Saturday, October 8th, 2005

One Night In Bangkok

     One Night in Bangkok, and I'm having a blast! It was a bit of a headache trying to get around the 'Outbound Ticket' restriction that most countries are cracking down on a bit more these days, but once I met a travel agent who knew what she was doing, I got it all sorted out. See, most countries won't let you in as a tourist unless you can tell them exactly when you're leaving. I don't like doing this, because I never really know when that will be. It goes against the way I like to travel. I do know that I want to be home for Christmas this year. But I was only going to get a 30 day visa for Thailand, and that would send me home before I wanted, and also keep me from travelling to other countries in the region. The solution was to buy a ticket from Bangkok to LA, leaving in 30 days, and then change the date as soon as I came through customs. That would allow me the time to head across Cambodia, into Vietnam, and back into Bangkok before flying home just before Christmas. The authorities in Australia seemed to care a bit more about it then the ones in Thailand. Either way, I crossed into thailand without any problems. Another stamp in my passport.
      But before I got even that far, I was given a glimpse into the Thai way of thinking. Out of the window of the plane as it landed, I could see a golf course. That wasn't strange. Not at all. Golf is a common, global game. The odd part was that the 18 hole course sat in between the two runways. Jumbo jets landing in opposing directions on either side of the fairway. If that doesn't affect your handicap, I don't know what would.
      My first adventure came right out of the airport. I was prepared for the scam artists right outside the gate who would try to get me into a limosine, or a private taxi that would whisk me off to the driver's brother's souvenir shop which was conviently on the way to my hotel. Thank you Lonely Planet for that heads up. I walked right past them to the ATM and pulled out 5000 Baht. About $125US. The public taxi ride was the adventure. For 400B ($10), I got a fun death-defying ride along the highways of Bangkok. The humidity was thick, and mixing with the heavy smog of the speeding cars driven by drivers who didn't seem to ever learn the '3 second following distance' rule that I was taught in driver's ed. Billboards lined the highway proclaiming the fabulous wonders of everything from beer to sewing machines, to whatever it was that woman was supposed to be selling holding that...thing. My driver didn't speak english, so I couldn't ask. Though I tried.
      I was dropped off on the corner about 50 meters from my hotel on Rambrutti Road, parallel to the infamous Koh San road, but quieter and cleaner. The gauntlet of pushy suit salesmen and kitch hockers that I expected didn't seem to exist as I walked up the road. Or maybe they have learned that a backpacker just checking into his hotel is not in the mood for buying and is just a wasted effort. Anyhow, the hotel was just what I had hoped for and heard about. 400B ($10) a night for my own room with an air conditioner, cable TV, a shower, and a toilet. But it's BYOTP. Bring Your Own Toilet Paper. If you don't have any, it can be bought for 6B/roll just up the road. Less than .25 cents.
      As I settled into my room and prepared to head out into the city for an exploratory walk around town, I discovered that I had brought the wet season with me. Not that great Tucson, Arizona wetseason where it pours down fro half-an-hour and then stops and the clouds clear away to let the sun evaporate everything that just rained from the sky. No, the storms here begin more gradually, but turn into the same fury. They last about 2 hours, and then taper off, leaving behind a thick humidity and a grey sky that doesn't leave. I waited out the storm, and then wandered out into the city for lunch.
      I found it at a curbside cart. A little Thai woman cooked me up a filling plate of Pad Thai with Egg, and 2 spring rolls for 40B. One Dollar US. It was healthy, tasty, and hasn't given me the runs. Happy Days. :) I was determined not to buy any souvenirs on my first day, but I made sure to take note of what I wanted and where I would get it when the time comes. I'll have to send a few more of my winter clothes home to make room though. But I have a feeling Christmas is going to be a generous time for me at the ol' Dwan household.
      One Night in Bangkok, and I like it. I'll be in touch.

"Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God."
--Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Props to my Peeps, and Peace on the Motherhship,
Chris