Currently in the BKK airport waiting for my flight to Chiang Mai. I am sad to be leaving the Rosewood, I really enjoyed my stay there. Room was nice and quiet, a/c was excellent, staff was superb, food was top notch (I had a $100 credit from the Virtuoso agent I booked through which covered 2 amazing dinners!) and the bed was sublime. I‘d stay here again without hesitation.
Yesterday I booked a private tour “Bangkok’s most Instamgrammable Sites”. It was okay. We went to 3 temples: the marble temple, the metal temple and the biggie, Wat Arun. The BTS doesn’t get close to any of these so having a guide and driver was clutch on a short stay in Bangkok. I wish we had done Wat Arun first because by the time we arrived there around 11:15am, it was scorching hot and very crowded. Since they are fussy about covering shoulders and knees while visiting it really makes one feel the heat. After walking through the grounds and up some of the steepest stairs I have ever seen to the second level (no handrails, which made coming down…interesting!) we took the boat back to the mainland and had lunch at a very popular local Thai restaurant. I shrimp pad Thai and it was delicious. But after having some shrimp the night before I have decided that I don’t particularly enjoy the taste of shrimp here.
Next up we drove to the flower market, which is one of the places locals go to get flowers for offerings at temples. The food market is at the back of this market and it was interesting, but nowhere I would buy anything. Motorized scooters and bicycles ride through the market, so one has to be careful to stay to the sides of the path lest you get hit!
After the flower market we went to one of the “most instagrammable“ cafes in Bangkok. It was above a flower shop and I would not have seen it because there isn’t a sign! The had some tables set up with lovely arrangements above them with some very cool chandeliers hanging overhead. It was really nice and a welcome break from the heat.
Chinatown was the last place for the day and it was fascinating. We have a huge Chinatown at home, but this one was nothing like anything we have at home! We walked through the stalls in the main section and the wholesale area. I bought some finger watches — never seen anything like them! Not fancy, but definitely unique.
I was glad to be back at the Rosewood after the tour because there was no a/c on the backseat of the SUV and I was pretty uncomfortable. I asked if we could move to a vehicle with a/c in the back but that never happened. For the drive back to the hotel the guide sat in the backseat and felt the heat, then noticed that the air vent behind the back row of seats was closed. Ugh.
Anyhow, a few pics of the various sites:
Marble Temple
Wedding blessing inside of the Marble Temple
Metal Temple:
Wat Arun: