Bangkok - Day IV
Trip Start
Feb 20, 2006
1
4
19
Trip End
Mar 24, 2006
Bangkok,
Thailand
Monday, February 27, 2006
Internet cafes comes at a premium and are fairly scarce. Some charge as much for an hour as I would pay for 1/2 a month cable hook-up.
1 to 2 baht per minute. yeouch!
Shortly after I last wrote we visited Khoa San Rd, or Backpackers row...as the foreigners call it. Neon lights hang above this street illuminating all that stroll below. Hawkers on the street selling everything a wayward traveller might need. Hairdressers sit street side backcombing dreadlocks or adding hair extensions for braids. It's a hippy's paradise. You can get a massage, pedicures and even a "sour" canadian beer. Blue Ice. We met Israeli's, Germans, French, Italians, Aussies, Americans, Brits and even a few Canadians. I decided my dogs could use a little freshening up so I went for a pedicure. The girl sitting next to me turned out to be from my back yard. Edmonton.
Small world.
As we walked along the street we watched two hobbit like brothers lip synching for their music video. The Thai girls were going crazy as if it were the Beatles. We asked who these boys might be and surprisingly they are apparently a Canadian Boy Band. Who knew???
I guess I'll have to look them up. The song I heard was like all other boy bands, kinda boring but melodic.
This is also pick-pocket central. If it ain't glued down or watched with a vigilant eye, your stuff will vanish quicker than it took to put it down in the first place. We have seen many signs in Wats and other Touristy places warning of such behavior but luckily we have not met with any problems. Although today as we finalized our next tour of Thailand from the 11th to the 22nd we read of one unlucky Irishman whose belongings were stolen in seconds, leaving the poor bahstad without his passport, visa, cash and air tickets home. So it seems the Irish consulate is warranted after all. He had left a warning at the local T.A.T office.
If I leave you all with any advice whilst travelling through Thailand it is this... use the government T.A.T offices. Everyone else will rip you off faster than you can ask for advice. T.A.T offices book everything from hotel rooms to train and airplane tickets. Today, I got a bit of free advice from our agent. He told me to make sure to stay away from Silom Rd., or at least not to let the dude venture there alone (he might not come back). But if we wanted to see fookeenshow (use imagination!!! it took me a minute and several repetitions to understand) it was the place to go. You do see a lot of fat, ugly older men with pretty young girls, kinda sad really. In the end they must all get what they want or it wouldn't happen.
As we left Khoa San Rd. the other night scores of police crammed into Toyota pick-up trucks showed up in full riot gear. We made a beeline for our hotel. I never did hear why they were there. Maybe for suspicion of drugs? You can get the death penalty for holding any amount, any kind.
Since we have developed a real aversion to the tuk-tuk drivers we have walked all over the centre of Bangkok. It's the only way to get a hold of the surroundings. Mind you, it's still tough to get your bearings. Every map is different and more confusing than the last.
The Thai people are lovely. This is truly the land of smiles. When they actually make eye-contact it's usually with a shy demeanor but with a ready toothy smile. Yet...as all true stereotypes dictate, mechanics or construction workers are true to the broad paint stroke. I think they have a thing for fat white women. ;-}
They must love to shop. Shops are everywhere and like NYC they have districts for the goods you wish to buy. Unlike North American shops are stuffed into every available corner. How anyone actually makes a living is beyond me. There seems to be more stuff than customers. Malls are stacked with 100sq ft shops or less and the quantity is overwhelming. Clothing, electronics, beauty products, food, car parts, rims, tires and on and on.
This city is filled with such opulence next to complete poverty. But you'd never know it from the sunny outlook most people seem to possess. Unlike N. America there is next to no graffiti or vandalism. People seem to take pride in their surroundings.
I finally had spicy shrimp noodle soup. Yummy! I swear I could eat it all the time. I've even managed to get Romeo eating Thai food. Mind you it's still beef but a step is a step eh!
We saw on the news today that people have already started to march in a pre-Bush demonstrations in New Delhi. I'm trying to keep my hopes up that all will be well but it is a little disconcerting as we leave Bangkok tomorrow. We have decided we will hop a train toot-sweet and head up north. The wedding is on the 5th so an early arrival will probably be for the best.
Well that is all for tonight. I'll write from the sub-continent when I get the chance. Keep well.
