The second day started with a temple tour. We hopped on a boat just outside our hostel and arrived at Wat Phra Kaew to take a glimpse of the impressive reclining buddha.
But that wasn't the main reason we wanted to visit this particular temple. In the yard, hidden away from the crowds is the Thai Traditional Massage School. For a very affordable price you can get massaged by a student on one of the many beds in the room. The atmosphere is so peaceful and relaxing, but every now and then you would hear cracking of bones and a shout.
I reccomend to book a time slot when you arrive at the temple, then take a look around the impressive buildings and when your body starts hurting from the walk go and have a crackling good massage!
When you visit temples, make sure to show respect by covering your arms and legs.
Once out of the temple resting on a bench, we became a scam target of a very charming Thai man. He approached us with good intentions to give us tips for shopping. Then he suggested to take us around the shops all day to buy suits, silk and gold. He tried to shove us in a tuk-tuk car and swore at us for a long time when we escaped.
A curious thing about Thailand is that you will find many of these stone fish tanks on the streets. No matter how many Thais I asked, no one could tell me their purpose.
We wanted to go to the Museum of Siam, but it was closed for renovation and we were invited to visit a temporary exhibition instead. It was about the Burmese refugees, immigrating to Thailand with the hope for better life.
The exhibition was incredibly well curated and we were curious to learn more about the Burmese people.
Next on the list was the peaceful house of Jim Thompson - an American businessman who saved the Thai Industry from dying out.
A man with a mysterious life and even more mysterious death - one day he disappeared in a Malaysian mountain.
The ticket includes a free guided tour with one of the smiling Thai ladies at reception. She will tell you all about the house, the objects of art and Jim's passions.
Thomson was an ex-architect and his house is a work of art. He transferred a few traditional village houses from Ayutthaya to his property, to
But the most curious object that stayed in my mind is a porcelain cat with a handle and a hole on top. The Thail lady explained that back in the days, the toilet was out of the house and the little boys were afraid of the dark, so they used the porcelain cat to pee inside.
And then off to the shopping center. I am not a fan of them, but sometimes it was the only way to escape the humidity and the heat of the day.
For dinner we treated ourselves to a fancy meal where the chef grows most of the fruits and vegetables on his rooftop garden. We were a bit sad to find that the cuisine was more European that Asian, but we got to meet the chef and he told us he is a big fan of french cuisine. Maybe that's why Filip wanted to go so much.
We set off to search for a bar, but instead we stumbled on this little gem. The Sky Train Jazz is a must visit for all music lovers who are looking for something more alternative.
With great views of the city and live music, this is the perfect place to end a perfect day. We made friends with the barmen who sat with us for a beer and told us many Thai jokes.
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