Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Over the next few days, it just kept raining, and when I mean rain, it absolutly pelted it down. I couldnt belive I was buying an umberella in Thailand, it just didnt seem right, but it was the only way to still get out and not get as wet.
I didnt really get to see as much of Bangkok as I wanted. The floating markets only seemed to be working on a saturday and sunday, the so called 'best' market to go to, as suggested by my guidebook, only opened on a weekend, and anoyingly, I was only there monday to friday.
Secretly I didnt mind though. All this travelling about and constantly living from my bag and getting on busses and trains and sight seeing and everything! It was all getting a bit much. I needed to rest and the beaches couldnt come any quicker. I slept most of the week and/or chilled, just walking up and down Khaosan road, trying to spot all those westerners who had just arrived in Bangkok, the first point of thier journey. It was funny, after just a month, I could spot who was new and who had been doing this for a long time. One night when I sat in a bar people watching, I kept seeing this guy walking up and down the street trying to get money from people. He didnt look Thai, if anything he looked from europe. He had really long hair and raggy clothes. I had pictured him as being a long lost traveller, who spent all his money and couldnt get home. For all I knew it was true, but I thought it as being quite funny.
I went for a walk down 'Patpong 1' which is meant to be the citys famous red light district, I went in the day, thinking it would be safer and free from hawkers trying to get you to come inside. Im not sure why I thought that really, as the answer was no. I had heard that there was a great market there at night, and noticed they had started to set up, so left, and went back at night. It was indeed the best market ever! I bought a few things and decided I had spent enough, but then bought some more.
I had agreed with Sofie and Anna back in Luang Prabang, that on 13th May at 6pm, we would meet in 'The Banyan Tree Hotel' in the 61st floor rooftop bar. It was meant to have amazing views over Bangkok, especially at night. Unfortunatly when I arrived at 6.15pm it was raining and the bar was therefore closed. Gutted! I went to the 52nd floor where there was another bar, in case they went there. No they didnt, I decided to wait in the foyer for them, in case they were running late too. I ordered a latte, and sat admiring the place. It had marble floors and walls, and lots of business men and wealthy sorts walking around. I then realised, maybe I shouldt be here, it looks too expensive, but my latte arrived. I drank it and asked for the bill. It cost me 300 bhat. Now although thats not that bad if you compare it to back home, however my room was only costing me 150 bhat per night! I decided it was time to leave.
I managed to meet up with Anna and Sofie the next day. As Sofie was sleeping, me ad Anna decided we should do some sightseeing. We went to 'The Grand Palace'. It was very impressive, very gold and very big. However there were hoardes of tourists there, and you couldnt just walk around and enjoy it. It was almost as if you were hearded around. We ended up leaving after about half an hour. To be honest I was a bit templed out anyway. We went back to meet Sofie and watched a the movie 'The Beach' whilst having some lunch. I had never seen this film, and after watching it, suddenly became inspired, and decided I like the last few lines of this film, and could really relate to it. Great film, shame about the acting.
On my last night I decided to go and see some Muay Thai boxing at the local stadium. Basically its a couple of 12/13 year old boys kicking the crap out of each other. I didnt know this before I went in, and was a bit supprised to say the least. I met a guy from Finland called Jonas. We decided it would be fun to place a few bets with each other, I won 110 baht from him in the end (thats about 1.70) and he took the defeat well. Towards the end of the fights we met up with some Canadian guys (didnt get their names), who had smuggled in some rum, and were adding it to cokes they were buying in the stadium. I think they were a bit tanked up, because when we were leaving, one of them went into the official store and bought some boxing shorts and a few t-shirts. His friend just stood outside laughing. They wanted to go clubbing and drinking afterwards, so me and Jonas agreed to tag along. So far this trip I have been trying to avoid this sort of thing, trying to make the trip 'authentic' and 'not that kind of holiday' but as id been out of it for a while, I thought I'd go along. I later began to regret this decision.
We went into a place called 'gullivers'. The place was fine, just full of westerners getting off their faces, trying to pull thai girls, dancing on everything. I had a few beers and as the night went on, everyone seemed to seperate. I decided to say good night and make my way back. As I walked down Khaosan road to get some food and go back to my room, I noticed lots of western people, very drunk and being sick at the side of the road. Prositutes everywhere and the whole street had just turned into a big mess. So far I hadnt seen this side of life, and normally i'd laugh and want to join in, but I just thought it seemed wrong. Maybe it was because I was on my own, I dont know. But I really didnt like it. I was glad I was leaving the next day, however I have been told that Koh Pha Ngan was the same, so didnt hold any hope for improvement.
On the friday I had a bus to catch to Koh Pha Ngan, but it wasnt until 7pm, so got myself a late check out and decided to walk around to do some last minute shopping. Just out of nowhere I met Minjin. She had decided that as she was about to go home, and had been really cheap at the start of her trip, she could afford to splash out a bit, and checked into a really nice hotel, with aircon and swimming pool. I couldnt belive it, and was extremely jelous. We went for lunch to catch up, said our good byes as I had a bus to catch.
Off to Koh Pha Ngan, I couldnt wait to hit the beaches!
- comments