Hell hath a name and it's the bus to Bangkok

Trip Start Nov 17, 2007
1
18
29
Trip End Feb 28, 2008


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of Thailand  ,
Sunday, January 27, 2008

It's a tough life being 6"2'. Short people may be occasionally susceptible to a certain syndrome that comes with being so vertically challenged, but at least they can fit into most bus or plane chairs that are presented to them. Though even the shortest in our group struggled with the seats on this overnight junker. As goes many-a told travel-agent story in this part of the world, our promised overnight luxury bus to Bangkok is riddled with broken seats with parts long-lost, too short for me to rest my head back against and leg room that I can't even get my calves into, let alone find a comfortable position overnight. As if we aren't tired enough from the full moon party!

Our group of three has now acquired four Aussies who were staying at the same bungalows as us (3 brothers and their female friend) and after being ejected off the bus and onto the pavements of Bangkok at sunrise, having collectively slept about 10 hours between the seven of us, we walk to Ko San road to find the Inns are full. Four near delirious hours are spent in a hotel lobby before some rooms empty and we are finally admitted for the necessary R&R.

Bangkok will take you for a ride - literally - if you let it. Tuk Tuk and Taxi drivers promise you one thing, then five minutes in tell you it costs twice as much, or say they will take you somewhere different entirely - always a place where they get a cut for dragging you there. Your best bet is investing in a good map - that way you can see how far things are and not be misled (too much). The buses aren't the worst to navigate the city with, but by far the easiest (and cheapest) way to get around is to use the Sky-train and riverboat connections between Ko San Road and the business/shopping mall district. But one positive thing I will say for Thailand - the fresh fruit everywhere. You can have it on a stick, you can have it in a shake, but there's no excuse for eating deep fried fishballs with the array of exotic fruits on offer from hawkers on every street corner.

The next few days are spent taking in the spectacular palaces and temples around Bangkok, though annoyingly the main palace is largely closed to visitors with the recent death of a royal family member. How dare she! At night we keep the Ko Phangan spirit alive including a hotel room party on the last night that attracts four Irish lasses and drifts into the next day. Here though we part company as some are exploring Northern Thailand, and I am heading to Kanchaniburi whilst my Vietnam visa is processed before flying to Hanoi.
Print this entry