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TRAVEL BLOG ENTRY
a travel blog entry
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Day 2 in Bankok. My plans for the day were fairly straightforward – book a ticket from STA travel to the Thailand Islands, take the river taxi to The Grand Palace, and check out a few temples. I only had one full day here, and was looking forward to just relaxing at the beach the following 5 days. How much trouble can I get into?
After breakfast, I took the skytrain back to the red light district, to find the STA office. Of course, I got lost again. There are so many exits at the train terminal, and I got disoriented, and walked the opposite direction! Not good in this hot, humid weather! Finally found it, and the STA office in Thailand sucks. I had such a good experience in the Santa Monica office, this one could have been any unscrupulous Thai agency. The stupid part was they asked me to “Take A Number ticket” and wait for an agent. Fair enough, that’s how we do it at the deli counter. Only,,,,,HELLO! I was the only one there! I am not kidding. I waited for a good 20 minutes, before the agent looked up and said,,,”oh, Number 5, please.” Give me a break. I was hoping to get some advice on a cool island to go, and book the hotel while I was there. All the STA office got me was a ticket to Koh Samui. 2 German guys showed up, and they were the ones whom eventually gave me some advice on exact locale, and bungalows! They were cool, and really liked an area on Koh Phagnan Island, called Ao Thong Nai Pan. What the hey I thought, let’s just go with it! I’ll figure out the accommodations once I land in Koh Samui, and take a ferry to Koh Phagnan.
I was determined to get in a few sites of BK, so I headed off to the River Taxi! It is so much harder to get around since there are fewer English signs, and the locals do not understand my English too well. It was a little frustrating, but had to keep trying. I guess I better learn some Thai! The River Taxi was a cool way to take in a few sites of some of the beautiful temples that canvass this city. I mean, they are so elaborate and intricate, it is quite amazing. Hopped off at the Grand Palace, and it was sweltering. Picked up a bottle of water with a vendor, and made sure I was heading the right direction. Then this local dude comes from my side, and asks if I was heading to the palace. We carry a conversation, and told him I wanted to check out the Muy Thai Boxing tonight. He reveals he’s an English Teacher at the local University. He’s on his way over now. I thought that was pretty cool, and he tells me the Palace is probably closed due to a festival, since the Spanish President is in town. He gives me a few pointers about the sites I should check out, and points out I’m in the right area for the jewelery wholesalers. Today is the last day for the 3-day jewelry event. After 20 minutes, a tuk tuk driver pools up, and I think no, go away. I don’t want a ride. I still want to see the Palace. Local guy turns and negotiates on my behalf to take me to the sights he suggested for a mere 40 bahts ($1)! Wow, that so great of him. I did try to refuse cuz I’m thinking “ Grand Palace”. Next thing I know, I’m in the tuk tuk!!! How the hell did that happen?
First stop, Black Buddha temple. I walk around some mini temples, but couldn’t find it. Walked into some funerals happening!! Great, how awkward is that! Finally, I get directed to the right place., and it’s not so impressive. Why is the Black Buddha gold color? I burn a few sticks, and the caretaker comes up, and we start talking. Now, I’m sitting, and he’s telling me the history. We move on to sites I will be visiting. I mention the Jewelry Wholesale, and he’s like, “Oh yes, it’s great!. Look at this ring I picked up just yesterday, and I got my wife and daughter gifts too (he shows me his hand with the ruby ring, that looks great!). Today is the last day, so yes I do recommend taking a look. He mentions he spent over $35,000 U.S. there. I asked him, isn’t that like over 1million Bahts??? His reply is he’s a doctor so he can afford it. Okay, I guess. But what is he doing at the temple then?
Next stop, Jewelery store. Long story short, I walked out with 2 rings….a gift for me, and a gift for mom. Something about “Chinese, you have my word ”. I get the certificates of authenticity, and off we go to the T.A.T. office (Tourist Authority of Thailand) to pick up my boxing tickets. I’m wondering why can’t I pick it up at the stadium? I go in, and they are essentially a travel agency, with a license from TAT to do business. They should be legit. How silly for me to think that it would be so easy to get a boxing ticket. They sit me down, and start talking. They find out I’m heading to the islands, and I need a place to stay. Wow, could they be more helpful! An hour later, I have a hotel and ferry transfer to Koh Phagnan. That’s great I thought, but what about the boxing tix? He lost me when he told me it cost $50 US to get ringside seats, and it’s normally reserved for tourists since the upper seats are normally the drunk, betting locals. Too dangerous for me. I turned it down since it wasn’t necessary for me to go see a boxing match. He pushed and pushed, but I wouldn’t budge.
Time to get back into the Tuk Tuk, and head to Gold Mountain Temple! Driver finds out I decided not to go see boxing, and he tried to convince me to bypass the temple, since by now it’s closed, 5pm. The boxing match starts in one hour. Good timing, so he’s heading to the stadium. I kept saying no, no. After awhile, my irritation level about the whole afternoon caught up with me, and I started feeling bad , and “ Did I just get taken for a ride?” Finally, I sternly said, NO BOXING, just take me to temple, and your shift is over.” He relented and dropped me off. With my luck….guess what, I walked up a few steps, and the damn gates are closed. What the hell?? I walk away feeling so bad and dejected about BK. I kept trying to convince myself that it was all legit. It was time to go back to the hotel, and just wait it out to the next morning for my flight. I’m going to look at my rings! I ran into a really nice girl, whom totally walked me to the canal boats for an express ride back to my hotel. I was about to give up on BK, and she was actually a shining light. Then another girl on the boat totally helped me, and told me where to get off. I decided to go to Siam square, and see what’s happening on the shopping front. Got on the internet for some time, and then decided to grab dinner…until I saw a huge line form in front of a shop called, RotiBoy. What could I do, but get in line too??!!! What was all the craze about? The girls behind me said it was coffee bun, and it’s so delicious! This reminded me of the madness for Krispy Kremes! This Rotiboy could not make it fast enough! They were literally out of the oven and gone! Finally it was my turn, and instead of just trying 1, I ended up getting 3!!! It was really tasty, with a butter filling, and so great HOT!! Had to satisfy my curiosity!
Finally, for dinner, I ended up at a god-awful noodle shop! I think my soup came right out of those instant noodle packs! I did, however, enjoy my Lychee Icee! I took it to go, and wanted to enjoy it on my walk to the skytrain. After such a long long day, the rotiboy bun and icee was my highlight…until, the nasty security guard at the train station gave me a nasty look, “NO DRINKS!” Sheesh, okay, okay. So I sucked up my drink as fast as I could! Found salvation back at the hotel. I took a really long, hot, shower, and just thought about the events of the day. I need to be smarter, and not so nice all the time. People can really suck, and take advantage of my naivete. My faith in people have been tested. I am so ready to leave BK. I watch a little tv, I finally drift off to sleep,,,until I hear some horrible, horrible screetching female voice from next door! Oh great, I thought, she’s a screamer, and these damn walls are not thick enough! I cover my ears with the pillows, but it’s useless. What I thought was mad, crazy sex, turned out to be ANGRY CHINESE WOMAN, yelling at a group of people, maybe her (ex?) friends?? Oh goodness, this went on for 30 minutes. Since she’s keeping me up, I decided I needed to know what the hell she’s yelling about. So I placed a glass on the wall to see if I can hear more clearly. No such luck. The sound was clear, but her her voice was so high and angry and irritating, and she spoke Mandarin. Nevermind, I turn the tv back on and turn up the volume really high.
Please shut up. I need to leave BK now.
previous travel blog entry
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