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TRAVEL BLOG ENTRY
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I spent my second night at my very noisy room. With a good pair of earplugs and a realization that I have slept through the drum circle of the country faire and the raves of burning man I can certainly sleep through the street scene of Kao San especially since this town does close down at night. The authorities have put the nix on the full on street party. So after a certain hour things do quiet down and all you hear is the incessant crowing of cocks that seem to start at 3am and dominate the decibel level until street life restarts at 7:30.
Bangkok is easy. You can get your bearings here quickly. There are all the services of any big city. And they are not expensive. Wandering around is safe, totally intriguing and the tuk-tuk drivers will give you directions without making a big fuss if you don't take a ride. This is one of the great centers for travel. Every language imaginable is heard here. Kao Sahn Road is jam packed with the twentysomethings of the planet all buying fashions, drinking, hooking up, and living the life of the backpacker. You can see why so many just stay on the road. It is a seductive life with no more responsibility than to find an ATM. Some of the most beautiful young people you could imagine both travelers and locals are to be seen on the street. Also some of the most deformed people begging or offering a song from a flute.
I ran into Elizabeth from Sweden who I met in Hoi An. She is a barrel of energy and willingness to go and do. We met for breakfast. took a taxi to fetch my latest replacement credit card from STA travel who were a great source of information and then took the skytrain - bangkok's mass transit that gives great views of the city. We went to the river where we backtracked a short distance to one of the largest hotels in town. Our goal was to see the city from the 63rd floor and maybe be able to afford a drink. On the way in we were greeted as visiting dignitaries albeit from a very informal country. I was saluted three times and shown the elevator. We got to see the view but at a certain point we were asked to leave as we were not properly dressed (shorts and open toed shoes). We were still offered a free shuttle to the ferry but opted to enjoy the smells of the street which are full of wonderful foods. We hopped the commuter ferry and took a leisurely ride up the river to Wat arun. Wats are Thai buddhist temples. The exterior of the series of slim tapering towers are covered in tilework and statuary. Those winged monkeys from the Wizard of Oz are taken straight off the walls of these temples.
We talked with a gold medallion seller at the temple who offered us fruit and food as part of the new year celebration. He being Thai chinese. The temple had row upon row of gold covered Buddhas.
We crossed the river again and found some wonderful fried rice dishes on the street. Later we found a square full of food. I ate durian fruit and some strange jellied sweet and wavered over eating and eating more delights. Walking back the street was lined with sellers. Many have religious medallions. I call it Thai bling. Many people wear large necklaces often of silver but also other metals or woven threads. Upon the necklace are a varied array of medallions representing Buddha, revered saints and even the King. Maybe they wear one large one maybe three or four small ones. I bought a beaded necklace and found a pig to hang from it. Mixing up my ethnics thai and chinese. Today is the chinese new year. I am wearing a red T-shirt with three pigs on it. This is the year of the boar. Tonight will be a scene in Chinatown.
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