Re-visiting Bangkok

I've spent the last 3 nights in Bangkok and feel as though I've returned home... to my second home at least. It's been wonderful catching up with my friends here, especially Game. I've stayed at my favourite hotel, Silom City Inn on Silom Soi 22. Bangkok is very convenient and so easy to get around. Having been here before, I find it easy to get around and kind of know the places to go.

Broad Overview of Shop

Game has got right into his business... he is one creative guy. The shop is amazing and in time I will download the photos. I recommend anyone visiting Bangkok to go and say hi at shop D/X 78 at the Lumpini Market...it is hard to find... ask the locals... full of outstanding Thai artefacts. But Game has turned into a real workaholic, working 7 nights a week from 4 to 11pm. He spends his weekends travelling all over Bangkok to buy things to sell. From what he tells me, the shop is a roaring success. On Friday, his total sales came to about 10000 baht... not bad when his monthly rent is half that.

Buddha Statue

At 11pm, I joined Game for drinks at a local, underground club. I loved being the only foreigner in this club... Game's friends were very friendly and looked after me with an abundance of whisky and coke.

For the next 2 days, I was pretty much alone in relaxing, shopping, visiting Siam Square and doing the chores of laundry, internet etc. I re-visited Game on Sunday night but due to his work commitments, I ended up meeting up with another Friend, Blackie in Silom's entertainment area.

I'm writing this entry from Hong Kong... even though I have a contact to show me around (who happens to be a great guy), my early impressions of Hong Kong are not as positive as Bangkok. But I think because I've had such an unbelievable time in South East Asia, it will be very difficult for anything to be on par to what I experienced there. In some ways, I am a little depressed that I have left SE Asia behind... the Chinese people seem very abrupt etc. but I'm sure as I travel through the region I will develop an appreciation for them. Additionally, having travelled through 4 countries in the last week and a half has left me utterly exhausted. I'm getting a bit sick of saying goodbye to really good friends I meet along the way and moving from one place to the next. I'm really glad I've got a week here in Hong Kong to recuperate from my hectic travel itinerary as of late, and then I have the luxury of re-joining westerners in venturing through China. I'm so glad I'm not doing it alone... I don't think I could do it at this stage of my trip.

Candles

Fantastic abundance of souvenirs

Game in action

Highly recommended home decoration

Lots of Ornaments

More candles.

More souvenirs

Poppies

Very Popular Little Buddhas