Day 13 - Siem Reap, Cambodia to Bangkok, Thailand

Up at a more reasonable time today. 9.30 taxi to the airport. It is so much cooler today following the big storm yesterday. Still really warm but less humid. Our taxi is 45 mins late as they forgot to book it but we get to the airport in good time. Siem Reap is actually a lovely little airport. Once again for this city not as we expect.   

Important news. Nat's international fame is growing. Here she is in Elle magazine stocked in Siem Reip airport doing her best crab impression with someone called Rosie Huntington-Whitely?

Getting a country behind with my history books but got the next one lined up. Not a nice man. Not a nice man. 

Flight to Bangkok was good. Air Asia very good again. Recommend them. We land 30 mins early which is a first. 

Arrived at our hotel, the excellent Oriental Residence. It is absolutely gorgeous.

http://m.oriental-residence.com

Lovely room. Most luxurious we have stayed in so far. The bed is out of this world comfortable.

View from our room. Out towards Cowboy Soi for those who know it :-)

Amazing pool half in, half outside the building. 

We seem to be in embassy district. Right across from the US embassy where there was a very jovial protest when we arrived. The Dutch one is next door. They love a cow. 

We head out towards China Town via the very slick and air conditioned Sky Train, getting off at the Chao Phraya River. From there we get the boat up the river towards China Town but mistakingly get the express boat as end up at stop twelve as opposed to stop five that we needed. Really nice river cruise though. 

Tomorrow's destination, the sky bar (the one from Hangover part 2). 

Wat Arun. Great name for a temple. Disco temple. 

After finally getting off the boat we head into china town. Lots of gorgeous street food stalls here. If only we had a guide!!

Couldn't find much to eat around here in terms of restaurants to head to Khao San Road, basically east meets west street home to the biggest KFC sign I have ever seen (you get the sense of what type of place this is). It has more about it than pub street in Siem Reap though just a bit dirtier and bigger. 

We are greeted first by the protests around the army headquarters. Feels very different to what is being broadcast around the world. Seems like a very peaceful and high spirited protest to us, almost a party atmosphere. Doesn't seem to be a crowd trying to siege an army headquarters and topple the prime minister Shinawatra! The second thing we were greeted with was a giant rat. 

Anyway, onto Khao San Road. They are selling all sorts. People walking around selling fried scorpions on sticks to eat like a lolly pop. This store sold worms, slugs, cockroaches, scorpions, maggots you name it! Even I will draw the line at eating here!

After walking a few blocks away from the carnage we found a fantastic restaurant specialising in Thai food called Hemlock. It almost has a Mediterranean feel to it bit is traditional Thai. 

In here we meet Gun, a Thai chap who looked like a caricature of a Vietnam war veteran who had traveled 3 days to come and protest. He loved football, big Man utd fan and had even heard of Coventry, pointing out to me that they were in league one. Hadn't heard of Northampton though! 

After dinner we head back to a random little bar we stumbled across in a side street called Thanon Ram Buttri when looking for the restaurant. How this street isn't in the guide books is a mystery, set a few streets away from Khao San Road it is equally as packed with bars and restaurants but they are all really nice and cool. Loads of bars just pop up in old camper vans. 

Very interesting toilet in this place though. It is in the room between the main bar and behind the bar. The bar people had to get out from behind the bar via this random toilet. If anyone was on the toilet they had to stay behind the bar. Got to admire the use of space. 

Few games of cards. Nat not so good tonight. 

Few more drinks then back to the hotel to hit the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in. Loving Bangkok.