything, including who he barracked for in Australian Rules Football.

He was a lovely guy, and extremely easy to talk to, and he told us a little about the origins of this particular Buddha.

He was also interested in the tuk tuk charge, and when we told him 40 Baht, he gave us an acknowledging smile.

Seems that it is a Buddhist holiday, and at this time, to encourage tourism, the government gives tuk tuk drivers money for fuel, in exchange for taking tourists to various sites.

Sites that not only include religious ones, but also ones that encourage business and spending.  Hence the export place we’re about to see.

The drivers get a stamp at each place, and if they get enough of them, they get their fuel money.

Ahhhh, it’s all now so much clearer, and those red flags disappear.

Much more informed, we head back out to find our driver.  Quickly on our way again, and as we pick up speed on a more main road, my hat blows off.

He pulls over, and with it safer for Lisa to get out, she retrieves it for me.

Our driver looks at my hat-less head, and then asks, “Army?”, while pointing to my hair.

I laugh, and simply say, “No, Vietnamese street barber.”

He too laughs.

We do the export stop, which happens to be the ‘exporting’ of expensive jewellery.

As we walk in, a guy, who was very nice, latches on to us, subtly trying to encourage us to by jewellery we know nothing about, nor need.

We go through the motions, before extricating ourselves from something that we have absolutely no interest in.

Into the tuk tuk, and another ‘business’ is found.  More jewellery; still no interest; it’s all a bit awkward.

There is, however, an upstairs section, that is filled, mostly, with tourist tat souvenirs, which perhaps for the first time, actually have some appeal.

Much more affordable, as in cheap, bottle openers are purchased, and our escape made.

Back to the tuk tuk, and our driver says, “One more”, in a telling / asking / pleading kind of way.

I’m sick of feeling awkward, but knowing he’s going to make money, or petrol, out of it, I can’t help but agree.

We soon pull up at the next stop, and this time it’s a tailor.

Aaaargh, seriously?!

We head in, and pretty coloured reams of material abound, all piled on shelves around the rather large store.

With it, are an abundance of extremely well dressed men, which just adds to the whole experience.

The hard, but gentle, sell begins, but he’s fighting a losing battle, as I don’t need, nor want, clothes.  And even if I did, I wouldn’t be spending our limited time here having someone measure my extremities.

I’m still getting over the last time that happened, way back in 2014 in Hoi An, when I stupidly had some shorts made.

We disappoint our guy greatly, and once again remove ourselves from what now feels like an episode of the Amazing Race.

Back to our tuk tuk, and fortunately, he shows huge appreciation for what he’s put us through.

Through the streets and big wide busy roads, and we eventually, and finally, reach our last stop, Wat Pho, which is the home of the laying down, or reclining, Buddha.

There’s people and tuk tuks everywhere, which doesn’t fill me with joy, and when our driver indicates that he will be leaving us now, despite that not being part of the deal, I’m filled with even less joy.

But I just can’t be bothered fighting, and I leave him to do his thing.

We head across to the entrance, and a sign tells us that the entry fee is 300 Baht each.

A quick calculation in my head gives me the rough Australian equivalent, and my reasonably low desire to enter, is now even less so.

I tell Lisa to go by herself, which I think annoys her a little.

But I just don’t care, and really, if I don’t care if I see it or not, why would I fork out money for it?

She heads in, and I sit and wait.  When I can actually find a seat.

Tourist after tourist, some in ‘inappropriate for temples’ clothing, come and go, and the whole world watching thing ranges from mildly interesting, to downright frustrating.

A walk out in the street, a little movable figurine display keeps my attention for two minutes, and then it’s back inside to try and escape the heat.

It’s becoming hard yards, and she finally returns some thirty or so minutes after she first left, proclaiming that she’s hot, thirsty and hungry.

Hmmm…….

Outside, love and affection lacking, while frustration and annoyance abound, and we begin walking off down the road, which manages to annoy her even more.

But I think I know roughly where we are, and being well and truly done with tuk tuks for the day, that mode of transport ain’t happening.

We come across a guy with a cart, selling sugarcane juice in bottles, so to try and appease her, one is purchased.

50 Baht; we ain’t in Kansas anymore; and it isn’t even that good.

On we go, eventually reaching the spot where all this began, and still I sense I’m not very popular.

Down to Rajini pier, tickets purchased for 16 Baht each; cost 40 Baht to get here; and onto the boat straight away.

Finally, a little luck….

Down the river, the old and traditional of far greater interest than the new and modern, and we make it back to Sathorn pier around 3.00pm.

Off the boat, and back towards our area.  I’m not going to get away with no food for much longer, and as we reach the street food market, the decision is made to check out the nearby street food ‘food court’, with that thought not inspiring me one little bit.

We head in, and I let Lisa choose the food that will no doubt disappoint me greatly, while I head off to do something about drinks.

A couple of dishes of Pad Thai (55 Baht each) covers the food side, while I return with two apple juices (35 Baht each) made fresh from a ground powder, and purchased from a girl who is exceptional at looking disinterested in her job.

It comes, at least to me, as no surprise, that the food is ordinary, but we do get the opportunity to enjoy one of life’s great pleasures, which is sitting in a food court type environment.

I really should start doing it at home….

The apple juice, well, it was cold, and once converted, also liquid.

Meal done, we head back to the Pas Cher for a short rest and recovery session, and while doing so, get the email from Jetstar that we can now check-in.

Love reminders of impending gloom….

