Thailand

Bangkok

Sawatdee

       Sawatdee is word often spoken with the wai as a greeting or farewell in Thailand.  Wai consists of a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion

      I visited Thailand October of 2009.  Stayed 3 weeks mostly in Bangkok alone and 4 days in Phuket with my girlfriend and some friends.  I enrolled myself for a 2 week massage course in Wat Pho and stayed mainly in different hostels in Khaosan Road.

    Bangkok is a busy city in morning and evening.  It is a good place for shopping, taste local thai food, sightseeing, enroll for coooking or massage courses and of course, prostitution ----if you're into that stuff!
I spent my first week in Bangkok for a 5-day Thai Massage course in Wat Pho.  The class is from 9:00 am until 4:00pm and I have the time to explore Bangkok after class.

       It's my first time to travel abroad and alone.  Reading a map for the first time is punishing --- but was able to figure out how to do it.  Visited so many places such as temples, markets, parks and even the snake farm which is marvelous. 

      

      

  Getting around Bangkok is simple.  There are available buses, taxi services, klongs or boats and of course, the popular tuk-tuks.  Tuk-tuks are  three -wheeled small motor tricycle that is very popular for short distance street travel in Thailand.  They are fun to ride, unique, affordable and fast.

       For two weeks, I stayed in Khaosan Road.  It is very popular among backpackers. tourists and travelers for cheap hostels,  cheap food, cheap beers and killer nightlife.  For a week,  I stayed in 3 different hostels.  I'm not really fussy about rooms. As long as it is clean and I am comfortable, then I am good.

       

       First hostel I went is Marco Polo Hostel.  I arrived in the airport at 10:00 pm then hit the bus and went to Khaosan.  Room is very basic and cheap.  As long as I have a room to sleep, I don't really care.  One night, I was awaken by a screaming and moaning  Thai lady having sex next to my room.  Sigh.  After 3 nights, I moved out.

       Then theres Green Haus Hostel in Rambutri behind Khaosan.  Cheap.  Clean and much better than Marco Polo.  They have restaurant and bar downstairs.  Fee Wi-Fi!.  Squeaky bed.  You can leave your bags for storage for days if you're planning to hit the islands.  Stayed for 3 nights.

    The rest, I stayed in Four Sons Inn in Rambutri where I spent maybe 5 nights there.  Better than the 2 hostels I went i guess.  Friendly receptionists.  Its the only room I got that has windows!  

  But long the way, I met some travelers and recommended some decent but budget hostels. 

      

 I enjoyed every night in Khaosan Road.  I met different kind of people mostly travelers and tourists from all walks of life.  Most of the nights, I was drunk and tried to see the "ping pong " show three times! 

 

This is the menu of  the " ping pong " show.  Don't want to explain everything.  It's self-explanatory. ☺

The foods are amazing!  Tasted their local firewater too!

       Going to a class everyday with hangover is a torment for me but luckily, I passed my Thai Massage course!  I received my certificate with flying colors.  My 2-week stay in Bangkok is pretty remarkable.  I learned so many things about Thailand.  The culture, a little bit of Buddhism, and the language.  Thai people are very friendly and respectful although there are some in Khaosan who will try to rip you off but majority I meet are good people.  It is a cheap place for everything from food, shopping, beers etc.  Although I must admit that the last few days of my stay in Bangkok, I got bored  maybe because people there always come and go.  It's travelers haven.  Eventually you will meet new people for a day and will leave the next day. But during my trip, I met bunch of good people from  different parts of the world.  They left  a mark and made my simple travel extraordinary.

Next stop,  PHUKET