Wed 1st April: Bangkok - Last Day

I fly home tonight. The flight isn't until after midnight so I have all day to have a last look around Bangkok. I must remeber to collect the new suit which will be ready at around 6 o'clock in the evening. I spend the day looking around town at some of the temples I'd missed earlier. I headed for chinatown and the temple of the golden Buddha. However, when I arrived the temple was closed for renovation works. Its going to look spectacular when its finished. I bumped into an old guy on my way to the temple as I scrutinised my street map . He gave me some directions and walke with me for a few streets before continuing on his way. He was a history teacher in his final year before retirement. He doesn't live in Bangkok though heused to. He now teaches up in the north in Chang Mai and prefers the country living to the pollution riddled city.

I made my way through Chinatown to the riverfront and took a ferry over to the temple of the sitting Buddha which I had missed a couple of days earlier. This temple is set very close to a residential district, the old heart of Bangkok ansd set within a warren of narrow laneways and canals I had a wander through this neighbourhood and emerged close to the larger temple of Wat Arun which I had already visited. A short hop across the river, a bite to eat and I made for the temple of the reclining Buddha. This temple complex is impressive. not far from the Grand Palace and something of that stature. The reclining Buddha itself is imposing. 30ft high and over 150ft long shimmering in bright gold. There are a number of subsidiary temples and shrines within this complex, all beautifully decorated and regularly maintained by the looks of refurbishment works taking place on some of the buildings.

I went in to one of the temples and almost walked over one hippy-looking western girl and her friend doing the whole 'Buddha thing' in the lotus position 'meditating' with an intense look of concentration on her face. I'm quite cynical about these public displays of 'meditation'. I've seen this a few times now in some of the temples I've visited and it always seems to be Western girls who are doing it. I've started calling these 'the Budettes'. You never see locals doing this. Whenever the locals are there they are praying. They make their offerings, they say their prayers and move on. They don't try to feckin levitate in front of everybody while pretending to practise transcendental meditation. Spirituality has always been a very personal, private thing. If you're genuine you don't turn it into a circus act down at one of the busiest tourist attractions in town..... unless your a hippy.

I went back to the hostel around 5pm packed everything and made my slowly up to the tailors shop for 6pm. The suit was ready around 6.30pm. I had one last fitting to ensure it was comfortable and everything was in order. I had to have a photo with the tailor for their record. WIth that I got a bite to eat. got my gear, haggled with a taxi driver to get a decent price out to the airport. It was great, didn't cost much more than a public bus!!!! I'm finally getting the hang of the haggling. Got to the airport with time to spare, checked in and filled my time until we were called to board. And with that I was leaving Bangkok. When I first arrived here I detested the place. Now after seeing many different sides of the city I've changed my mind completely. Its a fascinating place. On the plane the air hostess kindly takes my new suit and hangs it up in the staff area where it won't get crushed by luggage. As I buckle up my seat for takeoff it hasn't really sunk in that this phase of the travel is almost over.