Rest done, and now feeling a little better than I have for most of the day, the easy decision is made to do my thing.

Lisa’s a little surprised, but there’s no way I’m just going to lay down and give up now.

Back outside a bit after 4.00pm, and around to my girls from yesterday, receiving an acknowledging smile when they see me.

It’s comforting.

Beers (100 Baht each), world watched, saved some money when the ice is declined; the beers came out of a very cold esky anyway; and another brief attempt at ‘thank you’, in Thai.

Not convinced I’m getting it exactly right, gender wise, but I’ve settled on ‘kap khun ka’, with the couple of times I’ve stammered through it during the day, receiving at least some sort of friendly acknowledgement.

Anyway, the good news is that no one has looked shocked or offended, so I’m happy to go along with it.

I get a WhatsApp message from Jo, who is the other half of her much nicer partner, mainly because he doesn’t give away oversized suitcases, Sam.

I’d sent her a message, not long before we left Australia, and by sheer luck, with ‘luck’ perhaps not the best word, it was discovered that we were all going to be in Thailand, and more specifically Bangkok, at the same time.

We’ve ‘known’ Jo for ten years, after we first ‘met’ on the Vietnam Trip Advisor forum, and then, again by luck, found ourselves in Vietnam at the same time in 2022.

Faces and names finally came together in Hanoi, and then, again by a fair amount of luck, Lisa and the girl were able to catch up with Jo and Sam when they travelled to England last year.

While they all had a fantastic time together, for me, it will always be remembered as the time that I became the owner of a ridiculously large piece of luggage.

A Bangkok dinner date is set, and with us not being here tomorrow night, it’s happening in a couple of hours.

A bit more sitting, lots of watching, another beer, as well as taking up the offer from a guy selling small bags of peanuts (60 Baht).

The time arrives, the bill fixed up, and I make my way back around 6.00pm, stopping off at my old lady just down from the Pas Cher.

Three of the large variety at 65 Baht each, and she gives me very little, actually coming across as grumpy.

Payment made, change handed back, I muster the courage to actually do it, and awkwardly stammer out ‘kap khun ka’.

Her demeanour changes, and she gives me a smile.

Ha!, love it!  Got her!

Back to the room, feeling rather smug, a quick summation of tonight’s plans, which at the moment extend to, ‘We are meeting Jo and Sam for dinner’, and then a shower had.

Back outside around 6.30pm, with the plan to try and put our pretty much non-existent plan together.

I receive no help, so Grab is perused, with the end result being a Grab Bike is about 50 Baht, along with a 10 – 15 minute wait.

Wouldn’t happen in Vietnam…..

Plan B is put into action, and that, because the restaurant is not far from our train line, involves a walk to the Saphan Taksin.

Lisa doesn’t seem overly happy with that, but lacking a good alternative idea, she doesn’t have too many other choices.

We reach the station, and to save time, use the friendly ticket seller, paying around 60 Baht for the two of us.

Unlike at home, the train arrives quickly, and before we know it, we reach our desired station of Sala Daeng.

Off the train, and after a bit of confusion, make our way down to the road.  Google tells us the direction, and we soon find ourselves in Thaniya Road.

It’s bright, colourful, and all tourist glitzy like.

Lisa’s curious as to what all the girls, sitting on stools outside bar type establishments, are doing.

I explain that very little to none of my miniscule research on Bangkok, involved bar and nightclub areas, but if I had to guess what rather scantily clad girls were doing, sitting outside such establishments, I would think……

I don’t have to finish, as the dropping of a penny results in an ‘Oh….., right…..’, look, appear on her face.

Around the corner into Surawong Road, and then down to the Happy Beer Garden restaurant.

And there, seated inside, Jo and Sam.

It’s great to see them again, and albeit temporarily, the large suitcase is forgotten.

We sit, talk, drink, and talk more, and even though it’s two years since I last saw them, it feels like a week ago.

Almost as an afterthought, dinner is ordered, and somehow I end up with a pork salad.  It must have sounded nice the way it was described, but yeah, it wasn’t much of an improvement on my lunch effort.

But important, it was not, as it was all about where we were, and who we were doing it with.

And to think, the stuff that had to happen for the four of us to actually be here at the same time.

Just surreal.

More beers, more chatting, and a whole heap of laughing; just a brilliant night.

But, as it always does, the time arrives.  Photos, with the help and fun of a couple of the staff, and we reluctantly go our separate ways.

With Sam and Jo, and accompanied by a ‘photobomber’.

Back out into the street, and down Girls Sitting on Stools Road, stopping for a beer and an ice cream in the 7/11.

Off, and up, to the train line, politely being told to ‘lose’ my almost finished beer, by a very friendly security guy.

Absolutely no problem at all!

Automatic ticket machine used to pay our way (~60 Baht), and unlike Melbourne (I will, eventually, give this up), a train quickly appears.

A handful of stations later, and we reach Saphan Taksin.  Down to the road, and then the relatively short walk ‘home’.

I’m not getting a lot from the intrepid one, who still seems a little annoyed from earlier, when I was perhaps a little short on details, with regards to how we were going to get to the restaurant.

Part of the reason for that was that I didn’t actually have many details, but anyway, it’s clearly my fault.

I think we have been away a little too long…..

Back to the Pas Cher just before 11.00pm, a beer I really don’t need, along with the usual on the bed.  All done in relative silence.

12.00am arrives, and with that, the realisation hits that we actually leave today.

Yep, it’s far from a good feeling.

Cheers,

Scott