We landed back in our home base of Thailand after an amazing time in Africa – enjoying such a variety of activities and experiences that only this continent can deliver. This was in my top 5 best trips taken so far. My heart is still in Africa while my body is in Thailand enjoying the Thai spices of life which include the food and the 5+ hour spa’s in Bangkok. We arrived back in Bangkok mid day from Ethiopia. Lucky we had our yellow fever cards as immigration would not let us through until we went through a health inspection and they checked to make sure our yellow fever vaccs were up to date (which they were).
After being in rural Africa for so long it was a major shock to the system to be in Bangkok where nothing ever seems to slow down. We hit Lek and Rut Seafood in the heart of Chinatown (Thanks Rolf for emailing me this recommendation). Its always insanely busy down here but in the middle of Chinese New Year the crowds and distractions seem to reach a new level. A dining experience at Let and Rut or really any of the street side restaurants in this area is as raw a dining experience as Bangkok can deliver. You eat at metal tables and sit on plastic chairs – of which small garbage cans are located underneath for all the entrails that you will invariably produce from all the seafood that you will order. Beggars wheel themselves by looking for food or money, vendors drop by on occasion to try and sell their wares and you are mere feet from motorcycles and cars inching down the street at a snails pace. Dessert hawkers seem to be the most aggressive – pushing their menus in your face while you are still eating.
The seafood is certainly the attraction here – plate after plate of large prawns, scallops and crabs are heaped onto the flimsy tables. Beer is the drink of choice with this type of food. For a while we even forgot we were supposed to get jet lag and finally crashed out after 1am. Tomorrow its off to Divana or Lavana spa off of Sukhumvit for a many hour treatment! Spas and massages are best had when you are suffering from the throes of jet lag.
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