Enter Thailand

Trip Start Apr 09, 2008

115

Trip End Apr 19, 2009

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Flag of Thailand Bangkok, Thailand
Thursday, November 13, 2008

The border crossing, dispite warnings from the foriegn office, felt like business as normal. I didn't see any troops or anything at all to make me worry. There was huge amounts of waiting around and with only 7 hours actually moving it took well over 11 hours to get into the city. I was very tired and very hungry by the time the bus stopped. Bangkok is huge. I haven't been in a big city like that for a long time. It was really amazing as we rode into town on the highway (I think is the best word) through the city with skyscrapers on either side. But actually, big as Bangkok is, with all the huge buildings and international companies (Thailand has Tesco Lotus and Boots I haven't seen either anywhere else) it still feels like there is village trying to get out. You can see people washing in the canals, fishing from the bridges and selling things from sheets spread on the pavements. It has all the bustle of a big city but also the disorganisation and freedom of a small town. Actually this village within a city idea is the perfect analagy becasue bangkok is not the name of that city, Bangkok refers to a small village that was the founding site of the larger city

Compound from outside

. Many Thai people will have no idea where bangkok is. The cities name is in the guiness book of records as the longest place name ever although by thai people it is most commonly called Krung Thep which interestingly means "city of angels". For more information click here.

The point is, noisy chaos. Therefore, I was very glad to be dropped in Kaosan Road. A haven for travellers where everyone wears flip flops and has dread-locks or tatoos or both (the three signs of a trveller). There are many hotels of all diferent sizes and the perfect place to ease into the thai experience. I was thinking I might go for somewhere a little bit nice. I dismissed the first two places because they didnt have hot water and after trying a few places that were either full or way out of my price range I ended up in a Japanese guest house, in dorms. So much for a nice place. Next job was dinner, I had my first thai curry and a well deserved beer. After, cold shower and bed.

The next day I went to see the things everyone must see in bangkok, the imperial palace and surrounding watts. On the way I stopped in the national museum which is basically a record of the achievements of each of the line of kings. The king of Thailand is highly revered, actually it is a criminal offence to critisive the king in any way

Mural

. Children are taught how great the king is from an early age and many people still consider the royal line as gods. So it makes sense that the museum should be displayed from that point of view. The watts and buildings around the palace were impressive so much colour and various design it reminded me of the palace in Phnom Penh but better kept and restored. The palace itself is a large white neo-classical building in the western style. Just good enough to stop and take a photo. After I walked around the palace enclosure taking in markets and the river, other watts and finally china town. A bustling area of the city with markets and shopping centres and even market stalls in shopping centres. The whole thing just adds to the feeling of a village trying to be a city. The whole place is manic, it is like many of the other cities I have been to but less organised the transport system is impossible unless you are near a sky tran line (which I was not).

That night I decided that I was ready to leave bangkok and try to feel something of the real thailand before coming back to the city. The next day I booked a bus ticket for that night and then set about wasting the few hours I had before leaving. I decided to check out a park withing walking distance of khao san. I was really glad of the walk as it let me see lots more of the city. Although for some reaosn when I was stopped by a tuk tuk driver who struck up a conversation I believed him when he said that the place I wanted to go to was closed and that he could take me somewhere better for 20 Baht. Will I ever learn. Well he took me to one temple, two tailors and a jewelery shop. It was quite fun to start with but by the jewelry I had had enough. I told him I wasn't going to pay him and got in another tuk tuk and went home. I ate a lot and took some food for the bus. I was picked up late but soon enough I was on my way to Chiang Mai.