(English version is below.)

백색사원 근처에서 태국식 점심을 먹고, 오후 일정 시작~~~

블루템플로 이동해 푸른색으로 꾸며진 사원 구경^^ 태국에 사원이 많다보니 사원마다 독특한 분위기를 만들려고 노력하고 있는 것 같습니다.

반담박물관은 반담이라는 화가의 작품이 전시되어 있고, 정원에는 북부지역의 건물들이 전시되어 있습니다. 그림은 너무 강력하고, 자극적인 색채로 제 취향은 아니지만, 북부지역의 건축물들을 둘러보는 것은 좋았습니다.

옵션으로 있는 카렌족마을은... 전에 제가 투어할 때는 1시간 등산을 해서, 고산족 마을을 둘러 보는 거였는데, 전에 두 번이나 했던 생각을 해서 저는 옵션을 안하고, 제 친구는 옵션에 참가했습니다.

그런데 고산족마을로 등산을 가는지 알았는데, 너무 빨리 일행이 돌아왔습니다. 알고보니 고산족 마을을 찾아가는게 아니라, 판매장을 설치해 놓고 카렌족이 평지로 내려와 기념사진을 찍어주는 것이였습니다. 300바트나 하는 입장료가 비싸긴 하지만, 가난한 카렌 소수민족의 삶에 보탬이 되면 좋겠습니다.

7일째 밤 6시 기차를 타고, 8일째 아침 7시 30분 경에 방콕에 도착했습니다. 6시 45분 도착 기차인데, 보통 그 정도 연착은 일반적인 것 같습니다.

화람퐁역에서 택시 타고 카오산로드로 바로 이동했습니다. 택시비를 전에 보다 적게 부릅니다. 관광객이 줄어서, 거기에도 수요공급 원칙이 적용되는 것 같습니다. 100바트 불렀고, 거기에 팁20 추가해 지불했습니다.

카오산로드의 밤풍경을 친구에게 보여주려고 ddn에 숙소를 2박 잡았습니다. 예전에는 카오산에 숙소를 잡았는데, 요즘에는 태국오면 바로 파타야로 가거나 다른 도시로 이동하게 됩니다. 저는 개인적으로 방콕의 복잡함 보다는 상대적으로 덜 시끄러운 중소도시를 더 선호하는 것 같습니다.

짐풀고 카오산을 돌아보니, 치앙마이가 코비드 전에 비해 60~70%정도는 회복했다면, 카오산은 40~50% 정도밖에 회복을 못한 것 같습니다. 카오산의 일일투어가 무너지고, 차량대절한 개인가이드로 여행을 해야해서 비용부담이 커졌습니다. 몇 가족이 함께 여행을 왔다면, 그것도 좋은데... 저희는 둘이서 차량, 운전자, 가이드까지 하루 대절하려면 비용이 부담되었습니다.

방콕오면서 일일투어가 복구되었으면 인근도시를 일일투어로 여행하며 나머지 시간을 보내려고 했는데, 계획 수정해서 방콕 시내만 이틀 돌고, 3일째 파타야로 이동하기로 했습니다.

짐풀고, 아침먹고, 카오산 한번 돌고, 푸라아팃 선착장에 가서 논타부리행 배를 타고 차오프라야강을 구경했습니다. 강 주변에 새로이 지어진 건물이 보입니다.

논타부리 도착해 논타부리시장을 한바퀴 돌았습니다. 논타부리시장이야 현지인 대상 시장이니까 여전합니다. 삶은 옥수수, 삶은 고구마, 잭후르츠를 사서 배에 올랐습니다.

숙소로 돌아와 샤워하고, 옥상 수영장 올라가 수영하고, 저녁에 카오산 한바퀴 돌고, 카오산거리에서 저녁먹고... 오늘도 많이 걸었습니다. 16,500보^^

감사합니다 컵쿤 카

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Day 7 of my Thailand trip: Back to Bangkok after visiting Karen village

Started our afternoon schedule after Thai lunch near White Temple.

Moved to the Blue Temple to see the them.^^ So many temples therein Thailand though, each temple seemed to be trying to create a unique atmosphere.

The Bandam Museum contained works by an artist named Bandam, and the garden displayed buildings from the northern part of the country. To me, these paintings were too strong, too provocative, not my cup of color. I only got the impression that it was part of the architecture of northern Thailand

There optionally was a visit program to the Karen village. But this was something I've already experienced on a tour before, so I gave up. But my friend participated in it as it was her first one.

However, unexpectedly, they returned after awhile. I thought they were of course trekking to the alpine village like I did before, but it wasn't. According to them, instead of walking to the alpine village as before, the alpine natives came down the mountain to sell souvenirs or took commemorative photos together. It's rather expensive to see them for even 300 baht, but I hoped tourists' visiting could help those poor Karen minority lives.

We left Chiangmai by train at 6 p.m. Arrived in Bangkok at about 7:30 a.m. Our train was supposed to arrive in Bangkok at 6:45 a.m., but this kind of delay was common in Thailand, so no problem.

Took a taxi from the Hwalampong train station in Bangkok and moved directly to Khaosan Road. The taxi fare was lower than before. Meant fewer tourists. I thought the supply and demand principle applies to this as well. Gave 100 baht as requested by the driver and we added him 20 baht as a tip.

Booked a hotel for 2 nights in ddn to show my friend the night view of Khaosan Road. In the past, me &; my husband used to stay in Khaosan Road, but in recent years, when we came to Thailand, we left for Pattaya right away or move to another city. As I personally preferred small and medium-sized cities that were relatively less noisy than the complexity of Bangkok.

After unpacked at the hotel and looked around Khaosan Road, I found this was different from Chiang Mai. If Chiang Mai recovered about 60-70% compared to before the pandemic, Bangkok was about 40-50% at most. Almost all of Khaosan's daily tours were shut down. So, the cost of traveling with a personal guide has sharply increased. It would be okay if there were many family members. We just gave up 'cause it's too much only for two of us.

Actually, on the way to Bangkok from Chiangmai, we planned to spend the rest of our time traveling in Bangkok by daily tour program in vain. So we decided to change the plan and move to Pattaya right after two days in Bangkok.

We unpacked our luggage in the room, ate breakfast, and hanged around on Khaosan Road again. And then we went to Puraatte Dock and took a boat to Non-Taburi to see the Chao Phraya River. Several new buildings were seen along the long river.

Arrived in Non-Taburi and walked around the Non-Taburi market. This market was a typical open market used by locals, so there's no change at all. Bought some boiled corn, boiled sweet potatoes, and jack-fruits and got back on the boat.

On coming back to the hotel, took a shower, went up to the rooftop swimming pool and them walked around Khaosan Road again in the evening. Had our dinner on Khaosan Road. I walked a lot today, too. My smartphone told me it's 16,500 steps.^^

Thank you, Cupkun ka