Same Same

Trip Start Oct 22, 2005

224

Trip End Ongoing

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Where I stayed

New Merry V Guesthouse Bangkok

Sitdhi Guesthouse

(Bangkok hotels)

Flag of Thailand Bangkok, Thailand
Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Arriving in Bangkok we decided to save some money and get the train into town. At the airport we were hassled to get a tour taxi, but eventually found the train station via Terminal 1. Arriving at Hua Lamphong Railway Station we found out the local tuk tuk drivers were a bit of a rip off, but managed to get a reasonable rate to the Banglamphu district (after asking a local what a reasonable rate would be). This is where most of the backpackers hangout. There are heaps of them here; something we're not used to, previously being the only westerns in some Indian towns. We initially stayed at the Sitdhi Guest House, but have moved across to a nicer and quieter room at the Merry V Guest House. The food here is great and we're back into having healthy vegetables, something we missed in India.

Having to sort out our Visa for Vietnam we asked around as local tour operators offer to sort it out for you for around 1650 Baht. We were sure we could get it cheaper directly at the Embassy and we had also been advised a multi entry Visa was not possible (the Vietnam Embassy web page said it was)

01 - Khao San Road

. We jumped into a tuk tuk and headed over there for it's opening at 1.30PM. Filling in the forms and reading the fees printed out on the wall, we though we had everything sorted until the lady behind the counter said the fees were different (four times the price printed on the wall) and it cost more to lodge the Visa here. We also could not get it back until Monday. This wasn't good, so we headed back to the backpacker district and lodged it with a tour operator. So much for money saving effort! We ended up getting a single entry Visa as it's cheaper to get two of these instead of a multiple entry one. Go figure.

We've also been stocking up our collection of cheap DVDs and are amazed by the number of rip off brands on the street. Names like Rip Curl, Roxy, Quick Silver, The North Face and our favorite Same Same (Wtf?). Clothing here is very very cheap and if we ever come back it will probably be with an empty suit case. Things can be purchased for next to nothing.

We also got on the local river ferry and went down to China Town to see the markets there. The Ferry had sections specifically reserved for the local Monks. This was a great way to see the city.