On a second bustling day in Bangkok, we managed to find Wat Pho, another impressive temple behind the Grand Palace outside of Banglamphu District in Bangkok. Despite the Thais telling us the Reclining Buddha was on the other side of the compound, we found him in content repose, gleaming in his golden wash in the mosaic bot (scammers tell you an attraction is closed so they can hustle you to another place for commission).
After an exhausting walk in 98 degree heat and 55 percent humidity we made the mistake of taking a cab to the famed flower market in Chinatown. We were literally taken for a ride. After about 30 minutes of driving in the crowded Saturday streets of Bangkok we threatened the cab driver and he managed to find his way to our coveted market (a photographers dream we heard). He tried to charge us 200 baht, we handed him a 50 and jumped out- it's what he gets for trying to scam us. Anyhow, we made it to the market and it so wasn't worth the hour it took us to get there. Walked back to Khao San road for a massage and drinks before heading to the train station to Chiang Mai. The train was about 14 hours overnight but was clean, comfortable and affordable despite the bumpiness. I woke up to a lush rainforest like morning with the mist in the mountains as the landscape. Not too shabby. We're definitely in more rural parts today.
Anyhow, we are heading north to explore nature, tribal villages, a national park and perhaps going cycling and hiking and maybe catch a night safari. I'll post photos when we return in a few days to the connected world and explore the markets and nightlife later in Phuket.
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