A Night in Bangkok could Humble a Man
Trip Start
Jul 23, 2009
1
17
24
Trip End
Apr 01, 2010
Bangkok, Thailand
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Left my dear little Cambodia yesterday by bus or mini-bus actually, for a quick trip to the border Poipet: a hot, dusty desolate town with few charms except that it's a portal to Thailand. There was the usual border tedium and we had to walk almost a kilometre between the two border posts with no handy tuks so the beast was very much in charge: we baked in the midday sun as there was no shade. We waited for a bunch of cheerful Vietnamese to join us who had already been on the road since dawn, and then we were off. It didn't actually take long to make it to the outskirts of Greater Bangkok which has a population of over 8 million.
I have learnt from past experience that these informal travel arrangements can leave you stranded somewhere in the Godforsaken suburbs as the bus is not a bus, it's mini-bus, and obviously it doesn't have a depot: consequently, I had asked the driver to look out for an appropriate drop off spot, and to help me flag a reliable taxi which he did very willingly: this is when my troubles began
Sky train for Josh!
.During this journey I have also learnt from bitter experience that many taxi drivers do not know where you want to go or claim not to and this can be very scary. I now go armed with
googlemaps, directions and translations when I can, and I usually make out. However my maps didn't help out this time, and the driver tipped me out pretty quickly, although he did have the decency to flag down someone else who also did not know where I wanted to go. It was a hair raising trip and just when I thought I was about to be dumped again, I managed to spot the YHA. Why is it that I was the one to spot it? Mind you if it had been The Hyatt Erawan, no problems....
I was kinda gritting my teeth a bit about Bangkok - I know many of you would give your eyeteeth to be here if you'll forgive the pun - but I've visited Bangkok before, seen the Golden Buddha/floating markets and it is a huge city and you know cities are not my favourite places....
I needed to come here as part of my rail connection south to Singapore when I will reach my objective of travelling 'Overland to Oz without Flying' courtesy of ideas man, Mark Smith of www.seat61.com
As I'm nearing my objective it's feeling harder to keep up my motivation and good spirits - but this may be because I'm not overly keen on Bangkok - and as I'm travelling south, don't get to see the really good bits like Chiang Mai everyone raves about
Beautiful train tracks.
. I'm seriously missing Cambodia and this hostel is a dump. Luckily I'd booked a single room but it is a cell, but God alone knows what the inmates of the dorm-cells feel like, as it's about 100 degrees all the time, small bitey insects are everywhere, the wifi connection is rubbish and the traffic passes by at a million decibels night and day. Oh I forgot, the staff are really nice and these are probably the cheapest beds in town.The kids in the hostel are out every night at 'ping pong' clubs - what are they I ask you - I suspect they're a cross between straight,strip joints plus and Lady Boom Boom.
Meanwhile I'm on a train tomorrow to arrive in Singapore in two days time. Anyone for a Singapore sling?
Comments
Yes please.....
Would love to share a Singapore Sling (or two) with you. You may be nearing the end of this part of your trip - but it will grow with time as you have a chance to relax and remember all you did - amazingly unforgetable experiences. I hope the blog will continue in Oz (or gossipy emails even!)- I need something to break the tedium of work. Take care Mx
Re: Yes please.....
Hi Maureen - great to hear from you! I look forward to sharing if not a singapore sling, then a good bottle of something, french, white and sparkly..
Having so much feedback from everyone has been an incredible bonus on this adventure so yes, please keep them coming and no, I'm not quite ready to quit writing.
LOLxxxC