Trapped

Trip Start Mar 27, 2007

Trip End Jun 10, 2007

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Flag of Thailand Bangkok, Thailand
Sunday, April 8, 2007

Today I am frustrated. It is my 2nd day in Bangkok and I have been planning to get out on day 3 (tomorrow). My plan was to get to Chiang Mai via overnight train. So I went to the train station today after hopping around a few nice temples (pics to come). But the trains to Chiang Mai are sold out for the next week. It's the Water Festival. I think to myself, maybe then I can go south- hang out at the beaches for this Water Festival stuff. But no dice there either. Sold out. My next thought was to head over to Cambodia or Vietnam. But a visa to Vietnam apparently takes a few days. And it's probably best to arrange a trip to Cambodia at Khao San (big tourist/traveler hangout in Bangkok.). Since I was at the train station already, I didn't want to go back to Khao San. Feeling frustrated, I had an iced coffee at the train station and then took a taxi back to my hotel on Soi 11 (an oasis amidst chaos, I assure you).

On the other hand, it has taken me 2 days to figure out the best way to get around. Tuk tuks are grossly expensive- often costing me 100-200 baht. But they are funny... crazy crazy driving, weaving in and around the mo-peds and toyotas and buses. They're highly negotiable, but usually this comes at the price of being dropped at somewhere you didn't want to be (how about a tailor? or a travel agency? or a jeweler that probably sells glass?). Today I told the taxi driver to turn on his meter. It cost me 60 baht to get to my hotel in a nice a/c taxi. HA! Bangkok, I've figured you out yet! More to come on Bangkok- but I'm out of 10 baht coins and my internet is quickly expiring.